kicking in the trailer

Question
I need help.  I own an 18 y.o. MFT gelding that is kicking my trailer apart.  I have owned this horse for 9 years and until this spring he has been an excellent trailer horse.  He gets in and out of the trailer, into any position, straight or slant, night or day, crowds, with other horses or alone, regardless of the weather.  He rides well over highways and rough roads, short and long trips, and waits like a gentleman in the trailer. Starting in April he has kicked a wall out, ripped out the wall mats I had installed, cracked welds on a divider post and manger divider and dented the ceiling. Amazingly and fortunately he has not injured himself, just my wallet.  This is the same truck, driver (me), and trailer I have used since buying him.  Even though he is 16hh and 1200#, there is ample room in my 1999 Sundowner Valuelite trailer.  I have not had an accident or any mishaps while trailering him.  He has not hurt himself in or around the trailer.  I have not modified the trailer and have not changed any routine, such as offering hay.  He is in good health, will urinate in the trailer and has excellent ground manners.  I have not changed tack, saddles, stabling (he lives with a miniature donkey at my home)and I have always used him to trail ride. He is ridden 3-4 times a week at least 4 miles. On the trail he is 'snotty' with others horses,but does not kick.  He is a very confident, forward, smart horse.  This behavior occurs to a lesser degree when he's alone and is violent when in company.  I have had the trailer floor checked twice and am about to ride in it myself to see if something is amiss. I am beginning to think its a tantrum.  My veterinarian has suggested using ace, which I have given with varying degrees of success.  I realize this isn't the ultimate answer. Suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Jo!

And men say women are a mystery  ~  They have obviously never owned a horse!  LOL!!

Hmmm.....I admit I am stumped by this too.  For a longtime partner to suddenly become recalcitrant with no trauma to explain it is a hard diagnosis.  You have pre-answered all the pertinent questions I would have asked and supplied all the necessary info and yet....I really cannot see why he is acting out.

I think it is not too drastic for you to take a quick spin in the trailer, standing where he stands and just observe.  Maybe the issue only shows itself when the trailer moves....stranger things have happened.

Then, you must address his attitude....it is simply a tantrum?  Or did something happen that you did not see and he is now having flashbacks.  I have a 4yr old mare that I personally trailer trained from weanling on.  She trailered perfectly everytime until one day a grouchy old gelding leaned over and bit her hard just as she was settling into her spot on board.  This small incident has sent my overly-sensitive mare into a tizzy!  I have now spent months undoing her unfounded fear of trailering.  She is coming around but, slowly.

Must you do this sort of "re-training" with your old man?  Maybe what started out as an innocent incident or his first fit of fancy has now turned into war in his head.  Old geldings can get temperamental and sometimesthey just need to get knocked back to submissiveness to straighten it all out.

I would begin a daily bootcamp of trailer training that basically consists of positive reinforcement and short trips that result in calm riding.  Since he loads well and stands politely, it's just the ride that makes him pissy, you need to show him that riding in the trailer is OK.  During bootcamp, stop feeding him in his stall and have the feed in his hay bag while he rides for a very short trip.  Get him off and out before things get uglier and praise him silly for behaving himself.  Force will not solve this.  Time and training will.  Unfortunately, you are on his timetable.  This will take as long as he decides it will.  In the end, you must be much more clever and patient than he is.  And I just bet he is clever.

Lastly, Ace is a somewhat safe but, eventually temporary way of fixing this issue.  Best to use drugs when only absolutely necessary, I say.


Be firm, be patient and think like a clever horse....it's the only way to win this fight  :-)

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange