trailer kicking

Question
I have a roping horse that has been hauled around alot and is really calm and no vices except when he is in the trailer. As we are driving, he will kick out with one of his legs to the side, especially when we are stopped. I have tried everything, loading him on left side, right side, windows open, plenty of hay in bin,slant load, straight load, with another horse, alone, etc etc etc. Do you have any ideas how to correct this problem? I have even ridden in the trailer to see what was going on and he kicks for no apperent reason. one trainer told me to try hobbles or to tie hay string to his ankles to make them sore, then when you put him in the trailer, tie them loosly to each other so that if he kicks out the string will hurt and he wont kick..let me know if you have any ideas. Kerry

Answer
Hi Kerry!

NO!  NEVER tie anything to your horses hooves or legs in the trailer!!  That is soooo dangerous and the trainer who told you to do it should be ashamed of themselves!  Are they going to pay your vet bills when your horse is injured from such an absurd idea?

I am so glad you asked someone before you went and did it.

I cannot say why your guy is doing this....but, sometimes you have to live with something and just make the best of it.

When he is alone in the straight load trailer always put him on the driver's side, never the ditch side.  Also, I would try a pair of easy to put on and remove, Velcro shipping boots.  You can see them on any online tack shop or probably in your local tack shop.  This is mainly something English riders use to protect their horses legs during long hauls.

Having them on may keep him from kicking out and if he still does, at least his legs will be protected against injury.

You have tried everything that I would say as far as lots of hay and another horse and a different type of trailer.

If he is a good roping horse and has no other vices as you say....well, just do what you can to protect his legs from injury and try to ignore it.  He may very well stop it on his own once he realizes that you don't care about it and he gets no extra attention from it.

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

Solange