For as long as I have known Little Love, which is five years, she has never traveled in a trailer with another horse. However, I had a strong hunch that it would make all the difference. This is the reason I was hell bent on finding a big transporter to take her to Finland, because I knew that if she travelled alone, it would be highly stressful. Today I found out that my instinct was right.
Becky and I had talked about putting Col into the trailer with Little Love, just to see if it made a difference. I knew this was the right thing to do, but the thought of it made me a bit nervous. What if she freaked out anyways. Or worse, what if she freaked out and got Col going, too? On the other hand, there was a big chance it would work out brilliantly, since Col is a great traveler. The only way to find out was to do it...
When I loaded Little Love into the trailer, Col was right behind her, ready to get in on the other side. Sometimes when you load Col, he stops on the ramp and says no. It's not a freaky no, but rather a "show me the money" kind of no. He did the same thing today. Little Love was in the trailer eating her grain and Col had this look on his face: "Where's my grain?" I tossed Becky a second bucket we had prepared just in case, and that did it, Col walked in.
Being in the trailer does not seem to bother Col one bit. Which is great for someone like Little Love. When Becky closed the back, she lifted her head up and looked back, but when she saw that Col couldn't have cared less, she sighed and took a carrot from me. I kept breathing in and out, focusing on staying in my body, but I couldn't help the adrenaline gushing into my blood. I can't tell you how many time I muttered my "mantra" to myself; If it's not happening now, it's not happening - If it's not happening...
It was completely silent in the trailer when we drove down the driveway; the horses must have been standing stock still. Becky was driving and she takes all the turns extra slowly. Which is perfect for Little Love. We drove into the village, took a left turn around the block and came back. When we approached the driveway, there was a big truck in the middle of the road, so we had to stop to see what was going on. My heartrate kicked up a notch immediately and I listened for Little Love in the back. Nothing. Complete and utter silence. I got out to talk to the two men who were at the gate. Turned out they were there to work on Becky's sewage tank. Great. How were we going to fit both the truck and our car/trailer combinating into the parking lot?
We drove up first and parked the trailer. The truck followed and the workers had to figure out where to put it. In awe I listened to my horse in the trailer - she was standing still. No calling, no pawing, no stomping her feet even though the car was parked and the engine was off. This was a miracle. We opened the upper part of the side door and Col stuck his head out. I could see Little Love's ears, but that was it. We decided to take the horses out from the front because there was no room behind the trailer. This meant Col had to come out first. Little Love started pawing when she realized she was getting left behind, but as soon as Col was out I was able to undo her chest bar. She waited for the signal to move forward and then we walked out. Given, she was in a hurry to get out, but not at all in a panicky way. She was listening to me, she was controlling her own emotions, she was dealing with her fears.
After we took the horses out, we walked them into the pasture and let them go. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was, how relieved, how hopeful. I realize that in two weeks Little Love will have to travel three hours alone to France, but to know that she can be calm when traveling was a revelation for me. Perhaps, if we do this again with Col, she will have at least a few good memories to help her when she is alone. Col was absolutely brilliant, as was Becky.
It was a good exercise, not just because it gave Little Love a positive experience in traveling, but it also showed me (and her) that she can do this. Also, I now know how hard it is for me to control my own emotions in this situation. If I am a nervous wreck even before anything bad happens, how can I expect my horse to deal with all this? I really need to work on my own fears and anxieties. I also need to know when to back off and perhaps let someone else, someone who is calmer and not so emotional, take over the situation. With this I mean that perhaps I'm not the best possible person to load Little Love into a truck if my adrenaline levels are skyrocketing. This is definitely something I need to talk to her about and prepare her for.
But what a great great experience. I'm still smiling thinking about it!
Showing posts with label horse transportation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse transportation. Show all posts
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 156
I was afraid Little Love wouldn't even go near the trailer today, but she did. She walked up the ramp confidently and went straight for the bucket. I closed the back bar and she was fine. Then I lifted the ramp up and she decided it was too much. She walked of the front of the trailer and stopped to look at me.
I put the back down again, opened the bar and fetched her. She came back to the ramp and walked in again. I closed the back bar and walked to the front. Then I closed the front bar. She was still eating the grain (I was holding the bucket in front of her), but was moving around nervously and lifting her head to look back, as if she was making sure the ramp was still down. Once she had finished the grain, I walked out of the trailer and laid the bucket on the ground. Little Love leaned into the front bar and her gaze was fixed on me. I decided not to push her any further, so I walked up the front ramp and undid the chest bar. She waited very politely until I gave her the signal to move forward, then she marched down the ramp in a very composed manner.
So, the good thing is that she still went in, despite the panic from yesterday. When I saw her reaction to the ramp coming up behind her, I realized that to truly get her over all her fears towards the trailer and traveling would probably take a lifetime. We don't have that, since in less than three weeks she will be traveling to what probably will feel to her like the end of the world.
While I soaked her feet and she ate hay, I talked to her about the journey and how it is a necessary evil on our road to hopefully an even better life together. I told her I was stressing out about it, too, but that I knew she was strong and would get through it. I told her I knew how scared she was of the transportation vehicles, but that going into them without a fight was paramount for her own well being. Because not going in was really not an option. Little Love chewed her hay, but twice she lifted her head up and touched my arm. I know she gets it, but I also know that once that panic sets in, there is not much logic to what she will do and how she will do it. I might have to take a bottle of Valium before this is over, to keep myself calm when my horse is going completele out of her mind. I can just imagine pulling her out of the trailer in France in a strange place only to ask her to load into a huge horse truck five minutes later. Yikes. That will be a test of my ability to stay calm in the moment. Valium sounds like a good option for the owner...
I put the back down again, opened the bar and fetched her. She came back to the ramp and walked in again. I closed the back bar and walked to the front. Then I closed the front bar. She was still eating the grain (I was holding the bucket in front of her), but was moving around nervously and lifting her head to look back, as if she was making sure the ramp was still down. Once she had finished the grain, I walked out of the trailer and laid the bucket on the ground. Little Love leaned into the front bar and her gaze was fixed on me. I decided not to push her any further, so I walked up the front ramp and undid the chest bar. She waited very politely until I gave her the signal to move forward, then she marched down the ramp in a very composed manner.
So, the good thing is that she still went in, despite the panic from yesterday. When I saw her reaction to the ramp coming up behind her, I realized that to truly get her over all her fears towards the trailer and traveling would probably take a lifetime. We don't have that, since in less than three weeks she will be traveling to what probably will feel to her like the end of the world.
While I soaked her feet and she ate hay, I talked to her about the journey and how it is a necessary evil on our road to hopefully an even better life together. I told her I was stressing out about it, too, but that I knew she was strong and would get through it. I told her I knew how scared she was of the transportation vehicles, but that going into them without a fight was paramount for her own well being. Because not going in was really not an option. Little Love chewed her hay, but twice she lifted her head up and touched my arm. I know she gets it, but I also know that once that panic sets in, there is not much logic to what she will do and how she will do it. I might have to take a bottle of Valium before this is over, to keep myself calm when my horse is going completele out of her mind. I can just imagine pulling her out of the trailer in France in a strange place only to ask her to load into a huge horse truck five minutes later. Yikes. That will be a test of my ability to stay calm in the moment. Valium sounds like a good option for the owner...
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 155 Another (freaky) step in trailering
Today I decided to push the trailer loading business a little bit further. Becky and I hooked up the trailer, loaded Little Love and while I was standing inside the trailer with Little Love, Becky drove it forwards about 30 feet (10 meters). The second the trailer started moving, Little Love started going into panic mode. She stopped eating the grain, her head came up and her body started to quiver. Then she screamed to Col and broke into a light sweat. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates and breathing like she had just come off the race track. By the time Becky stopped, she no longer was paying attention to me, but was completely lost in her own world, where everything and anything can and will go wrong.
While Becky parked, got out of the car and walked around to the trailer door, I focused on my breathing and trying to stay present in the moment. Not easy when you have a horse in front of you that looks like she is about to climb over the chest bar at any moment. Little Love became especially frantic when Becky opened the front door. I grabbed her halter, trying to get her to settle down enough for me to lift the chest bar. Somehow I actually managed to back her up two sticky steps. Once the bar was lifted, though, there was not much to hold her back. She rushed out of the trailer.
When she was out of the trailer, she realized she was still at home. This took down the panic a notch, but she was still fairly frantic, plowing left and right with her eyes on sticks. I didn't waste any time; I walked her past the house, into the barn (where Col greated her) and let her loose into the field. Within seconds Col and her had taken off cantering and turned the corner into the big field.
It will be interesting to see if she will go into the trailer tomorrow. Because the plan is to hook it up again, but not drive it. I just want to give Little Love the opportunity to go back in and not have a reason to panic. Becky suggested we load Col, too, and perhaps drive the down the road or something. I think that's a good idea, but first I want to take a step back and have her in the trailer without it moving. I'm sure the experience today gave her quite a bit to think about and I hope she did some reflecting in the pasture.
While Becky parked, got out of the car and walked around to the trailer door, I focused on my breathing and trying to stay present in the moment. Not easy when you have a horse in front of you that looks like she is about to climb over the chest bar at any moment. Little Love became especially frantic when Becky opened the front door. I grabbed her halter, trying to get her to settle down enough for me to lift the chest bar. Somehow I actually managed to back her up two sticky steps. Once the bar was lifted, though, there was not much to hold her back. She rushed out of the trailer.
When she was out of the trailer, she realized she was still at home. This took down the panic a notch, but she was still fairly frantic, plowing left and right with her eyes on sticks. I didn't waste any time; I walked her past the house, into the barn (where Col greated her) and let her loose into the field. Within seconds Col and her had taken off cantering and turned the corner into the big field.
It will be interesting to see if she will go into the trailer tomorrow. Because the plan is to hook it up again, but not drive it. I just want to give Little Love the opportunity to go back in and not have a reason to panic. Becky suggested we load Col, too, and perhaps drive the down the road or something. I think that's a good idea, but first I want to take a step back and have her in the trailer without it moving. I'm sure the experience today gave her quite a bit to think about and I hope she did some reflecting in the pasture.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Travel plans
I'm moving to Finland this summer and so is Little Love. When this decision unfolded, little did I know how hard it would be to find transportation for her. It seems nearly impossible. Well, not impossible, but just not easy either.
I have spent the good half of the day talking to different horse transportation professionals. Ideally I would like Little Love to travel on a big transport with several other horses, because I think she would be more comfortable with the company. And traveling on a big rig is a lot smoother ride than in a trailer. Because this is not exactly just a few hour trip. Let me explain...
There are several routes to take when going to Finland from Switzerland, but the one the horse transporters seem to favor, is the route through Germany and Sweden. 2000 kilometres (about 1200 miles) and a few ferry rides later, the horse is in Stockholm, where the truck drives onto a massive ferry boat and sits there overnight before it arrives in Helsinki harbor. Sounds like an operation, eh?
Another way to go would be through Germany and then taking a boat from Travemünde to Helsinki. This boat trip takes 27 hours, which is about the same time it takes to drive through Sweden AND take the boat from there. However, if the seas are rough, the boat from Germany can get a bit sketchy, as you can't take the horses off the truck - no matter what. The seas are much calmer up between Sweden and Finland hence the reason the horse transporters go that way most of the time.
A third and quite interesting route would be through the Eastern European states and then with a ferry from Estonia to Finland, a relatively short boat ride compared to the other two. However, the roads are not the best in this region and the horse transportation companies don't seem to offer this as an option anyways.
On top of all this, Switzerland is not part of the European Union, which makes matters a little bit more complicated. Apparently there needs to be a veterinary control at the boarder. This means that no European transporter wants to come through Switzerland to pick her up, because it would mean extra stops at the boarder (especially if you have more than one horse). Finding a Swiss transporter to take her all the way from Switzerland to Finland is not happening. In any case, this would cost an arm and a leg and she would have to travel the whole trip alone (as she would be the only horse going on that trip) as it's not exactly a common route.
So - I have finally located a person who could possibly take her up to Northern Germany where she could then change to a Finnish transporter. The Swiss guy is extremely expensive, because there is no other horse sharing the ride (and he is Swiss, everything in this country is expensive). This also means Little Love is stuck traveling alone for half the trip. And we all know what a great loader and traveler she is... (although loading into Becky's trailer is looking pretty good...). In Northern Germany, however, she could be picked up by a transport company with several other horses on the same ride. This will be a bit better, especially since she is getting on a boat and all that.
Becky offered to drive us over the boarder (it's a 2½ hour trip one way) to Germany, but then what? Where would we go? Who could pick us up? (the Finnish transporter won't come down to Southern Germany). I don't speak German very well, so communicating with some of these transporters has been quite challenging. At the moment I have contact with one guy who is sending me emails using an online translator. I'm not always sure I quite understand what he is trying to say...
I can't even begin to explain the amount of anxiety just thinking about this is causing me! If I could just somehow magically transport Little Love to Finland with some Harry Potter magic, I would.
I still have a few leads on people who transport horses across Europe. Perhaps one of them will miraculously offer to take her all the way along with 5 other horses that are all calm and composed travelers. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky with this... I'll keep you posted.
I have spent the good half of the day talking to different horse transportation professionals. Ideally I would like Little Love to travel on a big transport with several other horses, because I think she would be more comfortable with the company. And traveling on a big rig is a lot smoother ride than in a trailer. Because this is not exactly just a few hour trip. Let me explain...
There are several routes to take when going to Finland from Switzerland, but the one the horse transporters seem to favor, is the route through Germany and Sweden. 2000 kilometres (about 1200 miles) and a few ferry rides later, the horse is in Stockholm, where the truck drives onto a massive ferry boat and sits there overnight before it arrives in Helsinki harbor. Sounds like an operation, eh?
Another way to go would be through Germany and then taking a boat from Travemünde to Helsinki. This boat trip takes 27 hours, which is about the same time it takes to drive through Sweden AND take the boat from there. However, if the seas are rough, the boat from Germany can get a bit sketchy, as you can't take the horses off the truck - no matter what. The seas are much calmer up between Sweden and Finland hence the reason the horse transporters go that way most of the time.
A third and quite interesting route would be through the Eastern European states and then with a ferry from Estonia to Finland, a relatively short boat ride compared to the other two. However, the roads are not the best in this region and the horse transportation companies don't seem to offer this as an option anyways.
On top of all this, Switzerland is not part of the European Union, which makes matters a little bit more complicated. Apparently there needs to be a veterinary control at the boarder. This means that no European transporter wants to come through Switzerland to pick her up, because it would mean extra stops at the boarder (especially if you have more than one horse). Finding a Swiss transporter to take her all the way from Switzerland to Finland is not happening. In any case, this would cost an arm and a leg and she would have to travel the whole trip alone (as she would be the only horse going on that trip) as it's not exactly a common route.
So - I have finally located a person who could possibly take her up to Northern Germany where she could then change to a Finnish transporter. The Swiss guy is extremely expensive, because there is no other horse sharing the ride (and he is Swiss, everything in this country is expensive). This also means Little Love is stuck traveling alone for half the trip. And we all know what a great loader and traveler she is... (although loading into Becky's trailer is looking pretty good...). In Northern Germany, however, she could be picked up by a transport company with several other horses on the same ride. This will be a bit better, especially since she is getting on a boat and all that.
Becky offered to drive us over the boarder (it's a 2½ hour trip one way) to Germany, but then what? Where would we go? Who could pick us up? (the Finnish transporter won't come down to Southern Germany). I don't speak German very well, so communicating with some of these transporters has been quite challenging. At the moment I have contact with one guy who is sending me emails using an online translator. I'm not always sure I quite understand what he is trying to say...
I can't even begin to explain the amount of anxiety just thinking about this is causing me! If I could just somehow magically transport Little Love to Finland with some Harry Potter magic, I would.
I still have a few leads on people who transport horses across Europe. Perhaps one of them will miraculously offer to take her all the way along with 5 other horses that are all calm and composed travelers. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky with this... I'll keep you posted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)