THE WALL CLIMBER

by

John O'Leary
Horseman

* click on all photos to enlarge them.

There is nothing more frustrating than to experience and witness, the frantic actions of the horse that climbs the walls of a horse float.

Over the years, I have floated many unbroken horses and have always noticed that they are 'rock solid' inside the float and are not easily upset. The same with foals, weanling and yearlings. Having a horse climb the wall is the least of my worries with these horses. In fact, I have deliberately tested a few of them, just to see how easily they can be upset or even worse, turned into 'wall climbers' I have never really been able to extract much of a reaction from them.

5 weanlings in one float. Not a problem

THE CAUSES

  • Bad Drivers', caused by the zero training via Pony Club or other avenues. Traveling too fast around bends or braking too abruptly causing the horse to lose it's footing.
     

  • Often Males who will not listen to their wives or daughters and are basic petrol heads at heart. No matter how slow they go, they are going too fast!!
     

  • Centre divisions that extend all the way to the floor. These guarantee the ruination of horses.


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  • Centre Divisions that extend down too low. A common design fault these days. Stopping the horse from spreading the legs. New floats are being made in South Australia, with this design fault.

     

  • Rough Horse Floats. Rattle Traps with high noise levels or even new floats with high noise levels. The new JR Float that features http://www.horseproblems.com.au/Video/SMJRFloating.wmv

  • upset the resident horse.
     

  • Dark and dingy horse floats with poor lighting and small windows.

  • Claustrophobia kicks in.
     

  • This float arrived here with the horse climbing the walls and shoes ripped off. It only had the little window near the front door. I advised the people to lift the roof and leave the front and side gaps open. The horse was cured on the trip home and has never done it since. Thus proving my point yet again.
     

HOW TO FIX THEM
 

  • Remove the centre division and allow the horse to find it's own position in the float. Normally on the angle. Horses need something to lean against, in order to get to climbing the walls.
     
  • Sack your driver as the horse must have completely successful trips form now on. Success makes repair and over time, the horse will be fixed....or
     
  • Travel the horse in an open horse float for a few trips and that will fix it. No division but with my safety belt system on the horse.

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  • Travel the horse in a 3 horse float, both divisions in but put the horse in the centre bay. NOT if the divisions extend down any more than 300mm from the top however.
     
  • Travel the horse in a Truck, amongst other horses and preferably with no divisions or chains.

'Scramblers' or 'Wall Climbers' are deeply psychologically distressed horses and ruined by people, normally their loving owners. If one doesn't take every step to help them, serious injuries will occur and in the end, the horse will never be able to be floated again. That normally means death to the horse.

Hypothetically, we can drive horses as fast as we like and have done so. 160k attempting to beat another car to the punt at Berri as we were running late for the first race for which we were entered. :) It has no affect upon them. The bends is your major danger. Go here and read this:

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/horse_problems_australia_on_safe.htm

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/problem_horse_or_problem_horse_f.htm

 

Best of Luck

 

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Mail: horseproblems@horseproblems.com.au