I may need a hug tonight

[carla]

This will be LONG guys. I'm sorry!

So today was the big day. BFF and her hubby were coming to transport Jack to their farm (where Buck used to board) for a few days. We're shooting for trailering out for a ride on Sunday, but that's neither here nor there for tonight's story purpose. ;)

SO. I get to Diane/SM's, tie Jack up and do the chores.. just like usual. Jack is very relaxed, and even falls asleep at one point. About an hour and a half later, the trailer arrives.

I step up into the trailer and Jack loads like a DREAM, I tell ya. I was so proud and relieved! (I'd never seen him load, just unload). About two seconds' hesitation to get a sniff in and he's on. Cool. BFF's hubby (J) ties him up front and they begin the task of securing the dividers/chains, etc. I noticed that Jack got a little restless when he tried to watch me walk off the trailer, but nothing out of the ordinary for any horse that I"ve seen.

So J and I walk back into the barn to grab Jack's stuff and all of a sudden I hear what sounds like firecrackers going off in between HUGE kicks to the trailer divider. At the same time, bff screams, "J, get back over here NOW!! HURRY UP!!!!"

We fly back around the corner and all I see is Jack's head, appearing and disappearing from the slots in the trailer. He is FULL ON saddle-broncing in there. It was one of the scariest sights I have ever seen, and it was MY horse causing it!

J flies and opens up the trailer and gets to Jack. When he opens up the rear divider, we can see that Jack has completely uprooted the front divider from the trailer and is halfway in between his compartment and the one beside him. At first it looked like the divider was bent but it wasn't.

So as J goes to turn Jack around to bring him out, Jack does a mini-lunge and pins J in between Jack's shoulder and the rear divider (which was folded flat against the trailer, but he was up against the rim where it attaches to the trailer.) I thought I would throw up. I just knew he had squished J. You could tell he was in pain.

To top that off, I was so scared to even look at Jack when he came out. I just knew he was going to be totally lame and likely bleeding a lot.

I grabbed him and walked him away from the trailer and noticed a trickle of blood coming from his poll area but couldn't see where it was coming from. Didn't look too bad, though, so I didn't worry with that. I checked his legs.. one fetlock had the hair all roughed up and looking like something had tried to cut it (likely the divider), but it was fine. Just toussled.

To be continued..

[WP~Paint]

Yikes!!! I hope everyone, human and equine are ok! Hugs and prayers sent your way.

[Horseaholic]

to be continued??? Oy I hope hes (both jack and j) okay

[carla]

"So I guess we're not going anywhere, huh?" I said. I was totally crushed and feeling hopeless! :( AND I was so scared that J was really hurt and ready to kill Jack. "No.. just walk him back in there and turn him loose," he said. So I walked him through the yard a bit to be sure he wasn't off (seemed good), then went back to the trailer.

Thank the LORD, once again he loaded with ease.

He got a little antsy when I got him back up to the front, but J came in and took his halter and lead off completely. He had already removed the poor little front divider, lol. He came out and closed the rear divider and stood there. Nobody moved a muscle, lol. Quiet Jack. He rumbled the trailer a good bit to check.. Quiet Jack.

So then we were off. The ride to the farm went well.. one stop at a gas station and Jack seemed to enjoy it. He does like to move around and turn in the trailer, though, lol. Goober.

When we got there, he unloaded well and- I was surprised- was totally relaxed, even around all the new sights/smells! But I felt behind his right ear to see if the bleeding had stopped- my hand was soaked with blood. :doh:

We walked through the barn to get to the wash rack. It was hillarious, seeing all the heads poking out to see Jack.. but he didn't even care!

Got to the wash rack and rinsed his head to get a better look.. It looked like a good bit of blood, but I've decided now that it was from where it all collected under that thick, soft coat up there. After a few seconds the water ran clear and I could see.

Just a cut about a centimeter long, kinda deep but my gut didn't feel bad about it. I sprayed it with some kind of aerosol stuff bff had and looked him over. He was good. One more tiny cut on his left hind, but less than half the size of my pinky nail. Sprayed it too for good measure.

SO! We walked around the property, Jack got to hear the donkeys bray and just watched, lol.. I couldn't believe nothing phased him! Maybe because he's not on sweet feed anymore? I dunno- but he freaked when he came to Diane/SM's for the first two days. HE was a wild man.

So here's a pic if any of you made it through all of this. I feel like a butt head typing so much annoying stuff, but it feels good to type it out for some weird reason. :rolleyes:

Jack's temporary stall. His new neighbor just happens to be a VERY TALL TB who was wondering why Jack was getting to eat and he wasn't! I stepped back and LOLd at the sight. Made bff come look and snapped this pic:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p214/carcar_020/1238111259.jpg


:hysterical:


Well, thanks for reading all of this guys. This was my VERY FIRST experience transporting a horse of my own and ya might know, Jack gives me a stroke. I feel much better now, but we'll definitely be excited to return home after the weekend, too! :D

OH_ and J says he can't believe Jack got out of that with TWO scratches!! :p

[carla]

OH- and in case you see the TB's hips poking out a bit, he's had a hard road. ;) He looks amazing now compared to a month ago. :(

[alittleoffkey]

I'm glad everything's alright Carla. My cousin had a mare that would flip like that when she was tied in a trailer. You could load her by just saying "Load up", without a lead or anything - but if you tied her in that trailer, the trailer was going down. I guess they're just funny that way. Of course, you wound up with one of the funny ones. :p

Again, I'm glad he and everyone involved (especially J :eek:) are okay! The picture of him with the TB is hilarious! :D

[WashingtonBay]

So would you say your horse was being a butt hole, carla? ;)

[carla]

Em- yes! That's exactly what I was thinking. The whole trailer was rocking so hard. And if it had just been kicks I heard it wouldn't have been so bad. But I could hear metal on metal, chains, and neighsnorts, just like the angry ol' broncs do! Eeek!

Glad you like the pic. It was so funny because as I had been walking Jack around I was admiring what a great height he is for me. Then I looked and thought he had shrunk! LOL

I asked bff in private if J was *really* okay and not just saying it to make me feel better. She said yes, he really is okay. His upper back is pretty banged up and burnt.. but when he said "back" I immediately thought "spine" and that was what freaked me out!

[pandorasmom]

Glad everyone is okay and all is well for the majority!!! Here's hugs to you :grouphug: :grouphug:

That pic is adorable!!! He looks soooo little compared to that big TB. :D

[carla]

:hysterical: :hysterical:

Why yes, WB. I guess I would. Just looking for some validation is all. The butcher may be called in by Sunday's ride, though. :D

[PoniesRock101]

geese! what a day! glad everything eventually ended ok! I'm positive most of us don't mind the long... post!


ETA: whole time I was reading this I was thinking of that video you make! :innocent:

[valleyrider]

Wow! that is some scary story.. Glad Jack is ok. Silly goober..And J too! Hope the ride back home goes better for you.

[carla]

Thanks ponies, valley. I think the ride home will go fine. It's more the ride to the trails we were concerned with- having to get him in with other horses. But we figure we can put the other two up front with the divider, close the rear off and let Jack have that to himself. HOPEFULLY that will work out..

but even if not, I'm glad he's getting the experience anyway of a new place, new horses, and the trailer ride. There are trails o' plenty to use on the property if we (Jack & I) don't make it on the "big" ride Sunday. :)

[WP~Paint]

Glad to hear everyone was all right!

[carla]

LOL! I've been reminded that Jack ALSO stomped J's foot in the process. Bless him. :doh:

BFF says she checked on my boy before leaving tonight. He was almost asleep and no more bleeding. LOL, he probably hopes this was all a dream (except for the eating part) and that he'll wake up in the morning at home!

[Equine_Woman]

Wow!! What a trip!!! It's too bad that's not your trailer so you can work with him in it for a few weeks!!! Glad you made it though and didn't have to pull a cross country horseback move. .. lol . Glad J is okay too!!

[carla]

Thanks, E_W.

That reminds me, though- is it necessarily bad to have a horse who won't tie in the trailer? I mean- he did just fine in there untied. Not sure how he would have felt with the divider back in there, though. We just felt like he probably went to turn around and realized he couldn't, and with the combination of all the restraints he panicked.

I tie him a lot.. sometimes with the tie ring, but often where he can't pull slack. He's NEVER freaked at all.

[elevenelevenxo]

Whew! Now I'm nervous about transporting Rebel on Saturday to our new barn....eeeeeeek!

Glad he and J were both ok though. Things definitely could've been worse.

[alittleoffkey]

I don't think it's necessarily bad as long as you know that he can't be tied in the trailer, that's fine. I do think that it was not particularly nice of the previous owners not to tell you that he shouldn't be tied. ;) I was taught to only ever tie horses in a trailer if you had them loose together, without a divider.

[Vegashorselady]

Whew Carla, that is scary! I'm glad Jack and your friend's husband are ok. Was Jack tied in when he was delivered to you or was it a stock trailer?

[zoel_222]

Whew! That was scary. Glad everyone is okay. :)

[carla]

Thanks ALOK.. I guess it just depends on how you've always done things.. And I did think back- Jack was delivered in a trailer pretty much identical to this one, may have been a four-horse.. I didn't even think to see if he was tied/enclosed and owner didn't mention anything. HOWEVER, if the owner was a non-tier, and if the story was true about him being Jack's breeder and raising him, Jack wouldn't have known any different and his owner wouldn't know TO say anything.. know what I mean?

[JackieB]

OMG! That is truly, deeply scary when something like that happens. I really feel for you, Jack, and everyone. Thank goodness it turned out as well as it did. "J" sounds like a real saint of a guy, too.

[TheBadLands]

Wow! That's scary. I'm glad all are ok

[Petra]

Wow Carla, what a day! I would be freaking out too. Glad all ended up well.

[FatSpottedAppy]

Lol @ WB.

Sounds like a very scary day.. I'm glad no one was seriously injured.

[Toodlestoo]

Wow, I would have panicked but sounds like J knew what to do. Hope he and Jack are not too sore this morning! :doh:

[elleng]

Glad to hear that everyone in the end was ok. That had to be a very scary experience.

[farmers_wife]

I am glad all is ok. I would be freaking out. Dolly is not a good loader either.

[Me'N'Chic]

Glad everyone is fine Carla! I'll be praying you have a GREAT day Sunday!

[Country Girl 43]

Good heavens!!! What an experience! I'm glad everyone is OK, but I would have freaked out too!

Missy is real bad about "stomping" in the trailer till we get moving.

[Beausgirl]

Must've been very scary for you. I'm glad it all turned out o.k. As for tieing in the trailer...I've always tied myhorses, justbecause I don't like them moving around when I'm hauling the trailer. But - there are many who don't tie, and everyone has their own reasons. I think that it probably would be a good idea to think about teaching him to tie in the trailer because you never know when a situation might arise where he needs to be tied in an open trailer - like a stock trailer - with a bunch of other horses. The trailere ties I use are like bungee cords so the horses can turn their heads and move a little bit, plus they have quick release clips on them so that if the horse falls or something like that, the clip will release and not jerk the horses neck - or worse. Anyway - I'm so glad everything is alright. Hope you have a great ride and that the trip home is uneventful. P.S. _ Thank God fro your bff's husband. He sounds like a keeper!

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

Well, once again I was sleeping while all this excitement was happening right in my back yard. Poor Jack...he did not want to leave his herd!!!! lol. We are missing him here at Buck's Hollow. I hope Jamie is really okay Carla.

JackieB. Jamie is amazing with horses. He has always been very stern with his horses, but he certainly did the right thing, imo, by putting Jack back on the trailer. That was a classic example of a horse feeling clostrophobic (sp?), right?

Jack is such a good boy and really seems like he wants to "please" the humans.

CarCar..Have a fun ride on Sunday and please be very careful!

[vicklynn]

Wow, I am so glad everyone is ok. Sounds like a traumatic experience for you((HUGS))

[peace_baby]

Man, sounds like a rough time..
Glad everyone came out of that fiasco without serious injuries.

Thank God fro your bff's husband. He sounds like a keeper!

LOL, that could be interpreted more than one way. :p

[Apaches Mom]

I had a similar experience with Vance. He had been loaded and hauled many times. When I got him, we went from Michigan to southern Indiana. But one time, he just freaked. He completely tore up my 2h straight load. And I mean totally freaked out! He was trying to crawl up into the hay loft. and kicking with everything he had against the doors. I got so scared, I unloaded him on the side of the road and rode him the remaining 10 miles home. I don't know who was more exhausted when we got home... me or him. Because I was FREAKING out! We often wonder if maybe a bee or something didn't get him. But now, even in a stock trailer, we can't tie him without him completely freaking out. so he gets hauled in the stock trailer running loose like a cow! :mad:

This summer it is my goal to teach Vance tolerance in the trailer. I did buy a tie ring last month so I plan on spending a lot of time getting him past this with the help of the tie ring. Vance just panics if he's confined but is fine standing tied any other time. Hopefully the release of the tie ring will take the panic away. Thats my hope anyway!!!

It's possible the previous owner didn't know about any problems. Because I'd had Vance 2 years and had hauled him multiple times when his episode hit.

Just glad to hear that no one got hurt. But it sure is scary when its your own!!

[carla]

That's very true, AM. And I think it's the combo for Jack as well- restrained and confined.. Hey, I'd probably freak too.

I'm glad you were close enough to home to ride it out! Can you IMAGINE being hundreds of miles out?? What would you do? I guess you'd have to knock 'em out or something!