Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company Suffolk Essex

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Horse Transport

Highly experienced, safe and careful
equestrian transport services. 

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Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company Suffolk Essex

Horse & Rider Training

From groundwork to competitive disciplines.

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Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company Suffolk Essex

Bit & Bridle Fitting

Fully qualified service with

experienced help and advice

 

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Horse Box / Trailer Loading Practice 

Travelling Safely

It always amazes me in the first place that horses trust us enough to get into a rattling box on wheels and be swung around the countryside. However, what is also surprising (and telling) is how many young horses and ponies will do so without much fuss when they have not yet learnt a reason as to why they shouldn’t like it!

Where things often start to go wrong is where there are unreasonable expectations being asked from those loading them or when there becomes a bad association with travelling. When this vital education is not handled well then we are likely to start seeing problems develop that can last well into the future.

With good handling and management however most horses and ponies are able to be trained to accept this very alien concept of walking up a ramp into a dark confined area and to cope with the ground moving under them, not knowing where it may move to next, without drama.

 Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company in Suffolk and Essex

We offer loading and travelling practice sessions, starting from the first introduction for a foal or youngster, to retraining the horse that has had a bad experience.

Starting from just £45 a session (subject to mileage) we can;

  • Introduce the foal or youngster to our lorry.
  • Give you guidance and exercises to do with your horse or pony from the ground in order to make loading easier and safer.
  • Allow the horse time to relax. Especially important for those reluctant to load, that the ramp is not slammed shut and rushed off.
  • Take the horse for short journeys, allowing them to realise that nothing has to change or be stressful. In this time we can look at how the horse travels and balances itself. How they prefer to stand and like to be driven.
  • Take you and your horse to a lesson or a place to work or just relax your horse. Building further on the experience of going out to a controlled environment and returning home.
  • Lessons and guidance are also available on how to drive your horse yourself so that you can continue to build their confidence in travelling and are not the cause of any future problems.

Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company in Suffolk and Essex 

Please note: You will need to have your horse insured for being transported and have their passport in the case of leaving the yard.


 Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company in Suffolk and Essex

  Introducing Ghost, 9 months, to the lorry by having his supper in it.

Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company in Suffolk and Essex

  A 2 year old filly that did not want to load when we bought her,
learning that she wasn’t just going to be shut in immediately.

Travelling Concerns

Unfortunately for many horses and ponies the travelling experience is often first combined with and likely to be marred by;

  • Being weaned from their mother.
  • Moving home, maybe away from the support of other important companions.
  • A change of ownership who may have different expectations, experience or confidence.
  • Visiting the vet.
  • The stress of a show, maybe combined with the stress levels of the owner at the same time
  • Travelling in a lorry/trailer the wrong size for them, either too short in length or too low in height.
  • Being badly handled or rushed.
  • Being driven without care or enough consideration.
  • Being involved in an accident

Sometimes these reasons could be unavoidable. However it is not hard to imagine that if each time a horse is asked to get into a lorry that one of the above takes place, then it shouldn’t take long for them to start to think that maybe its not such a great idea to go in!

Equestrian Services Bit Fitting, Transport and Rider Training company in Suffolk and Essex

Overcoming
these fears...

It is a shame that the training of young horses often does not involve loading and travelling too. The focus of training today is all too often about getting to a show rather than in the making of a calm and confident horse.

How much easier would it be to know your horse could arrive in a relaxed manner and in good time for an appointment or show class?

 How important could it be that if you needed to travel urgently, as for a vet issue, then this could be done without the added issue of not being able to load the horse?

 

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