any ideas on transport of 2yr entire unhandled percheron x

I am interested in hearing any ideas from experienced horse people on how to transport the above who has not even been seperated from his mum.
He is currently at a dealer's yard having just been saved from the abattoir. He is very beautiful and sweet natured but will need careful handling to transport. There is a serious possibility that he could injure himself if he panics.
Also one can't count on much help from the dealer.
What is the situation re tranquilisers? A cattle truck has been suggested. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Maybe it might be an idea to have a word with your vet. He gives me sedalin to calm my filly for the farrier visits. Obviously you wouldn't want this lad to be too sedated in case he lost his footing while travelling. It seems to me though that the french 'don't do problems'. They would probably just load and go and he would be fine and if they came across a problem then they'd sort it then! Sometimes I think we english tend to worry too much about what MIGHT happen [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] . Obviously he would have to be tied up and couldn't travel loose as he'd be too big and might try and turn round. I'm sure someone will come up with some good advice soon and 'Good Luck'! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thank you georgie for your support.
I should have said that a transporter has already been to try and take him but she was too worried that he could panic and tip over the lorry or hurt himself so she didn't manage it.
The cattle truck was suggested because he has never had a headcollar on or been tied up and could pull back and injure himself.
Would a large horsebox be sufficient? The trouble is he doesn't have papers so bigger companies won't transport him. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Puts a different perspective on it as he's never been handled but ' where there's a will there's a way'. I think he's definately going to need some sedation. It's wether to tie him up or not. If you tie him (better to) there is the worry he may feel trapped and go up or pull back . If you don't tie him he could try to turn around- definately NOT a good thing at his size! Do you have a good traveller that could go with him for confidence? Years ago we bought an unhandled 3 year old anglo arab who was also entire but the transporter didn't question wether he had been tied up before (he hadn't, the woman wouldn't even trot him up in hand so that I could see if he moved straight). He just ,after what seemed like hours getting him to load, tied him up in a partitioned lorry and basically drove. He arrived home with a cut on his nose and black with sweat. We didn't dare look en route, just drove. Some other ideas will be along shortly I'm sure.

would the dealer not help if he had some financial gain out of it?

if he is not too far away borrow the mother and load both on the cattle wagon cause its stronger, put them both in a stable before hand to ensure they are hungry and using food get them both on together, when they arrive at your place seperate them humanely, is it possible to have the tranverse partitioning that is easy to shut in the wagon? i would tie up the mother in a partition and leave the other in a larger area, we travel mares tied up with young foals loose. i would not try to tie up an unhandled horse and would always check frequently during tavelling, its all about avoiding stress what a shame for him to have to go through all this, its totally unacceptable for a horse to get to two years old and not be handled, good luck

He should be microchipped to travel, that's all the French
transporters ask for, there's a very good one who's used to
unhandled horses if you want his number, I'd get a pro
with a big wagon to do it myself

Thanks everyone for the input. It's very helpful [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Jann, if the transporter you know would go down to dept 23, La Creuse, I would love his number please. Does he have a big wagon?

Be aware that sedalin is not really that good for transporting, as some horses have been known to just drop.

I agree that he will have to be sedated, get the mum and him in the box, then get him tied up and a vet tranquilliser given then get mum out of the box and get going a.s.a.p.

Please please please, make sure you use a box with a really good floor otherwise with his weight and movement he could break the floor - I was gifted a mare that this had happened too!

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They do a lot of work with rescues, they have a really good
reputation, there's also will and katy who have quite a good
reputation
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you could always get quotes from them both

Thanks Horseybird. Very good advice as always.

Thanks jann. Have emailed stc. Do you think they would do it without papers?

I should think he'd have to be microchipped :/ anyone know for sure?

Yes I would think he needs to be chipped , I'm not sure if vets can provide a note if its too difficult to do the chipping though , worth a question to the vet maybe ?
speak again soon Felicity x

I can second Will and Katy, as they transported my horse who had never travelled before and is still very stallion like from Portugal to Brittany and they were marvellous. I can't recommend them highly enough.

just waiting to hear if the dealer will cooperate with the chipping at the moment [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Fingers crossed. Hope you manage to get it all sorted [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

the dealer/seller really should have to get him identified = (usually a microchip) now by law, or he can't be sold/gifted/moved legally, so if the dealer said he had plans to send him for meat = he couldn't with out doing the ID or the abbatoir/transporter could get done too.

But if the dealer just won't do it - then you can get it done- but do it before you move him, any FARM/HORSE vet can do it for you so long as you can proove ownership, my friend had to get her rescue shet 'retro-chipped' so to say by our vet after he arrived, & even though the vet knows me he still had to see a receipt with some form of description for the pony to make an identification reccord.

** the chips are species specific so a cat n dog vet may not carry the right ones.

A GOOD VET should be able to advise you on sedation etc, but horses are funny animals to sedate, some are off the planet on a dose that barely slows down another of the same size!

most heavy breeds are less panicky and silly minded than blood horses, just as well when dealing with a mountain on hooves, good luck, bye.

At the moment the dealer has agreed to do the chipping, papers and vaccination. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] The main problem now is finding a transporter who will take a colt who hasn't been weaned [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Great news [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Katy and Will have agreed to get him [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Big relief [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Oh that's brilliant , I'm so pleased for you and I'm sure everything will go smoothly! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Brilliant.
Pen x

Great news [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] bet you are sooo excited [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

A different transporter now [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] So fingers crossed for next week [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

he'll be fine , he looks lovely

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Yeah! and all the best things are worth waiting for! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]