Studies indicate that for every hour your horse is on the trailer is equivalent to an hour of riding? Is your horse ready for a twelve-hour ride, or better yet for a cross-country trip?
Many times the question is asked, "how much weight loss is normal for my horse during transport?" The answer is none. Another common question is "how can I prevent my horse from dehydration during a trip?" The answer is simple. With proper preparation and knowledge of the correct hauling techniques you are assured your horse will arrive in top condition at the end of any trip.
Starting three days before any trip, horses should be put on electrolytes. It's best to use a powder intended for water. This allows the horse to get used to a new flavor, but one that came from home. Adding the electrolytes to the water flavors it to cherry or apple and when away from home his water will always be the same. Additionally the elevated electrolytes increase the bodies' trace elements, which will make him a little thirsty. All of this is pointed at making him drink about a gallon per one hundred pounds of body weight per day, or in other words for a one thousand pound horse ten gallons per day.
Nervous horses on a trip tend to not drink and this is cause for impaction colic. Starting three days before a trip adding mineral oil to his feed will help to maintain constant digestive function. Start with about three ounces and add to each feeding to the point that on the morning of his trip he will have about one pint of oil in his feed. This may loosen him up a bit, but better messy than sick.
Understand NO grain or rich feed prior to shipment no matter how much you love your horse. Replace alfalfa with grass hay several days before shipping. This will greatly reduce stress and make his trip more enjoyable.
If you have a nervous or hard to control (spoiled) horse, it is very important that you address this with your transporter up front. There are things that can be done to insure that both horse and handler are not injured. You can start your horse on an oral paste such as B-Calm a couple of days before transport time. This will help him to adjust easier and hopefully eliminate injury all the way around. Check with your vet to see what he would recommend to you regarding this issue. Please don't with hold this bit of information, hoping everything will go ok. It will end up costing you more in either injury to your horse and or damages he causes.
On the morning of his trip give him a dose of a probiotic, this will ensure proper levels in his digestive tract. It is suggested that before any of the above procedures are implemented that you need to consult with your vet.
Have the farrier check your horse two to three days before transport. Check lower legs, shoes, and look for signs of soreness, or heat. If your horse is barefoot have the farrier round off the hooves. It is not recommended that you trim or add shoes right before transport, this needs to be done two or three weeks ahead of time.
It is very important to let the driver know of any medical problems or any medication that needs to be used during the trip. Additionally let him know of any peculiar habits, good or bad that will help in keeping your horse happy.
Seriously think about whether your horse will do fine in a tie stall or if you need to spend a little more for a box stall so the horse can move around based on the horse's behavior with shorter trips to your local horse shows and trails.
Understand that exact times for pickup/drop off are not possible. Drivers can't always give exact times when driving on the road because traffic/weather/other horses effect the travel time. Normally transporter will be in contact to keep you updated though.
Transporting a horse incorrectly may cause shipping fever, thrush, cuts and abrasions, colic, and emotional scars. One very important aspect to preventing problems is preparation. It is important to remember that transporters are in the business to move your horse with the least amount of stress possible, but they are not in the business to train your horse. Adequate groundwork on your part will only make for a pleasant experience for your equine companion. Elevated electrolytes, proboscis, and mineral oil are essential ingredients to a successful transport. These are very easy to administer prior to shipping and help in reducing stress.
These are the things you will need to provide for the trip:
- A Negative Coggins test for EIA
- A health certificate from your veterinarian
- A brand inspection from the state brand inspector coming from the following states: AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT WY and parts of NE, OR and WA.
- Adequate hay to cover the trip
- If booking a stall and your horse will be lying down, additional bedding material. Straw or Shavings.
- Shipping boots*, blanket, halter and lead rope. Transporters do not usually supply blankets and boots for sanitary reasons.
- Special Care Instructions-written.
If the transporter allows for extra things to be shipped along with the horse....be sure to label your things and make a list to be given to the transporter and the person receiving the horse(s), even if this is the owner.
Well, if a long trip in the your horse's future, I hope this has helped. Now for the Transporter - Check out all the listings we have - Transportation Services Listings
*Shipping boots are not a good idea unless the horse is used to wearing them. If you really think they are necessary put the boots on and leave the horse tied for several hours to test their behavior. A shipping boot may sound like a good idea but if the horse kicks at them continually they are not. They can also add excess heat and stress to the horse's legs. Many transporters have ramps for loading/unloading so there is little risk of injury.
