Trailering your horse can be a stressful event for you and the animal. Here are some tips to reduce that stress.
- Thoroughly inspect the trailer before the trip, making sure everything
is in working order. Eliminate chances for trailer problems on the road.
- Plan on making regular stops. It can be dangerous to unload a horse
at the side of the road, so attempt to stop at rest stops or areas where
you have more room. At every stop, usually about four hours apart, offer
the horse water. Try to bring water from home. Some horses will not
readily drink water that tastes different from what they are accustomed.
Also, use a bucket the horse is familiar with.
- Provide adequate hay for the horse. Hay helps retain water in the
horse’s gut. If the hay dust blows directly in the horse’s
face, wet it down. Do not feed the horse grain while in transit. That
can lead to colic or laminitis.
- At each rest stop, remove manure from the trailer. Removing manure
reduces the horse’s exposure to pathogens. Put the manure in a
sack, like an empty feedbag, and take it with you. Try to keep the rest
area clean for other travelers.
- Assess the air quality at each stop. If you covered the horse with
a blanket or sheet, feel underneath it to determine if the horse is
sweating.
- Encourage the horse to urinate during the trip by covering the floor
with a heavy layer of sawdust. Remove urine soaked bedding to reduce
irritation to the horse’s respiratory tract. Some horses will
not urinate on board but will readily do so when unloaded for a hand
walk.
- Leave the horse either untied or long-tied while traveling. This allows the horse to lower its head below the point of its withers. This allows the horse to clear its respiratory tract.
- Transport horses in groups that are familiar with each other.
- Regularly check boots and wraps to ensure they remain in place.
- Make sure your horse has about a week to rest after a long trip.
The physical changes brought on by a long-distance trip can persist
for days, making the horse susceptible to illness.