Travel Prep with Aaron Ralston

Ask your vet which electrolytes or probiotics might be helpful to give your horse before a long trailer ride. Electrolytes replace salts lost in sweat.

PHOTOS BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Trip Prep

Advance planning before every trailer trip will help make the journey go smoothly. Here’s what to keep in mind.

Plan your route. Plan your route in advance. Know where you’ll stop for breaks and overnight. Identify service stations and truck stops that have room for your rig so you can take a break and fill up.

Obtain health papers. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to get the health papers you’ll need for your trip, both in transit and at your destination.

Consider supplements. Ask your vet which electrolytes and/or probiotics might be helpful to give your horse before a long trailer ride.

Gather your gear. Think through what gear you’ll need for your trip (including a muck bucket and fork). Make a list, and put it in a hanging folder in your trailer’s tack room.

Before every trip, check the condition and pressure on all trailer, truck, and spare tires.

Trailer Prep

Don’t be tempted to skip over these vital trailer-prep steps, even if you trailer often.

Check moving parts. Walk around and through your trailer to make sure that all moving parts are working well.

Check for damage. Inside your trailer, check for any damage, and make sure all parts are smooth and won’t cause an injury.

Check tires.

Check lights.

Check closures. Walk around your trailer, and check all latches and window closures.

Install a trailer monitor. A trailer monitor helps you ensure that the horses inside your trailer are staying calm and in position.

Install a trailer fan. Fans designed for trailering can help keep the temperature down on hot days.

Put down shavings. Put down shavings so the trailer flooring or mats won’t get slick if your horse urinates or passes manure.

Open the windows. In warm weather, safely open all windows and vents. Be sure protective bars are in place so that horses can’t put their heads out through the windows.

Open the slants. If you have a slant-load trailer, open the slants, and secure them in the open position so the horses can load into the trailer easily with the widest possible alleyway.

Load in hay. Load mangers or hay bags with hay so the horses can eat and relax as soon as they’re loaded.

If your horse is new to trailering or tends to be anxious during the trailering process, first perform ground work. Send him in a small circle around you by holding up the lead line in the direction you want him to go.

Horse Prep

Once your trailer is ready, prepare your horse for the trailer trip.

Choose a halter. Choose a halter that isn’t tight but won’t come off.

Perform ground work. If your horse is new to trailering or tends to be anxious during the trailering process, perform ground work even before you apply leg wraps.

Apply leg wraps. Standing wraps support your horse’s legs during long trailering trips.

Load up. Choose the order you’ll load your horses into the trailer. Consider putting horses that are buddies close together and know who in your herd needs to be separated.

On the Road

Water your horse before you feed him. Often, horses won’t drink after they’re presented with hay so only load up the mangers or hay bags after you’ve offered water.

To be sure that all is working well, plan your first stop just a mile or two down the road. When you stop, get out, check all the lights and latches, and double-check the in-trailer temperature and window configurations for optimal comfort.