Handy Checklist

On-the-Go Feeding

By Audrey Pavia | Photo by Heidi Melocco

The stress of traveling can play havoc with your horse’s digestive system. Use this checklist to support your horse’s digestive health.

Before You Go

■ Schedule a wellness exam.

■ Evaluate your horse’s diet.

■ Buy the right feed. Select lowdust forage or a complete feed.

■ Check feed requirements. If you’ll be traveling to or through public lands, find out whether you need to give your horse certified weed-free feed.

■ Transition slowly.

■ Consider supplements.

■ Pack salt and electrolytes.

Keep Him Hydrated

■ Provide enough water. Generally, in the summer, your horse needs about 10 gallons of water per day.

■ Plan ahead. Find out whether your destination offers water for horses.

■ Bring water from home. If your horse is a fussy drinker, or if water won’t be available, bring water from home to use en route.

On the Road

■ Use a hay bag or bucket. On the road, use a slow feeder hay bag for forage; this will help your horse eat more slowly and will reduce wasted feed.

■ Soak the hay. Encourage a fussy drinker by soaking his hay.

■ Tie him right. In the trailer, tie your horse with enough slack to comfortably eat and put his head down to clear his airways, but not so tight that he can catch a hoof in the rope.

■ Take breaks. Take a break every three to four hours to offer your horse water, refill his hay bag, allow him to rest, and check him over.