The Long Haul

LONG DISTANCE HAULING TIPS

SUMMER IS HERE, AND IT’S TIME TO LOAD UP THE TRAILER AND MAKE SOME MEMORIES. THE JOURNEYS ARE USUALLY LONG, BUT THE EVENTS ARE WORTH IT! IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WE TRAVEL MORE FREQUENTLY, AND FURTHER, WITH CONSIDERABLE EASE. BUT FOR OUR EQUINE PALS, A SIMILAR LONG DISTANCE JOURNEY CAN BE A DAUNTING PROSPECT, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF COST, BUT LOGISTICALLY TOO. WE’VE PUT TOGETHER A HANDY GUIDE ON LONG DISTANCE HAULING WITH EASE.

BEFORE THE TRIP

Being organized before a trip is well worth that extra bit of time that it takes, forgetting something on a short trip might be bearable, but forgetting water buckets on a long journey is no fun, believe me!

You can save yourself a lot of hassle on the journey simply by having everything in order before you start out! We’ve put together some printable checklists to use to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey!

TRAILER CHECK

Keeping a healthy truck and trailer is vital to your safety. I was in a trailer accident myself due to a crack in the tow bar. I saw the horror of the trailer disconnected from the truck, rolling down the hill, and hitting a pole, almost killing the horse inside.

TIRES - Check pressure of all of them, including the spare! And look out for any signs of wear and tear.

WHEELS - Ensure that lug nuts are tight on all wheels.

LIGHTS - Check each of your lights on your truck and the trailer before leaving the barn. That includes brake lights and indicators.

FLOOR - Walk your entire floor to check for weak areas; it’s all the better if you can lift your matting to check more thoroughly.

CLEANLINESS - Are the hay and grain storage areas clean and free from dust and mold?

HITCH - Look for cracks, rust and loose bolts.

HEALTH AND FIRST AID CHECK FOR YOUR HORSE

SAFETY CHAINS - Make sure to cross chains before attaching to the vehicle (NOT the bumper).

BREAKAWAY - You want to check that your breakaway is shorter that your safety chains, but not so short that you snag it on a turn. Veterinary experts agree that traveling a competition fit and sound horse is exhausting for the horse. Therefore, traveling an unfit or out-of-work horse is pretty strenuous work. Planning ahead and making sure that your horse is as healthy and hydrated as can be pre-trip will save you from a potentially sickly horse at the end.

SOUNDNESS

RAMPS AND DOORS - Ensure It’s never advisable to travel a lame horse any distance, other than to a veterinarian!

If your horse comes up lame before a long trip, you should do what you can to remedy the lameness. Failing that, delaying the trip until they’re steady on all four feet is advisable.

that they close and lock properly.

In addition to conducting your own check before each trip, I’d advise that you send your truck and trailer to a specialist every six months for a more thorough inspection. It doesn’t cost much to do, and will save you money in the long term. As soon as you see one thing that needs minor repairs, you can have it fixed before it turns into something bigger that will cost more money, and potentially even cause an accident.

VITAL SIGNS Check your horse’s vital signs for any indications of ill health prior to travel. For example, if your horse seems a little lethargic, you can schedule in more stops to make sure he is as comfortable as possible. If your horse seems to have a slight cough, you can decrease the amount of bedding on the floor to ensure that dust doesn’t aggravate the condition. *We never recommend travelling a sick horse, but a slightly out of sorts horse should travel just fine if you take into account additional stops and supplies needed.  ELECTROLYTES Feed additional electrolytes for two or three days prior to transport. This will encourage your horse to drink more water, and fend off the dreaded long haul dehydration.

VACCINATIONS AND

WORMING UP TO DATE

Up to date vaccinations are needed for most state or border crossings, and you may also want to look into whether specific vaccinations are recommended in the area that you’re travelling to. Worming your horse is one of the most important steps in maintaining your horse’s health. A horse that hasn’t been wormed can become extremely underweight, lethargic, and can develop a dull coat.

RECENT COGGINS TEST A Coggins test is used to check for Equine Infectious Anemia, a viral disease with no cure.  FIRST AID KIT

Pack a first aid kit for both horse and human!

Don’t just think of your horse when it comes to first aid. I’m always the one to pack a human first aid kit, and you’d be surprised by how often I have used it myself, as well as my fellow competitors!

VACCINATIONS AND PAPERWORK

And while your horse’s health is of vital importance, you likely won’t be going anywhere without the correct paperwork. Most state or border crossings require health documents to prove that your horse isn’t a danger to the wider equine population. Common travel documents needed, which can vary depending on the state or country border, can include: health certificate, brand Inspection, up-todate vaccinations, and a negative Coggins test.

SAFETY GEAR

You can boot or wrap your horse’s legs when travelling, and for additional safety you can have them wear a poll guard and tail bandage. Practice Loading If you’re planning on taking your horse on a long journey, for his own safety it’s important to know that he will behave himself in the trailer.

CAMERAS IN THE TRAILER

Whilst cameras in the trailer can be seen as a luxury rather than a necessity, a friend of mine credited the camera for saving the life of one of her youngsters who became strung up in the trailer. If not for the camera, she wouldn’t have known that “Baby” was stuck on top of a partition, and pulled over to free him.

ROUTE PLANNING

If your trip is going to take more than a day, you should have a clear idea of your route, and backup routes! But most importantly, it should include horse friendly stopovers. Consider asking friends in the areas that you’re passing through if they have a spare paddock for your equine pal. If not, HorseMotel.com is a great resource for this!

DURING THE TRIP

REST STOPS

Every two or three hours, you should stop and give your horse a 15-20 minute break. Give them water, offer them some hay, and give them a little time to just stand without having to constantly balance!

FEEDING AND WATERING

Traveling takes its toll on your horses, so in order to maximize your horse’s comfort, it’s very important that you provide them with adequate hay and water. One thing you might want to consider if you have a horse that tends to eat quickly, is a slow feed hay bag. This will make it harder for your horse to get his hay, and greatly minimize the risk of choking.

Providing water can be a little trickier, and you’ll want to make sure you stop every two or three hours to do this.

SUPPLIES LIST

A tank of water from home, (at least one day’s worth) as horses can be funny about drinking water that doesn’t smell like home!  Enough hay for the duration of

the trip  Human snacks  An offline music playlist or two  Equine and human first aid kit  Blanket (an equine and a human version)  Spare halter and rope  Tool kit  Trailer Jack and spare tires  Chains if needed  Sharp knife  Water bucket  Wood shavings, or other bedding  Manure shovel  Wheelbarrow, or muck bucket to save space  Fire extinguisher  Emergency phone numbers list: such as veterinarians along the route