Transporting your horse should never be undertaken before you have made proper plans. Warm weather, especially, can increase the stress felt by a horse during transportation. The most important thing to remember is that the health and safety of your horse comes first.
There are some horses which won’t display their stress at being transported. It’s important, therefore, that you monitor the horse’s behaviour and heartbeat. Since horses are intelligent they are capable of remembering things. If your horse seems unwilling to enter the trailer, remember that this could be the cause.
If you bully your horse, it will not forget and so will associate horseboxes with unpleasant memories. You must avoid introducing an inexperienced horse too suddenly to such travelling. Patience, encouragement, and consistency will be required.
One important thing to remember is that driving and towing horses is a special skill and not just anyone can handle towing a horsebox. Anyone who passed their driving test after 1997 is required by law to take a separate test to tow a trailer or drive a horsebox. Consider professional training if you have no experience.
Do your practising with an empty box or trailer. Reversing a trailer requires special skill, so do it with a horse on board only when you have acquired the skill.
You must ensure that the horsebox is well ventilated. It’s essential that air circulates as much as is possible. Don’t be caught unprepared if you have to swerve suddenly or make an emergency stop. You need to have first aid equipment for both you and your horse. In case of an emergency you should always have your vet’s number readily available. Should you be unlucky enough to need immediate veterinary treatment for your horse as a result of an accident, it’s sensible to have ready access to your horse insurance documents.
Horses that are travelling need to be encouraged to drink. Such encouragement will reduce the risk of impaction colic as well, of course, of dehydration. Frequent stops for water will ensure that your horse remains healthy.
Horses tend to travel better when it is cool so try to plan your trip accordingly. You want to make sure your horse is getting plenty of ventilation. Also, avoid travelling in the heat of the day and allowing any build-up of muck in the horsebox. In hot and humid weather your horse will need plenty of water to make up for its increased sweating. Respiratory problems can result from an ammonia build-up, so ensure that the trailer is kept scrupulously clean. The cost of an unexpected visit to your vet can be surprisingly high – especially if your horse insurance provider denies liability on account of your alleged negligence.
Some horses like to drink only the water to which they are accustomed. To make sure your horse will drink during your travels start putting a splash of Gatorade into their water. Then when you are travelling you take some Gatorade with you and put a splash in their water whilst on the road. Your horse will find the water more inviting if you do this.
Don’t forget to ensure that all the details required by your equine insurance company have been kept up to date just in case the worst should happen and you were unlucky enough to have a collision. Your journey can be a pleasure if you make proper plans and take everything that your horse might need.
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