How to transport a horse

Video: How the horses travel to the FEI World Equestrian Games™ | Tryon 2018

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Horse Riding Platform
Method 2 of 3: Horse Truck
Method 3 of 3: Horse Carrier
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

For those who are engaged in horses, transporting and traveling with horses or ponies is a common thing, for example, for a horse to participate in a show or in a competition, a trip to a veterinarian or a farrier, or simply loading food for a horse. However, it is still recommended to transport a horse or pony for those who are familiar with transportation in large trailers or horse transporters. This article deals with the transport of horses in the main vehicles: horse platform on wheels, truck and horse transporter.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Horse Riding Platform

1 Trailer installation. Make sure the trailer is properly fitted and securely attached to the tow. Carry out a full safety check including brake lights, tire pressure, and gas in the tank. Make sure you put your mobile phone, documents, and the horse's medical card and card in the trailer. Always be prepared for any problems that may arise.
2 Make your horse trailer cozy. Horses are initially afraid of an enclosed space and are unlikely to calmly enter a small dark room. If you have a loading ramp, lower it down and put some bedding in there to make the place feel familiar to the horse. Open all doors and windows wide so that it is very bright. If possible, put some hay in there so that the horse can see it from the outside.
3 Prepare your horse for the ride. Always use a removable bridle with a protective bumper on your head, protect your feet with the carrying pads. You can brush your horse's hair, although this is not necessary. If it's hot, you can spray the insecticide on the horse so that your horse doesn't stomp much, which will minimize the chance of bruising or injury. Cover the horse if necessary to keep it significantly warmer in the trailer than outside.If there are windows in the trailer, open them, but leave them covered a little so that the horse's head does not peek out of the trailer. Be calm at all times, as your horse will feel any excitement on your part.
4 Load your horse into the trailer. Lead her completely calmly down the ladder and inside to her place. If she is nervous, lead a calm horse ahead of her, or go ahead of her yourself. The goal is to show her that the trailer is a safe place, without a threat to life. Always make sure that a heavy horse or a horse traveling alone is on the driver's side of the trailer. The second or empty seat must be on the passenger side. If you have questions, consult an instructor or someone competent in the matter.
5 Secure your horse inside the trailer. Close all doors and latches or lock. Double check that doors and windows cannot swing open and get in the way of the road. Never strap a horse in a trailer so that the horse does not break its neck if the trailer rolls over. Horses in the trailer should never touch the nose to avoid collisions, unless you are comfortable with the horses being around.
6 Take a trip. Avoid highways and always drive slowly, just below the speed limit. Remember that any wrong move will endanger your life and the life of the horse. You can be assisted by another driver in a different vehicle, who will drive behind the trailer so that it can change lanes behind you, leaving you room to move.

Method 2 of 3: Horse Truck

1 Check the safety of the truck. The truck must be registered. Freight transport must be inspected by a specialist mechanic or a special traffic police body. You can also do a basic inspection of the truck yourself by checking the following: brake lights, warning lights, tire pressure and tire tread, gas or fuel, water and the required fluid or oil.
2 Prepare your horse for the journey. Make sure the horse is ready to be transported, many horses refuse to be transported at first, so usually two or three horses are transported. Make the horse familiar by following the same procedures as when transporting a horse on a platform. The inside of the platform for the horse can be much warmer, and horses may only need light bedding, and in the truck, many of them are unprotected and may be in a draft. This means that a thin mat may not be enough, so there should always be a thicker mat in case of cold weather. Boots (shoes) for travel are an essential item, because the gangway and tailgate can be very steep and larger than a normal horse stall, and if the horse stumbles or slips, it can injure its legs. It is very convenient to use the detachable bridle for travel; although a good quality bridle is sufficient. You must make sure that the lead rope is of good quality and longer than normal. Due to the fact that in the truck the loops are in different positions to the platform (they are usually higher), a long rope will be needed to provide the horse with safety and comfort, but the horse should not be tied.
3 Truck preparation. If you have a steep ladder or drop sides, then you need to sprinkle some sawdust on the ladder so that it is more convenient for the horse to climb and it does not slip. Most trucks have opening guards or windows for ventilation, open them to make the trailer lighter. It will be more comfortable for the horse. The horse can be easily seduced with food. To tame stubborn or nervous horses, place hay or a bucket of feed on the floor of the truck. For the horse, the ride will be calm and easy if it has enough hay and feed.Due to the fact that there are mechanical tilting devices in trucks, which can be very loud and noisy, it is better to lower the ladder lower to the horse as it approaches the truck, then the horse will be less agitated or nervous about the sounds. Make sure you have everything you need for this trip: registration documents and documents for a horse, a first-aid kit for a person and for a horse, a mobile phone, a flashlight, a spare tire, power tools such as a jack, wrench, etc. as well as water and food for everyone. All or basic necessities should be in easily accessible places, for example, in the glove compartment or cockpit.
4 Load the horse into the trailer, bearing in mind that many trucks do not have a separator and the horses should be happy to share the close proximity to each other. If you have a horse that is not used to being transported, then first immerse the more experienced and calm one, then the calmness from the first horse will go to the young, inexperienced horse, he will be more protected and less worried. If you only have young, inexperienced horses, make sure the youngest horse enters first, because the horse is worried, it can provoke a response from other horses. If you are traveling with a large number of horses, submerge them as usual, but with an easily controlled horse in the back, if there are problems during the ride, you can get them out, and you will have less problems if you have to stop on the road, because this easier to drive horses. Once again, never strap your horse in a trailer.
5 Hit the road. Many people just drive and don't worry about the load until they get there. If you are not driving for a long time, then perhaps this is your case, but if you are planning to drive for more than 2 hours, then it is better to plan a stopover. The horses will be fine, but if you get tired you could put yourself and the horses in danger. Plan ahead for your stops, and if you're heading for a show, think of extra stops. If you are traveling long distances, make sure you can let the horses out of the truck and let them walk, just like humans, they need normal circulation. If you sit for a long time, your legs will become heavy and sluggish, as in horses, and they need movement for circulation. It's okay if you can stay with friends or a horse motel, but if not, plan your trip with stops.

Method 3 of 3: Horse Carrier

1 Check the vehicle for safety. You must make sure that the mount is registered and legal. An experienced mechanic should check the fastening, or you can contact the road department. You can also do a basic inspection of the trailer yourself by checking the following: brake lights, warning lights, tire air pressure and tire tread, gas or fuel, water and necessary fluid or oil, fasteners.
2 Preparing the horse for the ride. Make sure the horse is ready and that the horse carriage is comfortable, some horses may not have standard sizes. Let everything be familiar to the horse, do the same as when preparing a horse for a ride on a platform on wheels. As with the platform, the horse may be warm inside and only need light bedding, however, in the cart they may be in a draft if they have an open entrance. Light bedding may be sufficient, but prepare something more dense in case it gets colder. There must be special boots; since the slope has a rather flat slope, not steep, mainly on the back side, where there is an additional door. Take all security measures; if the horse slips, it can injure its legs. The detachable bridle is very suitable for travel, however just a good quality bridle will do. Once again, leave the horse's head free.
3 Equipment preparation. If you have a steep ramp, or a tailgate, or a horse that is only used to standing, then it is necessary to sprinkle sawdust on the ramp so that the horse does not slip. Basically, the carriages are fenced off, and there are windows for ventilation, open them to keep it fresh inside. So, the horse will become much more comfortable. The horse can be easily seduced with food. To tame stubborn or nervous horses, place hay or a bucket of feed on the floor of the trailer. For the horse, the ride will be calm and easy if it has enough hay and feed. Because the ramp is not very steep, the horse will usually walk over it without problems, but make sure the ramp and door are open before bringing the horse to the equipment. Make sure that you have everything you need for this trip: registration documents and documents for a horse, a first aid kit for a person and for a horse, a mobile phone, a flashlight, a spare tire, mechanical equipment such as a jack, wrench, etc. as well as water and food for everyone. Make sure all or major equipment is in an easily accessible area, such as in the glove compartment or the passenger compartment.
4 Place the horse in the compartment as well as on the wheeled platform, bearing in mind that many horse carriers do not have dividers and the horses should be happy to share the close proximity to each other. If you have a horse that is not used to being transported, then immerse the more experienced and calm one from the beginning, then the calmness from the first horse will go to the young, inexperienced horse, he will be more protected and less anxious. If you only have young horses that are not accustomed to moving, make sure the youngest horse enters first, because the horse is worried, it can provoke a response from other horses. If you are traveling with a large number of horses, submerge them as usual, but with an easily controlled horse in the back, if there are problems during the ride, you can get them out, and you will have less problems if you have to stop on the road, because this easier to drive horses. Make sure the horse's head is free of any constraint and do not strap your horse.
5 Hit the road. Many people just drive and don't worry about the load until they get there. If you are not driving for a long time, then perhaps this is your case, but if you are planning to drive for more than 2 hours, then it is better to plan a stopover. The horses will be fine, but if you get tired you could put yourself and the horses in danger. Plan ahead for your stops, and if you're heading for a show, think of extra stops. If you are riding long distances, make sure that you can let the horses out of the trailer and let them walk, just like humans, they need normal circulation. If you sit for a long time, your legs will become heavy and sluggish, as in horses, and they need movement for circulation. It's okay if you can stay with friends or a horse motel, but if not, plan your trip with stops. A small paddock can be attached to many horse transporters. If there is such a corral, then this is the best option for a multi-day trip or travel across a state or country.

Tips

If you are going away for a long time, you should always have a backup plan. It is good when there is another driver in the car, in case the tire is flat or unforeseen situations arise, then you can go, for example, to a veterinarian, to a workshop, a shopping center, etc.
Leave early in the morning, and if possible, leave when it just starts to dawn, then you will be able to see the trailer well and load the horses. If you do this in the dark, you can miss something or do it wrong. If you must leave early in the morning or late at night, download and pin in a well-lit area to prevent accidents.
Bring a first aid kit in case of an emergency while traveling.
Horse equipment for the ride: During the ride, your horse should have a bridle. It is usually advised to wear leather bridles (not nylon or rope). In an emergency, leather is easiest to cut. Depending on the climate, you can transport your horse in a woolen blanket. While transporting your horse, boots or other leg protection can be very helpful. Boots provide additional protection against injury while riding (make sure your horse is properly worn, otherwise, they may be harmful).
Medical Requirements: You will need a health certificate from the veterinary clinic stating that your horse has been vaccinated, as well as a negative Coggins test (for infectious anemia virus) within the last 6 months. Check government regulations before traveling to see if any additional vaccinations are required. Note: this must be done in advance, as the preparation of the necessary papers may take some time.
If possible, take a trailer 25 cm taller than the full height of the horse.
Become a pro in the modes of transportation before embarking on long journeys.
Food: Your horse needs fresh hay throughout the ride. Prepare the required amount of food, taking into account the distance of the trip. You should stop periodically to water the horse, he should not feel thirsty. It may even be easier and more economical to hire a professional horse carrier.
Horses may be afraid to enter an unfamiliar trailer and may even get hurt if not guided carefully. It is a good idea to practice loading your horse into the trailer ahead of time while walking with your horse and letting it get used to entering a small, dark place.
Make sure in advance that all safety equipment and gear are loaded, so that in the morning you will not be in a hurry to look for gloves or a special bridle.
Make sure the trailer is well ventilated. Perform a complete physical examination upon arrival. Check all joints for abrasions or scratches, and make sure the animal has a fever.
When transporting one horse in a two horse trailer, load the horse from the side of the tug driver.
Be aware that there are several different types of trailers and ways to load horses into a trailer. Search with your carrier for a more suitable trailer type and configuration that suits your needs and fits your horse.
You can use a head protector for a tall horse if it rears up in a trailer.
Keep extra bridles, reins, rug, etc. in stock. If you suddenly get stuck on the highway or in the middle of the forest, and one of the horses has a bridle torn, you need to urgently replace it. Also, a rug (blanket) may be needed to cover the horse, if it suddenly becomes cold, frost or storm begins.

Warnings

NEVER tie up your horse in a trailer. Let your horse feel free in the trailer as the trailer can roll over, your horse can break its neck trying to free itself, or die.
Carrying hats, capes, and protectors may slip or fall off after extended wear. It is important to check your horse's foot cover periodically if the ride is longer than 4 hours. If the leg protectors are poorly worn, they can injure the horse's legs.
Horses are unpredictable and horse riding is one of the most dangerous sports. Get ready for anything. It is better to have and not need than to need and not have.
Horses can lose 900-2300 grams every hour while traveling in cold weather. And even in hotter weather, so make sure your horse has enough water.
It is better not to feed the horse with grain before transport, as this is a burden on digestion.
Overwork is the main problem on a long trip or trip from morning to evening.Make sure you are ready for a long trip and not tired, if you are tired, have a good breakfast with a cup of coffee (if you are a coffee lover) or drink natural juice. Then you will be fully awake and ready.
Try not to travel during the hottest hours. But, if unavoidable, take more water and have the horses get out of the trailer more often for fresh air.
Transport sick horses only in case of emergency. It is best not to put a sick animal with others.
Horse carriages and trailers have weight restrictions. Check the manufacturer's instructions and guess how much you weigh yourself, equipment and horses.
You may be a professional driver, but there are other drivers on the road, so make sure you take all the necessary precautions, such as headlights on, hazard warning lamps on when you need to pull off the road or stop, etc.