Tips for Carrying a Horse in a Trailer on a Long Haul Trip

Moving a horse is a stressful situation for both the horse and you. Horses can become agitated and unwilling to drink water or eat, which can cause dehydration and other health issues. Horses should be kept as comfortable as possible during long journeys, which for horses is any trip longer than five hours.

  1. Trailer Tips

    • The trailer should be checked before moving the horse. Floor boards should be sturdy. Soft boards or those that are beginning to rot can break during transport, resulting in serious injury. Any medications and supplements being given to the horse should be kept in the trailer car for immediate use if necessary. At least two week's worth of hay and grain should also be taken on the trip so you will not have to look for a grain store immediately upon arrival. A water supply also needs to be on board.

    Frequent Stops

    • Frequent stops and stopovers are necessary when transporting horses long distances. Stops should be made every two to four hours to check on, feed and water the horse. Stopovers should be planned for several-day or week-long trips as horses should not travel more than eight hours at a time unless it is unavoidable, according to Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Frequent stops are also necessary to avoid colic and other heath issues. Colic is the result of dehydration, which causes the fiber from hay in the horse's digestive tract to become impacted.

    First Aid Kits

    • First aid kits should be prepared in the event of an emergency. Kits should include a stethoscope for checking and measuring heart rate, diluted iodine solution for treating fresh wounds, hydrogen peroxide for deeper wounds and punctures, topical antiseptic ointments for fighting bacteria and promoting healing and saline for bathing wounds before wrapping. Other kit components should include gauze and self-adhesive tape, blunt-tipped bandage scissors, topical eye ointment, inject-able sedative and pain killer, electrolytes for dehydration, cold packs, latex gloves and a rectal thermometer.

    Additional Tips

    • Horses' legs require wrapping before transportation to avoid injuries that can require putting the horse down. Veterinary clinics in the area you are moving to should be researched before moving. Hay, water and a horse bed should be set up upon arrival. Horses should be given hay soaked in water two weeks before the move to get them used to it, which will also help avoid dehydration. Horses with respiratory infections or other health issues should not be moved until they are well again. Signs of stress, not eating and dehydration should be watched for at all times throughout the journey.