How to Prepare a Horse for Shipping

Transporting a horse across a long distance can be stressful for the horse and the owner. Proper preparation can reduce the likelihood of colic, injury, and unneeded stress. A horse that has been prepared to travel will arrive in better overall physical and emotional condition.

Things You'll Need

  • Negative Coggins test
  • Health certificate
  • Brand inspection papers, if applicable
  • Electrolytes
  • Mineral oil
  • Grass hay
  • B-calm or Quietex (optional)
  • Probiotics
  • Halter and lead rope
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Instructions

  1. Prepare for Travel

    • 1

      Call your veterinarian and schedule an appointment to have a Coggins test performed, which is a blood test for equine infectious anemia (a negative result is required when transporting your horse anywhere), and a health inspection if your horse is traveling out of state. The veterinarian will conduct a basic inspection and grant a health certificate with identifying information about your horse. You will have to wait several days for the Coggins test to be complete. You will be issued a certificate as long as your horse has a negative Coggins test.

    • 2

      Some states require brand inspection papers for all horses with a brand. To find out if you need brand inspection papers, ask your veterinarian or call your state brand inspector's office.

    • 3

      Start adding electrolytes to your horse's water three days prior to the trip to help prevent colic. Nervous horses tend to drink less water and have a higher incidence of colic. Electrolytes will make a horse a bit thirsty, and because they are generally cherry or apple flavored, adding them to water a few days in advance will make the water taste the same when on the road. Follow package instructions for dosing electrolytes.

      Also start adding mineral oil to your horse's grain a few days before you travel. Mineral oil maintains digestive function and reduces chance of colic. Start by adding 3 ounces and increase gradually to 1 pint of oil in the feed.

    • 4

      Limit your horse's rich grain and hay intake before travel. Feed straight oats instead of sweet feed, and feed straight grass hay instead of alfalfa hay. Start making this change about three days before shipping when electrolytes and mineral oil are added to water and feed.

    • 5

      If your horse is especially nervous, consult with your veterinarian about giving him a dose of a calming agent like B-calm or Quietex. These tube paste medications can be purchased over the counter at farm and ranch or pet supply stores. Calming agents will keep a nervous horse calmer and decrease odds of injury or colic.

    • 6

      Give your horse a dose of probiotics the morning of travel. These can be purchased in tube paste form from your veterinarian or at some farm and ranch stores. The probiotic will increase digestive function and keep the intestinal tract moving, reducing chance of colic.

    • 7

      If you are not the one traveling with your horse, be sure to give the shipper any specific instructions regarding care and handling of your horse. Send your horse with a good halter and lead rope so the handler doesn't have to fight with stiff show tack or worry that a lead might break. If your horse spooks easily or kicks while being hauled, these are the types of issues you should point out to the shipping agent.