transporting horses

[coyote]

I was getting some quotes for possible horse transport and ended up talking to someone at one of the companies. His quote was very high. I told him that I wouldn't use him this time as I had a lower quote but we got to talking and I asked him some questions about shipping horses.
My primary question was how much and what kind of rest horses need during transit. Simply put, he said make the trip as short as safely possible. They stop for fuel, take care of the horses needs at that time,and drive on - changing drivers as necessary. I was under the impression that it was better to take long breaks where the trailer wasn't moving, but he said that wasn't true (for horses in good physical shape). Get the horses on, take care of their needs, and keep moving so that their time spent is transport is minimized. I asked if that was true for someone pulling horses in a standard gooseneck with rubber tosion axels and he said it was.
I just thought that was interesting.

[Einstein]

I agree with him Coyote, that's how we did it when I was eventing in Colorado and making long trips. Gas stops were about 30 minutes, I'd water, change hay bags, they would get to rest, pee, drink, whatever. I tried to drive either at night to avoid heat, or day if it was colder out as well. In an air ride trailer, I doubt it matters, they probably feel very little road vibration. In my gooseneck, on long trips, I would bed it deep as well. I had good, solid hauling horses that I knew very well, and a slant load. I would drop the hay on the floor and didn't tie them, so they could drop their heads as well and clear their noses.

For some horses they got tubed before going on a very long trip, or they gastrogard, but 90% of the time we just loaded up and went. I never did a hard work or big jump school with in 48 hours of a long road trip either, on the way to a horse trial.

This is all what worked for me and my horses, when we were going 10-24 hours to horse trials out there. If it was longer tehn about a 10 to 12 hour drive, we usually stayed over night too, just because I couldn't take it any longer in the truck, even with 2 drivers ;D

[coyote]

I'm glad to hear that, actually. I always thought it was slow going with horses on long trips. I can drive 24 hours hardly blinking an eye. It's 22 to 24 to my home town, and I did that straight through with one driver for many years, and now I always have others with me who can drive, so it's a piece of cake for me. It's good to know that works well for horses as well. He said that horses that stay on the long trips with all the stops are the ones that get sick. It was Porter who got the prophelactic Gastrogard if I remember correctly:).

That's exactly what he said about having them loose. He said he put left a water bucket on the floor if they were drinking well, otherwise they would hang it. Strawberry seems to be the preferred flavor of jello if they really aren't drinking well enough - lol

[flingndirt035]

Long trips are never fun... I always avoid grain/feed for 12 hours before the trip. Avoid shots and worming and serious medications 24 hours before. Some older horses may benefit from a few cc of bute to help with comfort.

Hay is okay. Keep a hay net in the trailor. Offer water every 6 hours. Wrap in polo or travel wraps if going more than 4 to 6 hours.... The bumps and turns are hard on their legs. If your going on a long drive slants are a lot easier on the legs than straight loads. Horses are usually more willing to load into a straight load as well.