Your horse should not be transported if you haven’t made sound plans for the journey. Especially in warm weather horses can easily become stressed when being transported. The health and safety of your horse is of paramount importance.
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. Horses are intelligent enough to be able to remember well. Don’t forget this if your horse becomes uncooperative as you put him in the trailer.
Your horse will be fearful of horseboxes if you use bullying tactics in trying to make him enter. Introduce your horse to such transport in a relaxed and gradual manner. Patience, encouragement, and consistency will be required.
Towing a horsebox is a special skill; not everyone can do it. 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. If you are not experienced, you may want to look into some professional training.
Learn how to handle the box or trailer when it’s empty. Reversing a trailer requires special skill, so do it with a horse on board only when you have acquired the skill.
It’s essential that you keep the horsebox properly ventilated. The air flow should be as great as possible. Be prepared for sudden stops and swerves. It’s important that both you and your horse should have ready access to first aid equipment. Having your vet’s number to hand will be very useful should you experience an emergency. It’s also a good idea to have your horse insurance documents in an easily accessible place in case your horse should need immediate veterinary treatment following an accident.
Plenty of drink should be made available to a horse when being transported. Such encouragement will reduce the risk of impaction colic as well, of course, of dehydration. You will want to make sure that you stop often to water your horse so they will stay healthy.
Horses tend to travel better when it is cool so try to plan your trip accordingly. Never allow any restriction in the amount of air your horse gets. It is also important to muck out whenever possible and try not to travel in the heat of the day. If the climate is hot and humid, your horse will sweat more so make sure you offer water frequently. Avoid any build-up of ammonia in the trailer as this can cause respiratory problems for your horse. An unscheduled visit to an equine vet could cost you much more than you bargained for – especially if your horse insurance provider claims that you have been negligent and refuses to pay out.
Unfamiliar water can upset some horses. Encourage your horse to drink whilst travelling by adding a bit of Gatorade to their water. Then when you are travelling you take some Gatorade with you and put a splash in their water whilst on the road. The water will be more appealing to the horse when you do this.
Should you be unfortunate enough to have a collision, it’s important that all the details required by your equine insurance company are up to date. Make sure you plan properly and have everything your horse might need and your journey should be a pleasure.
Tags: equine insurance, horse insurance, horse trailer, horse transport
