You have a new horse and you need to learn about transporting your horse for the first time. Knowing all the steps you will need to take to ensure the safety of you and your horse will make the process much easier.
Begin well ahead of time with your veterinarian. You will need to have your horse examined for health and will need to have tests run to obtain the necessary certificates. Let your vet know that you will be transporting our horse, and where you will be transporting to, so he can order the proper tests for your area as well as those of your destination. Some tests and certificates can take a few weeks, so you’ll need plenty of time to get this done. If you are going to be transporting a horse you’ve just purchased, the seller should have already taken care of this for you. If not, you have a right to request that they do.
If you have your own trailer, the process is much easier for you. Make sure that the trailer is clean and safe. Look at the floorboards every time you load for flaws, sagging boards and dry rot. Bad floorboards don’t repair themselves; they’ll need to be replaced. Some equipment you’ll need to make your animal more comfortable include: a feed bag, a watering system, a rubber floor-mat (some recommend bedding or hay for the floor, but this can blow up in the animal’s face and cause abrasions to the eyes), a tether, hay (not grain, to avoid gut problems), a travel halter (these are very nice and are more a comfort item than a must-have), a head bumper (to prevent head injuries), trailering boots (to prevent injury to the lower legs, and a tail wrap (to prevent problems with the tail stemming from tail rubbing), and a fly mask (to protect the horse’s face from insects and flying debris).
If you’ll be hiring a horse transporter, you will still need the equipment for the horse’s safety. Your transporter will provide the feeding and watering systems and may take care of the tether to tie your animal. You will have to provide him with proof of all of your horse’s health certifications.
If you are traveling long distances, plan to lengthen your stops when you gas up. During that time you can exercise your animal. Plan to walk him for about a half an hour to allow him time to stretch his legs and urinate. Horses will hold their urine until the motion of the towed trailer stops, which can cause severe kidney problems. Remember that when the trailer is not in motion, the temperature inside the trailer can soar and cause heat stress to the animal.
Transporting your horse for the first time can be a safe and easy process for all if you are willing to do some homework ahead of time.
