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Travel check list click here - do you have everything you
need to travel?
Many horses spend at least some time on the road every year, whether going to
a state park for a trail ride or across the country for a big year-end
competition. It's important to plan ahead for these trips so that both you and
your horse will have a safe, enjoyable time.
Your route. Make sure to get good road maps for every state that you will
be driving through. Up-to-date maps and destination planners are often available
for free on the Internet. A slightly longer route via a major highway
will often be faster than a direct route on windy, bumpy back roads. Traveling
at a constant speed on smooth, level interstates is also much less stressful to
your horse, both physically and mentally.
Pre-travel desk work. This requires a bit of lead time. Stabling forms
are usually part of competition entry forms, and both must be filled out and
mailed to the secretary by a certain date. Even if your trip does not involve a
show, stall reservations at your destination are required. If your trip
will take several days, overnight stops along the way must also be
arranged. Do you need to order hay and/or shavings for use at your final
destination? Think about how much your horse will need for the time away and how
much you can bring from home in your truck and trailer.
Your accommodations. Don't forget about your own accommodations. Do you
need a hotel room? That gives you a comfortable bed and a shower but may be
expensive or far from your horse's stable. Camping out in your truck or trailer
(sleeping bag, cooler of food, big flashlights) saves time and money, and may be
perfectly adequate if you are only gone a few days.
Your vehicle. Make sure that your truck is in good repair with a full tank
of gas. Some trucks tow better with higher octane fuel, so consider this if your
route will be hilly. Check the lights, brakes and tires on your trailer
before you start to pack. (Once a year, the whole rig should be serviced at
a reputable horse trailer dealership.
Getting Your Horse Ready
Each horse will need a negative Coggins test, usually done within the past 6
months, for crossing state lines. Some states or competition sites may also
require veterinary health certificates and/or proof of rabies vaccination within
the past year.
Take some time to get your horse comfortable with loading, unloading and taking
short trips in the trailer before you head out on a longer journey. Shipping is
tiring for horses, who must constantly shift their weight and stance to stay
balanced during the drive. It is the way you feel when you stand up on a subway
train that is stopping, starting, turning and moving at various speeds. Most
horses appreciate having hay in a securely tied net or feed bag to munch on
during the trip. If a horse's head is tied, he cannot readily expel dust from
his airways, resulting in a higher incidence of airway and lung infections. It
is important to give your horse clean hay, and allow him to drop his head
periodically at rest stops.
Submit a travel site or campsite
that caters to horsemen. Links to
Backcountry Horsemen site around
North America
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