Post by Calaminty Jane on May 12, 2010 12:00:29 GMT -5
Helpful Hints on Long Distance Trailering
by Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard
Posted: Monday, May 10, 2010
We've traveled across the country many times with our horses and would like to share some tips to make your journey a safe and enjoyable one. Start your trip at your kitchen table, planning your route, where you'll stop and where you and your horses will stay each night. There are a couple of nationwide directories of overnight horse boarding facilities, most of which are close to hotels or are combination bed and breakfast plus horse facilities.
Before you start make sure your truck and trailer are ready: Check tires, floorboards and electrical connections. Bring your jack, tire iron, flares and make sure everything is in good working order. Remember your first aid kit, which should include bandages, gauze, antiseptic and Banamine or some other medicine for colic. Leg wraps or shipping boots are fine if you want to use them, but we find most horses travel just as well without them.
Your horses should be comfortable loading and unloading and familiar with riding in the trailer. We usually go about 500 or 600 miles per day stopping only for food and fuel. These stops are really all the horses need as well.
We feed both hay and grain in the trailer and always have a five-gallon bucket of water about half full for the horses to drink along the way. Carry several containers of water with you. If you run out, you can usually find portable water at truck stops. In order to make sure my horses will drink different tasting water, we'll put some Gatorade in their water at home before leaving and then flavor the different tasting water with it while we're on the road. When it's really hot, we carry a hose with us, hook up at the truck stop and hose the horses off while they're standing in the trailer. Make sure your horses will accept being hosed before you try this. You might also buy a block of ice and place it securely on the trailer floor to reduce road heat.
Take enough of your own grain along to complete the trip and have enough to mix with different grain at your destination for about one week. We also like to take alfalfa cubes with me to supplement their hay intake since you never know about the quality of the hay you'll find along the way.
If we're traveling where it is inconvenient to stop or there is simply no place for our horses, we might spend one night sleeping in the truck and trailer. However, we never allow our horses to stay on the trailer for two consecutive nights. You'll need a current Coggins test and a veterinary health certificate while en route. Traveling with your horses can be great fun. Enjoy your journey!
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About Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard
Bob and Suzanne are a unique horse training partnership striking a perfect balance between the English and Western disciplines. Bob and Suzanne are AQHA Professional Horsemen as well as members of Team Nutrena, and love to teach clinics for everyone from recreational riders to the pros! They are currently on tour in the US and Canada with their Wind Rider Challenge; an inspiring, cross-disciplinary versatility competition. Visit TwoasOneHorsemanship.com for more info.
by Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard
Posted: Monday, May 10, 2010
We've traveled across the country many times with our horses and would like to share some tips to make your journey a safe and enjoyable one. Start your trip at your kitchen table, planning your route, where you'll stop and where you and your horses will stay each night. There are a couple of nationwide directories of overnight horse boarding facilities, most of which are close to hotels or are combination bed and breakfast plus horse facilities.
Before you start make sure your truck and trailer are ready: Check tires, floorboards and electrical connections. Bring your jack, tire iron, flares and make sure everything is in good working order. Remember your first aid kit, which should include bandages, gauze, antiseptic and Banamine or some other medicine for colic. Leg wraps or shipping boots are fine if you want to use them, but we find most horses travel just as well without them.
Your horses should be comfortable loading and unloading and familiar with riding in the trailer. We usually go about 500 or 600 miles per day stopping only for food and fuel. These stops are really all the horses need as well.
We feed both hay and grain in the trailer and always have a five-gallon bucket of water about half full for the horses to drink along the way. Carry several containers of water with you. If you run out, you can usually find portable water at truck stops. In order to make sure my horses will drink different tasting water, we'll put some Gatorade in their water at home before leaving and then flavor the different tasting water with it while we're on the road. When it's really hot, we carry a hose with us, hook up at the truck stop and hose the horses off while they're standing in the trailer. Make sure your horses will accept being hosed before you try this. You might also buy a block of ice and place it securely on the trailer floor to reduce road heat.
Take enough of your own grain along to complete the trip and have enough to mix with different grain at your destination for about one week. We also like to take alfalfa cubes with me to supplement their hay intake since you never know about the quality of the hay you'll find along the way.
If we're traveling where it is inconvenient to stop or there is simply no place for our horses, we might spend one night sleeping in the truck and trailer. However, we never allow our horses to stay on the trailer for two consecutive nights. You'll need a current Coggins test and a veterinary health certificate while en route. Traveling with your horses can be great fun. Enjoy your journey!
---------------------------------
About Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard
Bob and Suzanne are a unique horse training partnership striking a perfect balance between the English and Western disciplines. Bob and Suzanne are AQHA Professional Horsemen as well as members of Team Nutrena, and love to teach clinics for everyone from recreational riders to the pros! They are currently on tour in the US and Canada with their Wind Rider Challenge; an inspiring, cross-disciplinary versatility competition. Visit TwoasOneHorsemanship.com for more info.