Post by Calaminty Jane on Sept 7, 2013 8:49:10 GMT -5
Planning a trail ride? Or taking your horse to visit friends? Make sure you do these three things first before you go in order to stay safe and have a great holiday.
Horses in trailer Gas prices inching downward was all the encouragement you needed to plan a trip with your horse, but before you hitch up that trailer for that long-awaited scenic trail ride, please make sure of three things:
1. Perform a pre-trip checklist.
Working with Dr. Tomas Gimenez, retired professor of animal and veterinary sciences at Clemson University, and Dr. Rebecca Gimenez, an animal physiologist and primary instructor in technical large-animal emergency rescue, US Rider has been gathering and analyzing data about horse trailer accidents for the last eight years. From this data, Drs. Gimenez and US Rider have gleaned some pertinent recommendations for preventing accidents and enhancing the safety of horses while traveling.
This information has been compiled in a handy Pre-Trip Checklist for Horse Trailers. The checklist is conveniently available to smartphone users on US Rider’s mobile website. Simply access www.usrider.org from any smartphone and the list is handily at your fingertips to check prior to each trip.
For your convenience, here’s a copy of the list:
•Wheel bearings – Have bearings serviced annually, or 12,000 miles, regardless of mileage due to possible moisture buildup. Carry a spare wheel bearing set in case of premature failure.
•Tires – Look for dry rot, uneven tire wear, overall tire wear and damage. Be sure to replace tires every 3-5 years regardless of mileage.
•Tire pressure – Don’t forget to check spares and inside tire on dual wheels as well.
•Hitch – Ensure that it is locked on the ball and that correct size ball is being used.
•Safety cables/chains – Check to see that these are securely connected.
•Electrical connection – Make sure it’s plugged in and secured.
•Breakaway system – Ensure that this is connected and secured as well.
•Emergency battery – Check to see that it’s charged.
•Trailer lighting – Check lights for the brakes and turn signals, as well as running and perimeter lights.
•Brake controller – Test to ensure that it’s working properly.
•Carry a completed In Case of Emergency (ICE) form – This form can be downloaded at www.usrider.org.
•Trailer – Before loading horses, check the trailer for any hazards.
•Horses – Don’t forget to put shipping boots and head bumpers on horses.
•Doors – Secure and latch all trailer doors. Place a snap hook or carabineer to prevent accidental opening.
•Headlights – For greater safety, drive with headlights on.
•Drive safely – Allow greater braking distance and travel at generally slower speeds.
•First aid kits – Be sure to check the contents of equine and human first aid kits. Any depleted and out-of-date items should be replaced. A list of recommended items for first aid kits is posted on www.usrider.org.
•Making sure that the ball is well GREASED with a heavy-duty lubricant (like gear oil) is also a very good idea. An un-greased ball can snap right off given enough torque under the right conditions!
Be sure NEVER to depend on others to hitch your trailer.
“The driver is ultimately responsible. Even if someone else actually does the hitching, the driver should always go behind them to double-check that the trailer is properly hitched,” says USRider General Manager Bill Riss.
“Trailers that are properly hitched do not come unhitched. Trailer accidents where the trailer comes loose from the trailer have a high incidence of human and equine fatalities. Worst of all, these kinds of incidents are highly avoidable.”
For additional trailer safety information, visit www.usrider.org/safety.html, and go to the Equine Travel Safety Area.
2. Use ICE.
This stands for In Case of Emergency, and is an acronym recommended by US Rider.
This important initiative was designed to aid emergency responders in identifying victims and determining who needs to be notified.
Implementing ICE is easy: Program your emergency contact information into your cellular phone and designate it with the acronym ICE.
And then keep your phone on your person. If, heaven forbid, you become separated from your horse on the trail, you don’t want your cell phone to go galloping away.
US Rider also recommends that horse owners ensure that their emergency contact information is stored in their tow vehicles. To facilitate this, US Rider has developed an In Case of Emergency form and posted it online for horse owners to print. Simply fill in the blanks and store the paper in the tow vehicle as well as in the trailer.
Additional recommendations as well as a Power of Attorney form are posted on the US Rider website.
3. Get a US Rider membership before you trailer your horse anywhere.
Other roadside assistance plans will not rescue your horse if you break down during travel. But US Rider will. So if you don’t have a US Rider membership, consider getting one. New individual memberships are $129, plus a $29 activation fee, and are worth every penny for the peace of mind they give.
US Rider provides roadside assistance and towing services along with other travel-related benefits to its members through its Equestrian Motor Plan. It includes standard features such as flat-tire repair, battery assistance and lock-out services, towing up to 100 miles, roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling, veterinary referrals and more. For more information about the US Rider Equestrian Motor Plan, visit www.usrider.org online or call 1-800-844-1409 . If you join now, you can receive a 13th month for free if you use promo code MH813.
I have a membership and would never go anywhere with our horses without my card, because the best travel stories are ones with happy endings.
And have a great holiday with your horse!
By Amy Herdy
Horses in trailer Gas prices inching downward was all the encouragement you needed to plan a trip with your horse, but before you hitch up that trailer for that long-awaited scenic trail ride, please make sure of three things:
1. Perform a pre-trip checklist.
Working with Dr. Tomas Gimenez, retired professor of animal and veterinary sciences at Clemson University, and Dr. Rebecca Gimenez, an animal physiologist and primary instructor in technical large-animal emergency rescue, US Rider has been gathering and analyzing data about horse trailer accidents for the last eight years. From this data, Drs. Gimenez and US Rider have gleaned some pertinent recommendations for preventing accidents and enhancing the safety of horses while traveling.
This information has been compiled in a handy Pre-Trip Checklist for Horse Trailers. The checklist is conveniently available to smartphone users on US Rider’s mobile website. Simply access www.usrider.org from any smartphone and the list is handily at your fingertips to check prior to each trip.
For your convenience, here’s a copy of the list:
•Wheel bearings – Have bearings serviced annually, or 12,000 miles, regardless of mileage due to possible moisture buildup. Carry a spare wheel bearing set in case of premature failure.
•Tires – Look for dry rot, uneven tire wear, overall tire wear and damage. Be sure to replace tires every 3-5 years regardless of mileage.
•Tire pressure – Don’t forget to check spares and inside tire on dual wheels as well.
•Hitch – Ensure that it is locked on the ball and that correct size ball is being used.
•Safety cables/chains – Check to see that these are securely connected.
•Electrical connection – Make sure it’s plugged in and secured.
•Breakaway system – Ensure that this is connected and secured as well.
•Emergency battery – Check to see that it’s charged.
•Trailer lighting – Check lights for the brakes and turn signals, as well as running and perimeter lights.
•Brake controller – Test to ensure that it’s working properly.
•Carry a completed In Case of Emergency (ICE) form – This form can be downloaded at www.usrider.org.
•Trailer – Before loading horses, check the trailer for any hazards.
•Horses – Don’t forget to put shipping boots and head bumpers on horses.
•Doors – Secure and latch all trailer doors. Place a snap hook or carabineer to prevent accidental opening.
•Headlights – For greater safety, drive with headlights on.
•Drive safely – Allow greater braking distance and travel at generally slower speeds.
•First aid kits – Be sure to check the contents of equine and human first aid kits. Any depleted and out-of-date items should be replaced. A list of recommended items for first aid kits is posted on www.usrider.org.
•Making sure that the ball is well GREASED with a heavy-duty lubricant (like gear oil) is also a very good idea. An un-greased ball can snap right off given enough torque under the right conditions!
Be sure NEVER to depend on others to hitch your trailer.
“The driver is ultimately responsible. Even if someone else actually does the hitching, the driver should always go behind them to double-check that the trailer is properly hitched,” says USRider General Manager Bill Riss.
“Trailers that are properly hitched do not come unhitched. Trailer accidents where the trailer comes loose from the trailer have a high incidence of human and equine fatalities. Worst of all, these kinds of incidents are highly avoidable.”
For additional trailer safety information, visit www.usrider.org/safety.html, and go to the Equine Travel Safety Area.
2. Use ICE.
This stands for In Case of Emergency, and is an acronym recommended by US Rider.
This important initiative was designed to aid emergency responders in identifying victims and determining who needs to be notified.
Implementing ICE is easy: Program your emergency contact information into your cellular phone and designate it with the acronym ICE.
And then keep your phone on your person. If, heaven forbid, you become separated from your horse on the trail, you don’t want your cell phone to go galloping away.
US Rider also recommends that horse owners ensure that their emergency contact information is stored in their tow vehicles. To facilitate this, US Rider has developed an In Case of Emergency form and posted it online for horse owners to print. Simply fill in the blanks and store the paper in the tow vehicle as well as in the trailer.
Additional recommendations as well as a Power of Attorney form are posted on the US Rider website.
3. Get a US Rider membership before you trailer your horse anywhere.
Other roadside assistance plans will not rescue your horse if you break down during travel. But US Rider will. So if you don’t have a US Rider membership, consider getting one. New individual memberships are $129, plus a $29 activation fee, and are worth every penny for the peace of mind they give.
US Rider provides roadside assistance and towing services along with other travel-related benefits to its members through its Equestrian Motor Plan. It includes standard features such as flat-tire repair, battery assistance and lock-out services, towing up to 100 miles, roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling, veterinary referrals and more. For more information about the US Rider Equestrian Motor Plan, visit www.usrider.org online or call 1-800-844-1409 . If you join now, you can receive a 13th month for free if you use promo code MH813.
I have a membership and would never go anywhere with our horses without my card, because the best travel stories are ones with happy endings.
And have a great holiday with your horse!
By Amy Herdy