Advice on traveling horse on 12h ferry

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irishcob2021

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Hi so I’m taking my horse on the boat to uk for vet treatment and I’m very nervous! It’s going to be a 12.5 hour boat ride plus a bit of waiting around in the lorry beforehand. He’s going with a professional as I feel more comfortable knowing he’s in experienced hands. He travels fine in lorry but never been in it for longer than 30 mins. Usually loads fine but can occasionally play up. He did travel over on the boat about 10 years ago but no idea how he coped as he wasn’t mine at that point.

Partner is going on boat with him, I’m flying over the next morning to meet him there (they get in approx 6am & my flight is at 7).

Just after some advice as I don’t really know what to expect. I plan to get some Sedalin from his local vet and give to him before he travels however he has had it once before (to try and clip his legs) and it didn’t do much / enough. Soooo nervous!!
 
Amymay Again said:
If he's going with a reputable equine transporter I'd be guided by them, especially when it comes to sedalin.
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I will do but I’m just trying to calm my nerves haha! I have no doubts about the lady taking him over- I’m just worried about how he’s going to react to it all. What do you mean about the Sedalin? is it controversial? The vets advised it
 
irishcob2021 said:
I will do but I’m just trying to calm my nerves haha! I have no doubts about the lady taking him over- I’m just worried about how he’s going to react to it all. What do you mean about the Sedalin? is it controversial? The vets advised it
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I don't think it's controversial at all. But I'd be guided by the professional transporters. If the horse is generally not difficult or stressy they may prefer that it wasn't used.
 
Amymay Again said:
I don't think it's controversial at all. But I'd be guided by the professional transporters. If the horse is generally not difficult or stressy they may prefer that it wasn't used.
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Ok great, thank you. Sorry I don’t know much about it or about traveling horses haha. He can be stressy at times but no idea how he will react in this situation as I’ve never had to put him in it before. Thanks for your reply :)
 
irishcob2021 said:
Ok great, thank you. Sorry I don’t know much about it or about traveling horses haha. He can be stressy at times but no idea how he will react in this situation as I’ve never had to put him in it before. Thanks for your reply :)
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I can understand your concerns totally.

I'm sure others will be along with advice and reassurance x
 
The lorry will be lashed to keep it safe and the ferry won't sail if conditions are not safe. The professionals have done the journey many times and will have everything they may need on the truck, including methods of getting fluids in, try to take their advice. It is a massive worry for you, I had one go to and return from, the Isle of Man as a young horse and quite honestly the experience turned him into a good traveller. It turned me into a stress head !

Fingers crossed the veterinary visit is successful for you.
 
Equi said:
No advice to give as I’ve not had the experience but it most likely will be way more stressful for you than it will be for your horse! Hoping everything goes smoothly. Trust your transporter.
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thank you so much! i’m keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🏻 that it all goes okay for him. i don’t think i will sleep until i know he’s there safe!!
 
Nocturnal said:
My boy came over from Ireland. He was green as grass, had only ever boxed once before from his breeder to the dealers, but he travelled great. The professionals who make the trip all the time really know what they’re doing.
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thank you so much for this - it’s really reassuring. i definitely trust the professionals, i just worry 🥲
 
AdorableAlice said:
The lorry will be lashed to keep it safe and the ferry won't sail if conditions are not safe. The professionals have done the journey many times and will have everything they may need on the truck, including methods of getting fluids in, try to take their advice. It is a massive worry for you, I had one go to and return from, the Isle of Man as a young horse and quite honestly the experience turned him into a good traveller. It turned me into a stress head !

Fingers crossed the veterinary visit is successful for you.
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yes the lorry is kitted out safely and i think it has blue lights as apparently that’s supposed to help calm them. i’m just so stressed about it! i wish i could explain it all to him and make sure he behaves! thanks so much, he’s having kissing spines surgery 🤞🏻
 
sport horse said:
Take the sedalin yourself and leave the horse to the pros!!!
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Which reminds me of a day back in 2008 at Hoy's when I stretched up to give a 17.2 hunter a dose of the now banned Tempralax.

He spat out most of out which landed in my open mouth beneath his head. I was away with the fairies all day ! that stuff certainly worked.
 
Puzzled said:
Where is he coming from? I import over 50 horses a year from Ireland and 99.9% of them travel incredibly well, including youngsters who have never really travelled. Choosing your transporter is the most important job! They are doing the job regularly but some are definitely better than others!
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He’s going from Guernsey to the Uk. He’s 16 and has traveled by boat once, over 10 years ago. We don’t have many choices of transporter over here however the lady who’s taking him has a good reputation and has transported many horses including some for my friends. So i do trust her - I’m just stressing!!
 
irishcob2021 said:
He’s going from Guernsey to the Uk. He’s 16 and has traveled by boat once, over 10 years ago. We don’t have many choices of transporter over here however the lady who’s taking him has a good reputation and has transported many horses including some for my friends. So i do trust her - I’m just stressing!!
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I used to live in Guernsey, so know the boat trip.
Could you not time it and use the fast ferry?
A 12hr boat isn't the end of the world, but would prefer the 3hr option.
 
I've had three horses go on a ferry to come to me, and all were absolutely fine! One was a known bad traveller who had been known to go over the breast bar or try and climb the walls, he was given sedalin before he was collected and the transporter took a tube with her incase she needed to top him up halfway but it wasn't needed, he coped brilliantly and strolled off the lorry when he got here like he did it every day. The most nerve wracking part for me is when they're on the boat because the driver isn't allowed to stay with them and my imagination goes into overdrive thinking of all the ways things could go wrong.

With all of them I've just told the transporter everything I know about how the horse travels and left them to it. I just obsessively check my phone for any updates and wait for them to arrive.
 
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