Do you always travel a horse with haynets?

Yes I do. Travelled all over the country, and they settle better with a net IMO.

I do not use dry hay because of the dust, use damp hay (good for hydration) or haylage.

I have travelled without when travelling home from the vet after sedation. Also have gone without when it was a VERY short trip (a mile, just because it was dark so I did not hack - no streetlights).
 
My horse doesn't eat when travelling but I usually bring one for when the horse box is parked up if I think he will be in there for a while as I walk a course or as we wait for our competition to start. Even then he doesn't eat much from the net. The horse box is a bit stressful for him.
 
Thanks, was just surprised that no haynet was given. Can understand if a very short journey or on vets orders etc but I would always give one.
 
I always start off with a haynet because my pony is extremly food orianted! Just too keep him occupied but yesterday he ate all of it during the show and had to go home without. He was a bit moody about it but nothing to bad. I would always try to make sure they have one, a jorney facing a wall and not being able to move must be very boring! Horses messing around in the back isn't very nice for the driver either.
 
We do commercial shipping and we never ever travel any horses with haynets. Hay is put in sections all around the floor of the box stalls in our trailer. All horses travel loose. It's a very different setup here compared to in the UK however.
 
Yes. Mine always travels with a nice fresh, net of haylage....but she will not eat from it on the way to a show. She will have a small nibble on the way back but never much.
 
Not always, depends on length of journey. Usually I'll put one up for my mare if travelling over 20 mins or so but sometimes don't bother with my gelding as he never eats when travelling.
 
I do but Gilles don't agree with travelling horses with hay. Was worried about that but they are so good and my horse who went all the way to Scotland travelled for 2 days and had 2 overnight stops was fine and had not lost any weight,
 
hihosilver said:
I do but Gilles don't agree with travelling horses with hay. Was worried about that but they are so good and my horse who went all the way to Scotland travelled for 2 days and had 2 overnight stops was fine and had not lost any weight,
Click to expand...
I was wondering about Gillies. Do they stop at intervals to allow the horses to feed? Surely they don't travel them all day without anything to eat?
 
Last edited:
No, we don't usually travel to polo with haynets (unless its a long journey) but we always travel back with them...they are always very happy to get into the lorry home!
 
Tiddlypom said:
I was wondering about Gillies. Do they stop at intervals to allow the horses to feed? Surely they don't travel them all day without anything to eat?
Click to expand...

No they stop every 3 to offer water but no hay or feed until they stop overnight. They just dont agree with it as hay on ling journeys can cause choking. Horses that I have travelled with them have also arrived very calm and seem happy!
 
Usually no, my horse gets a net when we get to the venue and after we're finished riding but not during the actual journey. Haven't been anywhere yet over an hour and a but he isn't going to develop ulcers in that short space of time
 
hihosilver said:
No they stop every 3 to offer water but no hay or feed until they stop overnight. They just dont agree with it as hay on ling journeys can cause choking. Horses that I have travelled with them have also arrived very calm and seem happy!
Click to expand...
I suspect it is because of the concern over 'shipping fever'. Gillies tend to ship horses long distances so I'd imagine they are super careful about the possibilities of horses getting pneumonia. Over here it's much easier as when horses are travelled loose on long journeys (10+ hours) they are able to keep their heads low and eat the hay from the floor so the chances of shipping fever setting in is a far lower risk for us.
 
Yes even for a 5 min trip! eating calms horses down and it distracts them from being in a stressful environment. Even if you have the worlds best traveller and loader (and I think I might have a contender for that !) I still think it's nicer for them to have something to eat.
 
No, I never travel with a haynet. Reason - choke.

If it's going to be a long trip then I break it up with rest stops and let the horse have a pick of grass.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top