Do you always travel a horse with haynets?

Not if I'm going to a lesson - it's a 7 minute journey and he's straight off at the other end so no time to eat anything. If he's going any further or he's going to have some waiting around on the trailer at the other end, he has an appropriately sized net for the time he'll need to be entertained / filled up. I have friends who won't let their horses have a net before they compete but having asked my vet about this, I think they're better off nibbling until 20 minutes before.
 
No! Theres always hay in the lorry for just in case moments but he doesnt have it on the way there, will always put it up for the way home if he has been out all day but he prefers to stick his nose out the window than eat anyway!
 
Arniebear said:
No! Theres always hay in the lorry for just in case moments but he doesnt have it on the way there, will always put it up for the way home if he has been out all day but he prefers to stick his nose out the window than eat anyway!
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I have a vision of a horse with his head out of the window and his mouth open and tongue lolling like a dog with their head out of the car window!
 
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!
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Goodness. Can't wrap my brain around this. Thanks goodness I will never need to use them. Are the horses tied up short, like they would be in a trailer, or are they free to move around?

Spring Feather said:
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.
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This sounds sensible, if you have the vehicle with room to facilitate it.

Also, I'm with others who carry enough soaked hay and water to allow for traffic hold ups or a breakdown. I always take enough for 12 hours, even if it's just a half hour trip :o. I have heard of horses getting distressed when held up in long queues following a crash, because there was no water on the vehicle, and having to be 'rescued' by the police carrying supplies.
 
My mare won't load unless she can see a net tied up so she always gets one. She doesn't like when the trailer/box stops for more than half a second as she reckons she should be getting off but a net keeps her quiet :) and she'll always let you know when it's empty...
 
xxcharlottexx said:
Genuine question- why does travelling increase the risk of choke?
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I can see why the pro transporters do not give hay, traveling a mixed group with the risk of inhaling dust, having to provide wet hay for some, nothing for others, the logistics just make it easier to give none to all of them, most will not be competing at the end of the journey so the risk of ulcers is low and they can catch up once they get to the end.

I cannot think why there is any risk of choke in normal circumstances, they should not be getting on the box hungry, they should have their usual hay or haylage so less likely to grab it greedily and if you use a small hole net they struggle to get any more than a little at a time, I have travelled numerous horses, all over the country, in different vehicles, usually with hay and have only seen choke at home twice, once through greedily grabbing hay from a pile then being chased off by a field mate, the other from eating cubes rather too enthusiastically, unless a horse is known to choke I cannot see any reason to restrict them when traveling.
 
be positive said:
I can see why the pro transporters do not give hay, traveling a mixed group with the risk of inhaling dust, having to provide wet hay for some, nothing for others, the logistics just make it easier to give none to all of them, most will not be competing at the end of the journey so the risk of ulcers is low and they can catch up once they get to the end.

I cannot think why there is any risk of choke in normal circumstances, they should not be getting on the box hungry, they should have their usual hay or haylage so less likely to grab it greedily and if you use a small hole net they struggle to get any more than a little at a time, I have travelled numerous horses, all over the country, in different vehicles, usually with hay and have only seen choke at home twice, once through greedily grabbing hay from a pile then being chased off by a field mate, the other from eating cubes rather too enthusiastically, unless a horse is known to choke I cannot see any reason to restrict them when traveling.
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At home my horse is travelled when he is well fed and watered, and he has a large compartment in the lorry so he can have normal head carriage while eating. If we are doing a long journey he is offered water every 3 hours or so, so he is not dehydrated, also a big lorry and ony one or two horses does not get too hot and humid.

I am not talking about Gillies as I have never so much looked into their wagons so I don't know how they are configured, but I have commercially been involved in horse transport, where horses have been transported in huge, luxurious lorries, but the partitions are not angled very much.

The big HGV lorries are 8ft wide more or less, and a horse can "fit" at approx 90 degrees to way of travel, but they do not have a natural head carriage. They are not able to eat easily. They can fit with 3ft width per horse, so a lot of horses in a box.

Travelled like this the box is hot and humid, the horses sweat even when lightly rugged ot no rugs at all, and they do not have normal head carriage to eat. When I offer water the horse is untied and drinks from the floor, but when travelling commercially and the horses are packed in, then the water is generally thrust at their faces, and inexperienced travellers often do not drink enough like this.

Also when allowing drinks from the floor it allows nasal passages to drain so shipping fever is less likely.

It is more healthy to have horses only packed at a density so they have enough space for natural stance, and so they need normal rugging as they are not in a hot humid environment. Fresh air also reduces danger of shipping fever.

This less dense travelling arrangement may be better for horses, but sadly costs more as less horses can fit in for the trips, so are less popular with a lot of owners.

My opinion, only.
 
Mine all get a net while travelling - can;t imagine they'd forgive me for not giving one + they get them at home while waiting for a ride, etc, so keeps a similar routine.
I don't tie it very high, ever, always tie it in such a way that they don't have to yank upwards and can just stick their nose into the bag and eat happily. Sometimes they eat a lot, sometimes they sleep, but it's their choice.
 
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