Does anyone feed hay whilst transporting horses?

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happyhacking:)

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We have always given horses nets whilst travelling in the past always used haylage nets so they couldn't get their feet in them but they always had a net. Have recently been told by several people that you should not do this as it increases their chances of chocking or colic. Is this true?
 
I've done it on every single journey for the last 30 years without a problem, even with a horse with a tie-back.
 
Why would they have more chance of choking and colicing whilst travelling rather than in their stable? Some horse owners are cock out crazy.
 
It came from a vet which is the only reason I ever questioned it! Also had it from a transport guy. Don't think I'm gonna be changing my ways now as we have never had a problem either
 
Travelling is one of the many risk factors for developing gastric ulcers - having something to chew on (plus saliva) will hopefully reduce this risk.
 
I would be more worried about the risk of injury without hay to keep them occupied to be honest. I think my boy would be leaping around without it!
 
9tails said:
Some horse owners are cock out crazy.
Click to expand...

:D this made me lol :D

I went through a phase of not giving mine hay on the way to a comp on journeys less than an hour to see if having an empty belly made him a bit less lazy. But it didn't make any difference so now he gets one all the time, even on the shortest (15min) journey. He invariably doesn't eat that much of it anyway, too busy sight seeing on the way :)
 
I don't feed mine unless it's in the way home of a long day out and then I bring a soaked haylage net.
Mine has had a tie back and I have noticed if I feed him hay and haylegetravelling he coughs and gets snot coming out of his nose, I assume this is because the neck position in his trailer and also the ventilation . He is fine with haylage at home.
 
I always hang one but my girl never eats it whilst travelling. She'll only eat it if were stationary and I'm visible theory being "if mum's there I'm safe so I can eat". She is just a stress head though so thats why she doesn't eat whilst travelling, she $#!+$ for England though! :)
 
The only time I travelled my horse without a net, he managed to somehow undo the central partition, and he also ripped off the rubber kickboard. Luckily I have a camera in the back, so I saw it swinging as soon as he'd done it and we had to do an emergency stop on the hard shoulder of the motorway to sort it out. He also spent almost the whole journey pawing out with his front legs

With a net, he stands quietly munching and doing nothing else.
 
I sometimes put one in but by no means all the time. They travel Ok either way so its not needed to keep them quiet or anything.

I have read about of cases of choke occurring though, on forums, but I dont know anyone personally thats had a problem
 
Never on the way there, but always on the way back - Have a horse who is prone to biting his tongue, and its a nightmare to arrive at a show and have to wait half hour before being able to tack up!
 
Had a horse once that I could never travel with hay/hayledge as he would choke, don't know why but he was a bit of a stressy traveller. Always have given other horses haynets to travel and if I didn't with Ben I just know my lorry would be kicked to smithereens!!!
 
I came from America in which you always traveled with nets. Came here and was told by transport companies, no it makes them colic. I pointed out more risk of colicking without.

Translation, big hassel for transport companies. More mess, having hay in storage, and liability if people can't properly hang a net. So basically you bandy the word colic around and people just believe you. Sorry it's ridiculous.

Terri
 
I always do have had horses more than forty years no issues I would have thought ulcers / colic would be a bigger issue if you did not feed them
However I do know that a lot of pros travelling long distances don't they stop at regular intervals offer water then feed from low down to drain the sinuses etc.
I have heard the colic thing from transporters and always assumed that it was an excuse not to because they worry about accidents with Haynets etc.
 
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