help long distance travel

D

delicious dapple

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30 April 2011
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Hi

Im travelling my horse for approximately 4 hours to a new yard and just wanted some advice. He is travelling in a herringbone lorry, and is 16hands.

1 - What should he wear? eg travel boots, poll guard, rug etc?
2 - Should we stop and get him off half way there to give him a rest or is it best to travel straight through?
3 - What would be best for him when we get to the new yard put him into a stable or let him out in the field?

Please help have travelled him before but he is a lot more excitable and fitter now so Im a bit worried. Any advise would be fab :)
 
1 - What should he wear? eg travel boots, poll guard, rug etc?
Poss a poll guard. Boots only if he is used to them and isnt a fidgeter, otherwise they are more danger than protection. Rug, no unless it is very cold/wet. This all assumes a decent safe and fairly solid vehicle/trailer.

2 - Should we stop and get him off half way there to give him a rest or is it best to travel straight through?
If travelling well, keep going, just stop to offer water but no need to unload! If upset then stop, and if somewhere safe to do it, unload.


3 - What would be best for him when we get to the new yard put him into a stable or let him out in the field?
Walk him up and down for a few mins then pop in the stable for an hour or so. If settled then and fencing is good then turnout.

we travelled our two who had never done more than an hour or so when we moved from home counties to NE Scotland. used a transporter with our two as the sole load as our box wasnt reliable enough and we didnt want them as part of a mixed load for disease worries and also cos the journey was long enough without detours! They did it in one go (he had the extra certification for long trips) and I was amazed by how well they travelled. I wished I hadnt rugged the big chap even with the thin rug as he was way too warm. They didnt reallly eat anything much.
 
Also give him as much room as you can. The partitions are for separating horses, not for them to lean on, so the more room you give him the easier he will find to balance and the more air can circulate around him. Particularly important for long journeys.
 
Thankyou soo much thats brilliant. I was just starting to worry, he is my baby and want to make it as easy as possible for both of us. Thankyou again.

xx DD xx
 
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