Long journey - 2 days or 1

[lachlanandmarcus]

If your horsies had to travel to their new home and it would take the limits of 1 days travel, would you do it in one long day or break it into 2 but that would mean they would have to stay at lairage stables and effectively do 2 journeys?

I had planned it as 2 but transporter reckons they can make it in 1 - its about 550 miles....

My 2 are the sole load so there wont be any problems with other drop offs /pick ups.

Im thinking go for the one day but change if they arent travelling well?

what do you guys think, just want my babies to get there in the best poss condition, they dont normally do more than about an hour!

 

[S_N]

From where to where?

I have towed twice (1st time with one horse and 2nd with 2) from Cornwall to Newmarket - did both trips overnight, with the occasional stop.

IMO listen to your transporter!

 

[lilpinkdonkey4]

tbh wouldnt they stress more at being kept overnight if they arnt used to staying away in 2 places rather than sticking to the one new place..? As long as they have water stops etc etc im sure they will be fine. Lots of Horses travel continuously for longer than that. Your transporter should be experienced and know what hes talking about... id listen to him also!

 

[Tia]

I'd aim to go for the 1 day transport.

 

[Paddywhack]

550 = 889 kilometers and that is more than a 8 hour drive in a normal car,a registered transporter would break that into a 2 journey and if he is a registered transporter he is required by law to stop for breaks which makes the journey even longer.I would say that it would be at least a 10 hour journey...Yes horses dont have the same concept of time as we have but its still a very long journey for them as well for the driver so yes i would break it into 2 days....Sorry to confuse you by saying different from the people above,but i know that professional showjumpers and eventers breaks a journey from the south up to Scotland into 2 trips..
And on another note of course a transporter will say that he can do it in 1 Day instead of 2 since that will give him 1 extra day for business

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

ooh thanks very much everyone, the journey is Hertfordshire to the wildy moooontains of Aberdeenshire.

it is a registered transporter, so the breaks will def happen.

What he's said is that he would aim for the one day but change back to 2 if the horses are not travelling so well - his base is N Yorks so they could stop there for the overnight if that's the case.

It is tricky as all in one go would be less stressful but more tiring I think.

will prob go with his plan with fallback of 2 days.

he claims its all cool either way as hes booked out both the days for the trip so wont be taking on another job....

thanks again everyone, hopefully my darlings will survive the trip tho not sure they'll be impressed when they feel the cold......)))

 

[Tia]

They'll be fine. Honestly don't worry.

I flew one of my mares over here to Canada in the depths of winter. She left England in +9 and arrived in the States 10 hours later into -30 temperatures. She coped perfectly with not only the travelling but also the insane temperature differences.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Ive wibbled!! Have asked to go with the 2 days and do the stopover.......I know Im being anthropomorphic but have decided its safer option.....

I know they would be fine either way but big boy is prone to lymphangitis (mild) and young one hasnt travelled much so maybe for the best...

really grateful for all your advice!

 

[Santa_Claus]

i would personally go for one as well but it is very much dependant on the horse(s) involved. All I will say is by the sounds you are using a professional transporter who knows what is best for the horses.

I have personally had my lad stay on a lorry for up to 18-20 hours in one go when making the trip from Devon to Jersey. Although the road journey is 3 hours one end 30mins the other when waiting at the docks it is not advisable to unload (if you have been to the likes of the freight area at Portsmouth you will know what I mean) and the ferry is 12 hours with normally 2-3 hours waiting at the docks to get on with 30mins ish getting off if not more if faffing about with customs. I have done this journey several times and Dan always came off the lorry fresh and happy, much rather I got it over and done with than staying overnight near the docks.

 

[Paddywhack]

Ouch that must have been cold for them brrrrrrrr Mind you your cold is not as damp as ours....
A friend of mine use to be a "horse guard " on planes across to the States,he would sit with them during the flight to make sure that they would not panic,but what i understand the plane ride is comfortable for them and they got more leg room to move around ? Or am i wrong ( Mind you for the price that charge you they should be in First Class

)
But on another note i am now confused,do you live in UK and Canada ?

 

[Tia]

LOL!! Yeah I live in Canada - I used to live in England.

Doesn't matter how dry or damp it is, -30 is friggin freezing!

Your eyelashes freeze, you can't go outside with wet hair or it can snap off, your nose hairs freeze, sometimes breathing is a chore because of the extreme cold.....it's even worse when it's -40

.

Once my little mare landed after her flight, she was then directly driven 6 hours to upstate NY, remained there for her time in quarantine and then was driven 7 hours up to our farm in Canada. She didn't seem to mind the temperature difference, but boy did I notice it!


Haffieliesel; it probably doesn't make a whole lot of difference either way. If one of yours suffers from lymphangitis then perhaps it is a good idea to do the stop. Don't worry though, these transporters do this all the time and they are very good with the horses.