Some Advice Re. After Care of Long Distance Travel

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Tierra

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Can i get some thoughts please!
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Jack is due to arrive this evening. He'll have been travelling for 26 hours. Whilst for a large chunk of that, the box has been stationary; he has, of course, been stood up for the full duration and he's generally a relaxed kind of dude who likes his bed.

So, when he arrives.... should I try and get him to walk off for a while? Or just put him straight to bed.

I know the horses we have had arrive from Holland were put straight to bed.

He's having a week off to chill... but tomorrow for example, shall I just walk him out in hand or shall i let him go into one of the individual paddocks for a stretch on his own? If he goes into one of those, he'll get about 2 hours out. He can go out all day with the herd but I dont think I want that straight away.

He's travelled with boots on... and ive heard differing thoughts regarding his legs after. Some say to bandage and others have said to leave him alone or possibly just pop leg wraps on and allow everything to get moving again.

I'd appreciate your opinions!
 
I'd let him get his head down and graze (in hand probably) to clear his breathing out. Then put him to bed as normal (leg wraps if he usually wears them). Tomorrow 2 hours out sounds good if you trust him not to be a silly.

Fingers crossed for him and you in your new home!

x
 
I would turn him out. Likely that he will be lethargic (as you feel after a long journey - all you want to do is sit down, even though you have been sitting down all day!)

I would then bandage his legs, electrolytes, and put him to bed.

Tomorrow I would put him out too.

We recently had a german mare arrive after 23 hours and we gave her a couple of quiet days then rode her on the third.
Bless your pony and his tired little legs!
 
Personally I'd get him off the lorry, take his boots off and take him for a little walk letting him graze and look around on the way. This way he'll stretch his legs, clear out his lungs and settle down quickly.

I wouldn't put anything on his legs when he goes to bed.

Good Luck, hope everything has gone well.
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I get them off lorry, let him have a walk and stretch bandage up and leave alone to settle. Tomorrow I would take him out for a walk on a lunge, have a spin and take it from there
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We regularly travel ours over these kinds of distance.

14 hours on the boat, then the travel time to the boat and to the venue we are attending.

We try to arrive a day early and get them some kind of turnout. Small paddock , anyting so they can roll , graze and walk the knots out of their legs.

I never like to stable them after a long trip. Walking out in hand and picking at grass is a good leg stretch.

Our are used to having to compete nest day, so far, touching all available wood, we have not had any problems.
 
I would do what _claire_ says, walk him about a little allowing him to graze as well so he can have a good stretch and relax. Then put to bed with no boots / bandages, I think his legs will have been hot for quite some time under boots so best to let the air get to them.

Then Id turn out as much as possible from tomorrow onwards.
 
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