mhorses
Well-Known Member
I am transporting a horse from Darlington to Tonbridge next week if it was you would you take the horse off for a walk whilst at a motorway service station or is it too dangerous?
Transporting horse from Co durham to Kent. Stopping at services, should I walk horse?
- Thread starter mhorses
- Start date
mhorses
Well-Known Member
I had just thought 300 miles and a five hour journey is very long in a trailer although it would be very dangerous if horse did spook and took off towards the motorway that makes me sick. Ofcourse he will be getting checked hourly and offered water and a haynet.
luckyoldme
Well-Known Member
i think it would be really silly to do this ... and if its not illegal it should be. Sorry i know its not a nice reply but I cant believe the question needed to be asked.
Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
In a word, no, far too dangerous for me.
BTW, if you're on the motorway, I wouldn't be stop and starting every hour. Motorway travelling is very relaxing for a horse, even in a trailer so the further you can get on the shorter time he will be in the trailer. Make sure horse is cross tied as they usually travel better if they have more room than on just a short journey so you won't want the partition in I don't think. Please also, have at least the traffic side top door shut for safety, both if you have any doubt as traffic moves up behind you so quickly on the motorway, it might make your horse uneasy if he can see it all.
Good luck, it should be a piece of cake if you take it steady.
BTW, if you're on the motorway, I wouldn't be stop and starting every hour. Motorway travelling is very relaxing for a horse, even in a trailer so the further you can get on the shorter time he will be in the trailer. Make sure horse is cross tied as they usually travel better if they have more room than on just a short journey so you won't want the partition in I don't think. Please also, have at least the traffic side top door shut for safety, both if you have any doubt as traffic moves up behind you so quickly on the motorway, it might make your horse uneasy if he can see it all.
Good luck, it should be a piece of cake if you take it steady.
redcascade
Well-Known Member
No, if the horse pulled away they would have access straight onto the motorway- not the best place for a horse to be! 
Just check and offer water
Just check and offer watermymare
Well-Known Member
No I wouldn't. I think it's a potential disaster, plus what if you couldn't get horse to load again?
Dolcé
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't dare in case anything went wrong (or horse wouldn't go back on eek!), agree with offering a drink and topping up hay.
The Fuzzy Furry
🦄 🦄
You are not allowed to unload livestock on the motorway or in the service areas without police agreement.
5 hrs drive isn't that much in the big scheme of things, just ensure horse isn't too wrapped up warm for the trip & that travel kit is kept to a minimum if possible.
Having taken all sorts to shows up & down the uk & also travelled in & out of europe etc too, the best thing is to maintain the speed, choose the best freeflowing route (eg, motorway better than a road with roundabouts & t/lights).
If you really have to, then tie in a net if horse really needs it. For that length of time, I wouldn't bother with topping up unless it really 'has' to keep eating. I'd stop once about 5 miles down the road to check all is ok, then prob once on the trip to do another safety check.
Happy driving & a safe trip
5 hrs drive isn't that much in the big scheme of things, just ensure horse isn't too wrapped up warm for the trip & that travel kit is kept to a minimum if possible.
Having taken all sorts to shows up & down the uk & also travelled in & out of europe etc too, the best thing is to maintain the speed, choose the best freeflowing route (eg, motorway better than a road with roundabouts & t/lights).
If you really have to, then tie in a net if horse really needs it. For that length of time, I wouldn't bother with topping up unless it really 'has' to keep eating. I'd stop once about 5 miles down the road to check all is ok, then prob once on the trip to do another safety check.
Happy driving & a safe trip
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mhorses
Well-Known Member
I have saw horses being walked around burger king a scotch corner services!!
It does happen!
It does happen!
Kellys Heroes
Well-Known Member
I, too, have seen horses being walked round Little Chef car parks....my heart was in my mouth as said horse was creating such a mighty fuss - it only takes the headcollar to snap or something to go wrong
Agree with others
K x
Agree with others
K x
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
I take mine on holiday in a trailer, from Kent to Devon which takes 7hrs with a couple of half hour stops. We just open the front top door of the trailer and offer water and a carrot or 3.
Leg stretch for the humans but not the horses. Imagine if something spooked them and they ran off? Ooh no no!
Leg stretch for the humans but not the horses. Imagine if something spooked them and they ran off? Ooh no no!
Natch
Well-Known Member
Out of interest, travelling is said to be tiring for a horse, would any of you who have experience give the horse a 30 min or hour long break before continuing?
mhorses
Well-Known Member
Yeah there has been quite a few occasions where horses have been seen in little chef car parks
el_Snowflakes
Well-Known Member
no chance! way too dangerous....once they are on they are on, if they dont reload your in big trouble. The horse is more likely to get spooked by traffic, noise etc, i think it would be irresponsibe to consider doing so
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
I do stop for half an hour to give them a break from the movement, on especially long journeys. I open doors to let fresh air through if necessary and let them 'rest', whilst offering a drink and checking they aren't too warm.
dunthing
Well-Known Member
My highland and the arab went all the way from North Devon up to Cumbria, stopped overnight and then on to Fife, near Dundee. No problems at all thanks to Irish Draught who is on here and has a super small lorry with cctv. They arrived fresh and well. I wouldn't risk unloading en route.
Rose Folly
Well-Known Member
Allowing 5 hours for 300 miles means you're going to be cracking on - i.e. 60mph? I guess your journey may take a bit longer than you think??
the watcher
Well-Known Member
No a service station is not the place to do this. If you want to give your horse a proper break then research a horse transport/lairage yard en route and make arrangements to call in there
ISHmad
Well-Known Member
Stop at services to offer water but definitely do not unload the horse.
elsielouise
Well-Known Member
We are taking a horse on a road trip next week that will take about five hours and that horse will most definitely stay in the box. But I think you may have underestimated the journey time if you think its going to be five hours (though haven't read all the posts so sorry if this is superfluous).
I live near tonbridge and frequently drive north so I do know that it take me two hours to drive from Darlington to Yorkshire then another four or five depending on traffic to get to Kent and that's without a trailer but with a bit of deviating so say 6 hours.
'IF' you are relatively new to transporting and the fact you wondered about taking horse out suggests you may be then I would be looking at adding at the very least a couple of hours which is still reasonable to keep the horse in for a primarily motorway journey.
However I would expect a 'novice' driver of livestock to be feeling the tension on a long drive after about five hours and if it looked like the journey was going to turn into a nightmare I would be contacting in advance a couple of livery yards on the way with facilities to unload and reload if neccessary.
I've driven my trailer combo for miles on the motorway as will have many people here but I think if faced with with an eight hour journey that could turn into a longer one I'd still try keep horse on board but would have back up plan just in case.
Sorry if you've dealt with all this in previous posts computer doing strange things with refresh.
I live near tonbridge and frequently drive north so I do know that it take me two hours to drive from Darlington to Yorkshire then another four or five depending on traffic to get to Kent and that's without a trailer but with a bit of deviating so say 6 hours.
'IF' you are relatively new to transporting and the fact you wondered about taking horse out suggests you may be then I would be looking at adding at the very least a couple of hours which is still reasonable to keep the horse in for a primarily motorway journey.
However I would expect a 'novice' driver of livestock to be feeling the tension on a long drive after about five hours and if it looked like the journey was going to turn into a nightmare I would be contacting in advance a couple of livery yards on the way with facilities to unload and reload if neccessary.
I've driven my trailer combo for miles on the motorway as will have many people here but I think if faced with with an eight hour journey that could turn into a longer one I'd still try keep horse on board but would have back up plan just in case.
Sorry if you've dealt with all this in previous posts computer doing strange things with refresh.
mhorses
Well-Known Member
I am experienced at transporting horses thankyou very much!
However I have never transported horses the whole way down the country and any long trips i have made in a car i have often seen horses walking around service station car parks so that is why im questioning.
I thought it was dangerous too.
ossy
Well-Known Member
I read an article in H&H last year about long distance travelling as I was relocating 5 hours down the M6 from scotland to cheshire. I remember thinking how I would schedule in stops but after reading the article it said that the norm was to stopp every 4 to 5 hours to offer them a drink and have a little rest but they only come off the box every 8 to 9 hours for a leg stretch and this was done at special designated places, as said by one of the other posters. So we ended up stopping just once at a service station for us and the horse to have a drink and carried on, she was fine, we were in a wagon though. I would think a 6 hour trip like yours you could get away with stopping twice to offer a drink maybe a carrot or apple too and allow them to strentch there necks, sometimes its better to get ploughing on and get them there as the horse will get into its own blaance and stop starting every hour or so is prob not that great. We were carefull to monitor for colic once in her new home but she was eating and soon pooing fine.
Good luck on your journey
Good luck on your journey
smiffyimp
Well-Known Member
Took mine from N.yorks to South Mimms years ago. Offered water and hay but he stayed put. Mind he was a nervous wreck, very sweaty and I had to sit at his feet to stop him panicing (I did all the panicing!) He arrived in one piece and I stayed for an hour or so at his new home and he was fine and dandy. That was when he was 18, he's 32 now and still a twit
spaniel
Well-Known Member
I would be wary of stopping for more than the time it takes for you to pee and the horse to take a drink.
Most horses assume that once the trailer or lorry has stopped that they have 'arrived' and leaving them stationary can be very unsettling as they think they should be getting off.
if you are doing a long journey like this its better, if you can arrange it, to have more than one driver so at your five minute break you can swap over and let someone else take the strain for a while.
Towing a trailer on the motorway can be very tiring and to do 7 or 8 hours (which i would factor in for your trip) will leave your driver cream crackered.
Most horses assume that once the trailer or lorry has stopped that they have 'arrived' and leaving them stationary can be very unsettling as they think they should be getting off.
if you are doing a long journey like this its better, if you can arrange it, to have more than one driver so at your five minute break you can swap over and let someone else take the strain for a while.
Towing a trailer on the motorway can be very tiring and to do 7 or 8 hours (which i would factor in for your trip) will leave your driver cream crackered.
elsielouise
Well-Known Member
Only trying to help.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
I have just shipped a horse to Airdrie in Alberta about 3427.1 km away, and 32 hrs by (car) so longer in the trailer. That
is a LONG journey. Three hours is nothing really.
In response to your question, leave your horse on the transport, far safer all round.
Groom42
Well-Known Member
I have to confess to unloading mine at Lakeside for a wee and a leg stretch - completely mad! TBH, I don't think I was thinking at all. Horse had been stop/starting on M25 car park for 4hours, and I knew he would be desperate. If it had been any of the others, I wouldn't even have vaguely considered it, but this beastie is sooooo chilled, I just did it! However, afterwards, I was horrified at my utter recklessness....even a dope on a rope can get spooked, and this was HGV rest stop on a Friday! Next long trip was across the water - 12 hrs - and he stayed very firmly put until we reached our destination. I'd never,ever, consider it again, and just accept I was very fortunate that nothing happened.
DragonSlayer
Well-Known Member
I think it's a personally reasonable question to ask. The answer seems to be leaning towards NO, which is what I would say, but what is wrong with asking others opinions? The OP is obviously just thinking about the horse being stuck in the trailer for a long way, and is weighing up all ideas...
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caramel
Well-Known Member
It took me 4 and a half hours to get my horse home (Leics to essex). He was travelling in a equitrek lorry, and we stopped over at cambridge services and offered food and water. Unloading wasn't a option as far too many HGV's around. I stayed whilst dad went to McDonalds! Horse was fine, as he's well used to travelling.
Horse was fine, as he's well used to travelling.