Transporting horse from Co durham to Kent. Stopping at services, should I walk horse?

[luckyoldme]

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...

i agree it is a perfectly sensible question to ask assuming the asker knows nothing at all about either a) horses b)motorway services or both.

 

[zippo]

If possible,during your halts allow your horse to get his head down.Feed and water on the ground for 24 hours and momitor his temperature,call your vet if it rises.We regularly travel horses long distances and rarely hane trouble.

 

[GlamourDol]

Definitly not! Not worth the risk and 5 hours is not that long for the horse to be travelling.
We did Warwickshire to Samuar in one of our competing trips and the mare wasnt taken off until we arrived at the venue in france.
K x

 

[henryhorn]

Well I do know some of the top eventers get their horses out and walk them but I've only heard of them doing it at night when the services are very quiet.
You need a bridle and preferably a lunge line attached to a headcollar too for safety, and you need to know and trust your horse inside out.
I would open up the partitions instead and just allow some general moving about, that should be enough.
It's a risk I don't think I'd take to be honest.

 

[Mike007]

This is going to be more like a 7 hour journey even assuming you dont have to go far into kent .

 

[Lucinda_x]

We've traveled Devon to Scotland in our lorry and horse was fine. I actually think your not aloud to unload (Could be wrong though?) at services but would never recomend it anyway!

 

[MM&PP]

Agree with all other posts and have found some replies interesting - wasn't aware that movement is only really necessary after 8 - 9 hours travelling. Woman recently travelled to my yard with her 2 ponies. She was stuck in traffic so her journey took 5 hours and she didn't check them until she arrived. Pony's head was stuck under breast bar and had moved underneath and just wedged itself there. I'd prob check a few mins down road and then every 2hours or so incase something similar happened.

 

[Maiko]

You are not allowed to unload livestock on the motorway or in the service areas without police agreement

Motorway service areas are nothing to do with the police, they are privately owned, so no "permission" required from the local constabulary. Obviously unloading on the motorway is not an option!

Personally, I wouldn't unload my horses in a service area, due to the risk of them being spooked and possibly getting away, but when I have taken my horses on long trips, I have always given them a break for half an hour or so, offered them water and hay, and let them drop their heads for a while. I have fond memories of South Mimms service area, feeding my old boy chips from the Burger King (he insisted on ketchup with his chips!), whilst we broke the journey from the South up to Keysoe.

 

[Sandstone1]

Would it not be better to come off motorway and find a quite country lane to unload if you think it needed or maybe find a livery or riding school half way on journey etc beforehand and arrange a break there.
Thats what I would if I felt it nec to unload on a long journey. Would not do it on services.

 

[HashRouge]

I find travelling extremely stressful at the best of times and there's no way I would consider unloading my mare at a service station. She's not the sort that's likely to cause trouble on the ground, but she can be a tricky loader and I would probably have a nervous breakdown if I had to load her at a service station. It's not really fair on the horse either, because once stopped and out they will assume the journey is over, so even a very good loader may be reluctant to get back on the lorry.

 

[Loulou2002]

Totally agree with The Xmas Furry

 

[Spudlet]

Transporting a horse involves them exerting themselves at a similar level to walking for the same amount of time because they have to constantly adjust to the movements of the vehicle (Doherty et al, 1997) so a break is probably going to be needed. I wouldn't unload in a service station though, for all the reasons other people here have raised. A break in the trailer, with water offered should be fine. The quality of the drive is also important, smooth driving on the motorway, at a constant speed with few bends, makes life easier for them.

Have a safe journey

 

[Gingersmum]

I wonder if there might be a couple of friendly souls on this site who have yards along your intended route who might offer you sanctory or a breathing space should you need it. It would be a comfort to think 'well next junction is Mrs X place where we can stop!'

Reminds me of a trip where I drove my 8.5 months pregnant friend and both our kids to the beach. She thought it was all hilarious and definately wouldn't be early ! Believe me I knew where every hospital was on that route !!

 

[Charla]

My horse came from Devon, to me in Kent. In total he was in the box for 9 hours!! He did not come off the box in this time and he was perfectly ok when he arrived, if a little tired! Good luck.

 

[AmyMay]

In total he was in the box for 9 hours!!

Not good. 8 hours maximum time allowable without unloading.

 

[sakura]

I just had one horse transported up country and a different one bought back to me - in total both horses were on the transporters lorry for about 8 hours in all

Neither were unloaded at any point until they got to their new homes but had a lot of breaks and the driver took a very steady pace - both came off absolutely fine!

I wouldn't ever unload on the journey unless it was a real emergency and I had no choice

 

[Charla]

Not good. 8 hours maximum time allowable without unloading.

Well obviously they stopped plenty of times and took a steady journey, hence why it took so long. He was absoloutely fine when he arrived so no need for your comments thank you amymay.

 

[LisW]

I wouldn't unload in a motorway services. Maybe a rest from moving for your horse by just parking up for a while - but too much potential for danger if you unload. If you feel you have to unload somewhere, maybe go off the motorway to somewhere much quieter, ideally a yard you've contacted in advance that might be willing for you to unload for a while. Shouldn't have thought you'd need to though, unless you need to arrange an overnight stay for some reason.
Happy travelling!

 

[AmyMay]

Well obviously they stopped plenty of times and took a steady journey, hence why it took so long. He was absoloutely fine when he arrived so no need for your comments thank you amymay.

If it was a licesned transporter - they broke the law, simple. It's not about 'comments' but about fact.

 

[mhorses]

I am leaving tomorrow and have arranged to drop of at a national park on route for a hack and clear a few cob webs. I will not unlaod horse at services dont worry!

 

[Spudlet]

Amymay, that would depend on the type of vehicle used. Also, the law does allow for journeys to be extended by a short amount if this allows the horse to reach its final destination.

Mhorses, that sounds like a good plan, nice idea to go for a wander, hopefully somewhere beautiful! Enjoy yourselves and have a safe journey

 

[TallyHo123]

No way! Far to dangerous!

 

[AmyMay]

I am leaving tomorrow and have arranged to drop of at a national park on route for a hack and clear a few cob webs. I will not unlaod horse at services dont worry!

Good plan. I would walk in hand with a bridle, though, rather than walk. And let them get their head down for a graze for half an hour.

Have a really good journey.

 

[Angua2]

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.

WOW... super speedy!

I have just done a 200 mile London to Hull and it was 6 hours on the way there and 5 hours on the way back, and since it was motorway most of the way i wasn't hanging about so to speak! ( and I am sure I had a back wind!!!!)

And no I wouldn't (and haven't) given said horsey a leg stretch too much can go wrong and if you are travelling alone and the horse is a tempremental loader you don't stand a hope of getting said beastie back in!!

 

[Charla]

Amymay, that would depend on the type of vehicle used. Also, the law does allow for journeys to be extended by a short amount if this allows the horse to reach its final destination.

There you go. I don't know what you would be expected to do with a lorry of horses in the middle of no where if it suddenly got to 8 hours travel time! Stop and let me all free? Or get them to their destination safely and in as short as time possible after the '8 hour legal limit.' Traffic can't always be predicted in planning journeys.

 

[Shazzababs]

I used to regularly transport my horse from Kent to Cornwall (and back) and we were told by our Vet that we should stop every 2 hours for at least 30 mins to give the horse a chance for a drink and an eat and let him relax from the stress of constantly maintaining his balence.

We always left him in the trailer, but as we travelled him alone with no partition I used to remove his travel boots during the stop. He loved being in the lorry parks and used to stand happily with the top door open watching the traffic on the road and mugging lorry drivers for their lunch!

The only problem we ever had was, on the first trip he rubbed his tail raw from sitting on it for so long. So on subsequent ones we attached some large chunks of foam to the ramp and put a neoprene and a padded tail gaurd on him.

Just make sure you have plenty of hay/water with you and if you don't have it already I would take out some specialist breakdown cover just in case.

 

[AmyMay]

There you go. I don't know what you would be expected to do with a lorry of horses in the middle of no where if it suddenly got to 8 hours travel time! Stop and let me all free? Or get them to their destination safely and in as short as time possible after the '8 hour legal limit.' Traffic can't always be predicted in planning journeys.

Charla, you seem to have taken offence to what I posted regarding transport times and legislation. I'm not sure why - because the law, as it stands since re-drafted in 2007, is there to protect our equine friends.

A little scan of the Defra website will help you understand that.

With regards to stopping in the middle of no where - clearly when organising a long journey you make sure that you investigate places where you can stop safely to allow for the rest period to take place. It's called Planning, and again is something that Defra asks transporters to do to ensure that transport complies with the law.

I hope this clarifies the situation for you.

 

[paulineh]

Transporting horses a long distance should not be a problem.

200 or more horses fly out to Kentucky to the "World Equestrian Games" at that was a long journey.

I would make sure that the horse is too hot.

Find the best route you can.

I would give it a hay net even if the horse does not eat it.

I stop every 2 hours to check the horse give it a drink (Find something that it likes to drink) and take a break myself. You will need a break more than the horse.

If you really feel that you want to give the horse a walk find someone where you can drop off at that is safe.

I have recently taken a horse from Newbury in Berkshire to North Wales just before the snow came so took my time and drove slowly.

I have also had a breakdown on the motorway and the horses were in the trailer for 5 hours (After we had competed and also had an injured one on board).