Travelling long distances

[ann-jen]

So I'm going to be going down to Warwickshire and back in one day in just over a week. It'll take me about 6 hours down and 6 hours back in the horsebox I think. She'll be ridden for about an hour while we are there with maybe and hour or so when not being ridden.
I just wondered how often I should stop to give Jenny a rest?
Do I need to get her off the box to stretch her legs, say midway down? Or is it better to leave her on the box but give her a break to eat some of her haynet and offer her some water? She has a net to travel but doesn't really touch it when we a moving.
It's probably not a long journey by some people's standards but its the longest journey we've done in a long time and I want to make as stress free as possible for Jen so any tips would be useful.

 

[Maesfen]

I personally wouldn't unload, I'm a safety freak and anyway, any grass you find for a nibble will be choked up with exhaust fumes so not exactly good for ned. If you do decide to unload, please use a bridle, again for safety's sake however good your horse normally is.
I'd take a break maybe 15 minutes every two hours if she's not used to travelling much; if she's an old stager, then one break for half hour in the middle should be quite long enough IMO.
TBH, as long as you drive carefully, it's you that should need the breaks, not her!

 

[ann-jen]

Thanks for your help - she's a pretty seasoned traveller as we are out competing most weekends but our journeys are never really much more than 2 hours at the most. I'm not sure I'd want to unload her - I just wondered if there was a problem for her standing in 1 position for such a long time. Perhaps I should set off even earlier so I can get there ahead of schedule and so I can walk around a bit in hand when I get there before I ride her? You are probably right - its me that will probably need the breaks - in fact I'm not sure whether legally I have to in a lorry? I'm guessing I will probably have to stop for fuel halfway down anyway so will probably hit a service station somewhere on the M1. Also probably a bit of a daft question but I'm not sure I feel secure about leaving Jenny in the lorry while going into the services for toilet/food break. Does anyone do this? Am I just being paranoid?

 

[Maesfen]

We would fetch mares and foals back from Ireland and depending whether it was the Cat or the normal ferry, they could have been on the box for up to 8+ hours by the time they got back so your 6 hours won't be a problem particularly if it's mainly motorway travel, very smooth and almost straight!
As long as your doors have locks (including living door) then you should have no problems. We'd always park within sight (or at least try to, sometimes it's not possible) of the canteen. If you are that worried, why not stop on a layby which has a snack bar (and a loo!) Another thing you could do assuming you have those drop over fastenings to your ramp is to use padlocks on the fittings but remember to take them off before you drive on (again for safety reasons!) Mind, sometimes, if you do all the locking up with them you're laying yourself open as people think you have something worth stealing; catch 22 I'm afraid!

If it's got a tacho', then you are legally obliged to have breaks before four hours I think it is, certainly not much more than that. TBH, by that time, you need a break anyway particularly having to concentrate more with livestock aboard.

The setting off earlier is never a bad thing; you're not then watching the clock just in case you get held up and would be a shame to miss your class because of that. It will also give you and horse more time to unwind. I'd also give it a while before loading up for home too; maybe get a meal before you set off, that sort of thing; it's very tiring for them no matter how good a driver you are.

I hope you have company for that long a journey, helps a lot, also while you're having your driver's break, they could pop back to lorry to check on her every 10 min's if you stop at services; they will have had the chance of a kip and all sorts while you've been doing the work so don't feel guilty asking them to do it!

 

[ann-jen]

Oh Thanks that s given me loads of food for thought. My lorry is tachograph exempt but still has one fitted - I'm not sure why if its not required.

I see what you mean about the padlocks - perhaps if I wait until I'm off the motorway I can look for a Little Chef or something where I can park directly outside - I think in big services I'd have to park with the lorries and coaches so wouldn't be in full view. I'm hoping I will have company - my first voluteer has just backed out as she can't get away from work but another friend volunteered last night but I'm not sure how serious she was. I'm hoping I can drag someone along as its not a competition its a riding lesson with Robert Smith and I'm really hoping someone can video it or at least take some photos for me too.