Traveling your horse safely, a guide with HorsePlay

Spring has arrived, competitions are underway and many of us are going to be traveling our horses more frequently and sometimes for long periods of time. Horses soon learn that boxing up means they are going somewhere exciting and generally don't mind the journeys. Whether it is a long or short journey, it is important to make it as safe and risk free as possible for you and your horse.

If your horse is quite new to the idea of loading into the horsebox keep in mind that the idea of doing such a thing may be quite stressful for him so have patience and stay calm. While your horse may not show any outward signs of stress, they have good memories and will remember the experience and any difficulties that may have come with it. Planning your journey ahead of time will also help to alleviate any unnecessary stress.

What your horse wears is really up to you and can often be the cause of debate between horse owners. Some horses will wear very little when they are travelling, only booting up and bandaging on long journeys. A more stressed horse can be better protected from injury if wearing protective travel gear. Something that is of great necessity when travelling however is a strong head collar. The choice of leather or nylon is really up to you, some people preferring nylon because it is strong and will not break and others using leather specifically because it will break if the horse panics. Avoid tying a horse directly to the box, instead attach a piece of twine to the loop in the box and tie your horse to this, ensuring that he has been tied with a quick realise knot for emergencies.

Good ventilation in the horsebox is also essential for any journey. On a hot day, it is often a good idea to keep the windows of the box open to allow the air to circulate through. If travelling on a colder day, the temperature in the box may often be cooler than the temperature outside so keep this in mid when choosing what rug to cover your horse with. If you are travelling on a long journey, don't forget to stop to offer your horse a drink- the air travelling through the box can sometimes be drying for the horse. Bringing your own water for a horse that doesn't like to drink away from home can encourage him to drink to help avoid dehydration as well.

Think about your horse when travelling and slow right down for any bumpy areas and turns that you may need to make. Remember to take your time speeding up again to allow the horse to regain their balance, a horses reaction in the box can be up to five seconds after your action. Carrying an equine first aid kit and your vets number is also a good idea for any emergencies that do happen to take place.

One of the most important aspects of travelling your horse is of course your insurance. If you have an incident, having the correct cover is imperative, horses can often cause quite a lot of damage which can be very expensive to repair so don't risk travelling without it!

If you are nervous about travelling your horse anywhere or if it is new to you, always enlist the help of someone who is more experienced than you to help you on your way.

Finally, after you are finished using your horsebox for the day, always make sure that you clean it out, removing any waste made by your horse. Wash the inside of your trailer out and leave the windows open to allow it to dry- you will be left with a fresh and odour free horsebox ready for your next journey!

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Traveling your horse safely, a guide with HorsePlay

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