MARCH/APRIL 2013 THE RIDER /51


Building A Partnership with Your Young Horse


“Safe Travelling with Your Horse” By Lynn Palm


The proverb, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” applies to traveling with your horse. It may seem obvious, but make sure the size of the trailer fits the size of your horse. If you recently have graduated from a pony or small horse to a larger horse, you may not think about whether your trailer will accommodate your new equine partner. Your trailer needs to be both tall enough and wide enough for your horse to be comfortable. The most organized way to prepare for a trip is to have a check list for your trailer (and your truck). Here is my list of things to check on:


1. Good ventilation is a must. Make sure your windows open and close easily and that there is good flow-through in your trailer. Do not let your horse stick his head out of the window! This is very danger- ous, especially on the high- way.


2. Make sure the tires on the trailer are in good condition and the air pressure is correct in each tire.


3. Check to make sure the lights (including brake lights) are working correctly and recheck right before pulling out.


4. Check that the trailer is correctly hooked up and that the ball is greased.


5. Have an emergency break down kit easily accessible. You can get them at Napa or any big truck stop.


6. Have an equine first aid kit in the trailer. I recommend EquiMedic kit.


is probably a good idea to keep all these documents readily available even if you are traveling in state.


Before the Trip


There are a couple of things you need to do for your horse in preparation for a safe road trip. First, if you are going to wrap his legs, get your horse used to wear- ing the wraps well in advance of your trip. There are a vari- ety of wraps available, and you can get advice from knowledgeable horse people as to which ones work best. I haul without wraps, but that is my personal preference. You should add some important ingredients to your horse’s diet before and dur- ing the trip. The night before your trip, give your horse a bran mash that includes a large pinch of salt and miner- al oil. You can repeat the pro- cess during your trip as need- ed.


Curves—stay on the high side of the road.


Weight—moving the steering wheel as little as possible keeps the live weight in the center of the trailer.


Downhill—let off the accel- erator, coast until almost to the bottom of the hill, and then accelerate.


Break—break slightly before all curves, and then coast through the curve. Accelerate at the end of the curve. Break early and coast until you know what the traffic is doing.


Parking—make decisions about parking before you pull into a parking area in order to avoid getting into too small of a space with the trailer and then having trouble getting out.


If you are traveling in the hot weather, or if your horse gets stressed in the trailer and sweats profusely, you might want to consider supplementing with elec- trolytes. You need to know your horse to assess his need. Electrolytes come in many different forms so supple- menting should not be a problem. Remember, howev- er, that these essential basic minerals cannot be stored in the horse’s body, and the horse must eliminate the excess. This not only can put stress on the kidneys, but also can make for a messy trailer.


The Horse—During the Trip


7. Bed your trailer with the material that your horse is used to. A strange material may make it more difficult to load your horse. (For my pur- poses here, I assume your horse knows how to load and unload. If you need help with this, the topic is thoroughly covered in my Longevity Training DVD, Part 2 (click here for online store). 8. Before you pull out, walk around the trailer and check all the above again.


Your tow vehicle should be in excellent working order. Before your trip, have your oil changed, tires checked, make sure the engine is working good and that the windshield wipers work correctly. Keep all your horse documents in the glove compartment, including a photo, a copy of his registra- tion or proof of ownership, and especially proof of immunization. These docu- ments are mandatory if you are crossing a state line, but it


You should schedule frequent stops in your itinerary to check your horse and to give him water, hay, and feed as needed. Also, if your horse is on medication, be sure to keep to your nor- mal schedule of administer- ing it.


Unless you are traveling in extremely cold weather, your horse should not need blanketing. A horse’s body gives off a lot of heat in a small space, and you should need less covering for him than you would in his stable. If you do decide to put a blanket or light sheet on him, however, make sure he is completely used to it before you leave home.


It probably goes without saying, but do not take your horse off the trailer unless you are in a secure, fenced area.


Tips for Driving with a Trailer:


Turns—wait until the trailer is straight before accelerat- ing.


Backing—know how to back a trailer before traveling!!! Mirrors—use your mirrors constantly to check out what is happening around you. Drive defensively—do not trust drivers coming out of side roads or when passing! No one likes to think about worst case scenarios, but unfortunately break downs and accidents do hap- pen. It is best to have a plan in place—even written down—so that you can fol- low it in an extremely stress- ful situation.


1. Break Down:


a. Have a break down kit readily available. You can get one at a truck stop, and it has warning triangles, flares, etc. b. Pull as far off the road as possible so that you can safe- ly get out of the truck. c. Put flashers on the truck and trailer.


d. Call 911 on your cell and ask for assistance. Also, Onstar is wonderful to have in emergencies.


e. Keep your horse quiet with lots of hay.


2. Accident:


a. Call 911 immediately. Ask for veterinarian assistance if you even suspect your horse is injured.


b. Follow the above steps as applicable.


c. Carry a tranquilizer in case you need to sedate a horse(s). d. Keep your horse quiet with your voice and calm han- dling.


e. Do not unload the horse on the side of the highway unless there is no other option!!!


f. Call your vehicle insurance company and equine insur- ance company, if needed.


For more information and to find helpful training materials, please visit www.lynnpalm.com or call 800-503-2824.


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