Hauling Race Horses Long Distance

Long distance traveling is no laughing matter. Anyone who says that traveling with an animal in tow is hardly fun for it entails a lot of logistics to make everything possible.

Whether one travels with ones horse to a race, competition, or even just to transfer stables, it is important that one knows the things to look out for when having animals along for the journey, especially horses.

Here are great tips that can be used to help make the long journey easier:

• One should make a list of all states that one has to go thru because there are some states that have health requirements that have to be met along the way. Once the requirements are known, one should check ones equipment and see if they pass. If no, find a way around it. There are some states that require any commercial trailer that surpasses the 25th foot mark to carry a professional drivers license - similar to that of a truck driver.

• The trailer that hauls the horse doesn't have to be air conditioned as long as it is well ventilated. Ideally if air conditioned, it should not be too cold nor a bit warm inside but should be cool and comfortable temperature. A horse that is not kept comfy during the trip would be stressed and agitated.

• Learning to tie sturdy knots saves time in quickly securing and unsecuring the horse. Knots come in handy but if needed to secure a horse inside, one has the option of using halters that can easily be released by owners quickly.

• Carrying extra supplies like food, water, and medication is vital for travel. On cannot just go to a convenience store and order horse food. Extra halters, ropes, and even temporary stabling items are a good thing to pack so that if the team needs to make s top due the horses illness, one can be ready with a portable "stable" along the way.

• Practice driving long trailers around the area before leaving. Hauling horses is not the same as hauling furniture. One has to be able to make slow and smooth turns to avoid getting the horse sick. Sudden stops should be avoided and must accelerate at an even pace.

• Horses need to have buffers for their legs so one must use a few inches of sand on the trailers floor to prevent skipping of the horse.

Traveling is sometimes the only way by which horses can be transferred from one place to another and having a second beck up or support vehicle never hurts.