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Moving Tips For Horses

Moving with horses can be very stressful. Whether you are moving to the next city or the other side of the United States, it is important to plan ahead for your move so that both you and your horse will be safe, and have a good time. Your Route Ask yourself, how long will it take to get to your destination in a loaded trailer? First plot out your course by getting all of your maps & driving directions in order. Make sure to get detailed road maps for every state that you will be driving through. If your trip will take several days, overnight horse accommodations must also be arranged. A major highway even if slightly longer, will often be faster and less stressful to you and your horse than a direct route on windy, bumpy back road or city streets with traffic lights. Travel Arrangements Do you need to order hay and/or shavings for use at your final destination or other stops along the way? Or will you be able bring enough to get you through the trip as well as the first several days once you arrive, to allow time to unpack. If you are not going to make accommodation arrangements and instead, plan on camping out in your truck or trailer be sure to pack necessities for your "roughing it" stay. This can save you time and money, and may be perfectly adequate if you are only gone a few days. Sleeping bag Water for drinking and washing hands and face Cooler with food & drinks Flashlights and/or floodlights First Aid Kit Your Horse Trailer & Vehicle Make sure that your truck & trailer is in good repair. Check out our trailer safety tips for more information, it is hard to believe accidents that happen due to faulty trailer equipment. Check the lights, brakes and tires before you start to pack. If possible have both serviced professionally before you leave. Full tank of gas Octane booster Spare tire for both vehicle and trailer Spare hubs Getting Your Horse Ready Each horse will need a negative Coggins test, (within the past 6 months of departure) Some states may also require veterinary health certificates and/or proof of rabies vaccinations. So check the State Transportation Requirements or check with the destination Horse Council for details. If your horse is not use to being transported, take some time to get your horse comfortable with loading, unloading and taking short trips in the trailer before you are ready to move. Transporting is tiring for horses because they have to constantly shift their weight and stance to stay balanced during the drive. It is a good idea to have hay in a securely tied net or feed bag to munch on during the trip. Please see our horse travel tips for additional details. Packing Make a list of everything you need for your horse’s daily care and emergencies so that you can pack the horse gear not needed until you reach your destination separate from the items you will need while you are moving. For example: Spare halter & lead rope Hay, grain, supplements Flashlight, duct tape, paper and pen, paper towels First-aid kit for horses and people Blankets, coolers, leg wraps (if traveling in cold weather-if not pack with destination items) Buckets – drinking Water in plastic jugs for en route or emergency drinking Tool kit and hardware for setting up stall Rake, shovel, broom, pitchfork (may want to keep the shovel handy to use on the trip) Muck tub, wheelbarrow Stall ID card – horse and owner information, emergency telephone number (if stopping in route) Extra chains for back door of trailer to ensure it does not come open Money! Stall guards Tack hook Hose, sprayer Grooming & tack cleaning kit Tack – for riding, lead shank, protective boots If you will be packing items in the trailer with your horse, make sure that everything is secure– you want to be sure that nothing will come dislodged during transit to scare or worse, injure your horse.

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Moving Tips For Horses