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Prepare Your Horse for Transport by Johnna Thomas
Many times the question is asked, "How much weight loss is normal for my horse during transport?" The answer is, “None”

Did you know that university and clinical studies indicate that for every hour your horse is on the trailer is equivalent to an hour riding? Is your horse ready for a twelve -hour ride, or better yet for a cross-country trip?
 
 Another common question is "how can I prevent my horse from dehydration during a trip?" The answer is simple. With proper preparation and knowledge of the correct hauling techniques you are assured your horse will arrive in top condition at the end of any trip.

Starting three days before any trip, horses should be put on electrolytes. It's best to use a powder intended for water. This allows the horse to get used to a new flavor, but one that came from home. Adding the electrolytes to the water flavors it to cherry or apple and when away from home his water will always be the same. Additionally the elevated electrolytes increase the bodies' trace elements, which will make him a little thirsty. All of this is pointed at making him drink about a gallon per one hundred pounds of body weight per day, or in other words for a one thousand pound horse ten gallons per day.

Nervous horses on a trip tend to not drink and this is cause for impaction colic. Starting three days before a trip adding mineral oil to his feed will help to maintain constant digestive function. Start with about three ounces and add to each feeding to the point that on the morning of his trip he will have about one pint of oil in his feed. This may loosen him up a bit, but better messy than sick.

If you have a nervous or hard to control (spoiled) horse, it is very important that you address this with us up front. There are things that m be done to insure that both horse and handier are not injured. You can start your horse on an oral paste such as B-Calm a couple of days before transport time. This will help him to adjust easier and hopefully eliminate injury all the way around. Check with your vet to see what he would recommend to you regarding this issue. Please don't with hold this bit of information, hoping everything will go ok. Lt will end up costing you more in either injury to your horse and or damages he causes.

On the morning of his trip give him a dose of a probiotic, this will ensure proper levels in this digestive tract. It is suggested that before any of the above procedures are implemented that you need to consult with your vet,

Have the farrier check your horse two to three days before transport. Check lower legs, shoes, and look for signs of soreness, or heat. If your horse is barefoot have the farrier round off the hooves. It is not recommend that you trim or add shoes right before transport, this needs to be done two or three weeks ahead of time.

Please let the driver know of any medical problems or any medication that needs to be used during the trip. Additionally let him know of any peculiar habits, good or bad that will help in keeping your horse happy.
We wish you the very best with your horses, and would be happy to transport them for you in the future--Johnna Thomas

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