United States Eventing Association

Holly Covey offers some advice on trailering long distances. Recently she was asked, "I have trailered my horse only 30 minutes and plan on a 2 1/2 hour trip to an event. What should I do differently?"

If you have trailered your horse for up to 30 minutes, several times, a trip of 2 hours or so should not be a problem for your horse, provided a few things are done ahead of time.

First, know your route. You can inadvertently add many minutes to a horse's trailer stress by having to turn around, stop and ask directions, etc. so it's helpful to not only plan the distance for time and miles, but check also with other friends or online folks that have been the way you plan to go. They might have a better suggestion as to a road that is wider and easier for a trailer. I do a lot of streets and trips planning for my job, and the Eastern Shore is my territory, and I have often had to help people who use Mapquest to plan horse trailer trips. Be aware that these mapping programs assume you're in a car. It's best to stick with the major roads with a trailer because you need to be able to get over into the slow lane at intersections, etc. Sometimes the shortest way via the mapping programs is actually longer in terms of time with a horse trailer because of the twists and turns or tiny roads causing a real slowdown in your traveling time.

Second, make sure that your horse is well hydrated -- has had a good drink of water before leaving home, has digested his breakfast by making sure you've fed at least two hours before "off" time. Work your horse for several days before the trip, so that he has been exercised regularly for muscle and digestive health.

Try to pattern in the week before. Are you planning to leave early in the morning, ride mid day and return in afternoon? Then work your horse during those hours in the days ahead. It will be better for him if you can provide consistency.

Make sure you provide hay during the trip, enough to keep him munching. If he doesn't get that much hay normally, then provide some to start, then make a quick stop and remove the hay net from his face after about 30 minutes on the road; and the same upon return trip, start with a 30 min. allowance from the haynet, then make a quick stop and remove. Even if they are piggies and easy keepers and don't get that much hay at home, it's important to allow a nervous or young horse a little munch time, as it calms them. My horses get hay pretty much whenever they get in the trailer.

I also bring water from home in plastic cannisters and a small bucket for drinking. I offer it when I get to my destination and again when I'm finished riding. They don't always drink but at least it's offered.

Every minute your horse is in the trailer is of course somewhat stressful. If you consider that trailer riding is equivalent to walking, (studies show that it is) then a 2 hour trailer ride is like a 2 hour walk on him. As such, when I ship, I limit the stops for bathroom, snacks, and the "rest the horse". No such a thing, really. As long as they are in the trailer they can't really rest, although on long trips they do manage, but it's just like a person -- sleeping in the car on a long trip isn't really sleeping, you do get some rest but you can't wait to get to a real bed. So it's my view that a 2 hour trailer ride really ends up being a lot more work for the horse if you make frequent stops. I try to avoid all that by filling up the gas tank before leaving, making the potty before leaving, packing the day before, so all we have to do is throw the horse in and we're off. Minimizing the trailer riding time I think is the objective.

As things go, a 2 1/2 hour ride is well within the capabilities physically of even a moderately exercised horse, in my opinion. Here on the shore we don't have a lot of steep mountain roads which forces a horse to constantly change it's balance (which is even more tiring) nor a lot of high speed freeways (which are very noisy and cause a lot of vibration thru the floor for a standing horse) so roads are for the most part level and smooth for horse trailering.

Your trailer is also very important from the horse's point of view in terms of comfort. Rubber matt flooring absorbs quite a bit of road vibration and is really a requirement to avoid slipping while balancing. Plenty of room in the stall to shift weight, or spread out is also needed. Small narrow stalls are really tough on larger horses in terms of the energy expended to stand and balance while riding. Good tires, brakes, and a decent axle and undercarriage helps in terms of smoothing the ride. What kind of vehicle you pull the trailer with also makes a difference to the ride. Gooseneck

trailers seem to be more comfortable in terms of ride for a horse than bumper pull, however, the newer bumper pull trailers with anti-sway arrangements are quite nice. There is a big difference between pulling a trailer with a long wheel base vehicle, in my 30 year opinion of hauling, than with a short wheel base. There is quite a bit more sway with a trailer in the latter, especially at speed. If you don't believe me, ride in the trailer sometime without touching anything with your hands at your sides!

Lastly, driving habits affect the horse's balance as well. The more energy he expends to brace himself for sudden stops and fast turns, the more tired he will be! Make certain you are driving like you have full wine glasses in the backseat, and make your turns and stops deliberate and slow. Give the horse time to balance. I despise having to slam on the brakes because I know back there, they can't see that the light changed, or the stupid car in front of me stopped suddenly for the yard sale on the side of the road. I just have to protect them by stopping as gradually as I can. Another argument for making sure that your brakes and tires on your trailer and pulling vehicle are in top shape.

So for what it's worth, there's my trailering advice. Like anything else, it's just a matter of preparing ahead of time and your horse should be just fine.