** I haven't seen many rest areas in the East I would
want to get a horse out in - too much traffic. If I need or want to get a
horse out, I'd opt for a truck stop. I stop a lot but very seldom get them
out. My horses will all eat and drink in the trailer and if you are not
moving they can rest. I much perfer two days driving followed by a day
layover for rest (and maybe even little ride to get rid of the cobwebs ) on
long trips. It seems to work well for both drivers and horses at this
house.
I ' ve never heard it was illegal
to unload horses at rest stops along the east coast corrider of Interstate
Highways...mainly I 81 / I 95 ....(.Ones I used to
travel the most anywhere from Va. to NY // or Va to SC )... in fact I
have heard stories of several that did, or do so, unload
, so they 'say' routinely ?. I cringed every time !, I heard
such. !!
I have one very well trained and
behaved horse- can you say almost 'Bombproof' ; and I would not
"think" of unloading him at a rest stop, beside an interstate highway,
except in an emergency. In my 'little mind", it just is / was " not
worth the risk ". ( Unloading on slick pavement, alot of traffic in the
rest area, not to mention, highway within 50 ft -or less , and no barrier
seperating it and you; Alot !!! of stupid / ignorant /
mischievious / mean people who will / may try to spook a horse "just because",
they think " it is Fun ".
If
he is really thirsty - he will drink on the trailer, and can rest standing
there, when I stop ( for - him ) - 10 to 20
minutes, every couple hours ( more of stop than he got on some 'rides' ). If I
was traveling a distance over 10 hours I would consider finding an area at the
back part of a truckstop to unload for "a little while", otherwise, if
horses can live in stalls?, he can survive in the trailer for X hours, if given
rest periods / feed / water .
On
that note, I understand that out toward midwest and west they are much
more horse 'friendly' and you can stop in to fairgrounds, even overnight;
and have a place for horses. JMO
