ridecamp@endurance.net: Trailering Long Distance

Trailering Long Distance

Pam Haynes (70302.1720@compuserve.com)
17 Jul 95 19:55:40 EDT

Just thought I'd through in my two cents worth here. I try to unload every
3-4 hours and offer the horse water and food, as well as walk her around,
taking at least a 15 minute break. Feeding a horse in a trailer can lead to
disastrous consequences from choking, so the general recommendation is not
to feed in a trailer, particularly a straight load where they can't get
their head down. Eating in the head-up position is not normal for them.

You can always find a place to unload if you look hard enough. I have
unloaded in rest areas on occasion, taking care to clean up all the mess.
Another good spot are truck stops, which often have huge dirt lots. I just
go as far from the trucks as I can.

One night while I was rescuing a fellow horse traveler alongside the
freeway, I had to drop my trailer and horse at a truckstop so I could go
back out to the RV and trailer that were broke down. I tied my horse to the
back of the trailer, gave her a hay net and a bucket of water, and she did
just fine. I don't recommend this but it was a bit of an emergency.