How to travel safely with your horse.

The safety of your horse is something that can never be taken lightly. This article includes information on the following topics: horse insurance, route planning, vehicle inspection and more. Planning ahead will go a long way to minimizing potential problems during your trip.

Horse Insurance

Horse insurance is a personal choice and the type of coverage you may want is based on many factors. Consider the age of the horse, the purchase price of the horse and how you plan to use the horse. Think about what you can afford to pay if your horse gets sick or injured. I have always had mortality coverage on my horse but have increased his coverage to include major medical for my cross country trip. There are multiple companies that provide horse insurance so do your research and see what fits your needs.

Travel with a buddy

Traveling with someone else is a wise idea. A good travel buddy will lessen the stress and fatigue of a road trip. It is even better if that person can help with the driving and management of the horses while you are traveling. Your horse may also travel better if there is a buddy with them in the trailer. Take the time and teach your horse how to load and unload as well as travel in a trailer. You want to be sure that your horse is as relaxed and as comfortable as possible so no one gets hurt.

Plan your route

Know your route before you head out. Driving a truck and horse trailer requires more planning than a car. Have your stops mapped out to get fuel and check on your horse. Truck stops are designed to accommodate large vehicles and they often provide more amenities to the traveler. The height and weight of your vehicle is also important to know, since you may be faced with restrictions on overpasses and bridges. Once you are loaded take your truck and trailer to a local truck weighing station and get its’ total weight. You will need to pull into police run weigh stations if you have any commercial information on your truck or trailer. I have included the links that I used to locate places to stop on my trip across the U.S.

Pilot and Flying J has a mobile app and, a trip planner as well as a rewards card https://pilotflyingj.com/

Love’s Truck Stop has a mobile app and, a route planner as well as a rewards card https://www.loves.com/

Truck Master Find Fuel Stops has a route planner and lists multiple companies’ truck stop information http://www.findfuelstops.com/

AAA is also a good resource for trip planning. www.aaa.com

Don’t depend on GPS alone. Print out directions using google maps or another online mapping service. Check with your destinations to get any details that are needed to find their location. We have all been there when GPS drops you off in front of nothing. A good road atlas or map is a must. You never know when you are going to be faced with a detour or get lost. Review the directions with your travel buddy so they can help navigate and you can focus on safe driving.

Road side assistance

The last thing you want is to be stuck on the side of the road with a horse and no help. The two companies I know of that specialize in road side assistance for equestrians are US Rider Equestrian Motor Plan and Trail Guard. Having a road side assistance plan is money well spent for the peace of mind it gives you while traveling. I recommend programing the phone number of your road side service along with your ID information into your phone.

US Rider Equestrian Motor Plan http://www.usrider.org/ This company sponsors AQHA www.aqha.com

Trail Guard https://trailguard.org/ This company sponsors NRHA www.nrha1.com

In addition to these services, you need to have your own emergency equipment with you. Having a way to alert other motorist that there is a stranded vehicle on the road will help keep everyone safer. Flares or an emergency signaling device are a must have. A reflective vest or clothing allow others to see you when you are out of the vehicle. Include basic emergency items like a lug wrench, hydraulic jack, and air compressor with charger, jumper cables and tire repair supplies. You can download my free list of emergency equipment here by clicking on this link https://horsetaillegacy.com/jqb2

Truck and Trailer Safety Check

Make sure your license, registrations, insurance and inspection are all valid for your truck and trailer for the duration of your trip. Know your vehicle’s tow weight capacity and never tow a trailer weighing more than the manufacturer’s recommended limits. Practice driving the truck and trailer until you are comfortable maneuvering in all different kinds of road conditions

Check under the hood for levels of engine oil, coolant, brake, power steering, and windshield washing fluid.

Check that all the belts and hoses are in good condition.

Check that the horn and all the lights are functioning. This includes: high beams, low beams, left and right turn signals, break lights, license plate light, four way flashers, fog lights, clearance lights.  Do this from the front, back and both sides of the truck and trailer before you leave.

Check the exterior of the truck and trailer

Walk counter-clockwise around the entire rig every time before you pull out. You need to check the following items: the windshield is not damaged, wipers are working, tires are free from cracks, cuts or bulges, the lug nuts are tight, the treads on all tires are deep enough, and the tires are properly inflated. Check that all the doors, windows and compartments are secure. Check that the safety chains are secured to the vehicle. Check that the emergency break cable is working and attached to the vehicle and the electric cable is plugged into the truck and secure. Check for any obstacles that are blocking your way before you pull out.

Check the interior of the truck and trailer

A charged fire extinguisher that is easy to get to needs to be on board your trailer. Inspect the floor, ceiling, and walls for any damage or potential hazard to your horse. Provide appropriate ventilation for your horse while traveling.  Check that your horse is correctly secured. The horse needs to be able to move their head and clear their lungs during travel. Stop and check your horse every 2-4 hours and let them drop their head and drink water, this will lessen the stress on their body and the chance of becoming dehydrated during the trip.

The following links will take you to videos on how to inspect and hook up a horse trailer.

This is the bumper pull video link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00AXdpzAGx4

This is the gooseneck video link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KE4i7xEEL8

This link is a video on how to inspect your trailer and do a health check on your horse before you load up:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdgDmeDErb4

Truck and trailer insurance

Check with your auto insurance company to see if your trailer is covered on your policy. Due to the distance and length of  time of my trip I had to get a farm policy to have the appropriate coverage for my truck and trailer. Don’t wait to find out that your insurance does not cover damages because you are using the vehicles in a way that is not covered. This would be a costly oversight.

This article has presented helpful information to plan your next safe adventure with your horse. As with all equestrian activities you are responsible for yourself and your horse.

Please feel free to forward this to all your horse loving friends. Until next time.

Thank you to Peggy McGee for all your editing skills.