Tag: planning a trip with a horse

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How to Pack for a trip with Your Horse

How to Pack for a trip with Your Horse

For most of us packing is our least favorite part of any trip. Take the stress out of packing for a trip with your horse by following these tips. There are many reasons why packing is a chore, but for me it is the concern that I may forget something that I will really need.

Reduce the Packing Frenzy

One way to make packing go smoothly and minimize the chance of forgetting something is to create detailed packing lists. Spending the time creating a complete list of everything you need for yourself and your horse to travel is worth the work. Put your lists on the computer so it is easy to update it as needed. I like to print out my lists and carry them with me to check things off as I get or pack the items . This keeps me organized. Packing a few items at a time will spread the work load out and reduce the last minute packing frenzy.

Packing For a Giant Child

Packing for a horse is like packing for a giant child. They need more stuff than everyone else on the trip. Since what they need is often specialized items, you really want to be sure to take them with you. Plan as though you will not be able to purchase any of the items you need for your horse while your are traveling. Consider packing duplicate items for the things that your need the most.

Horse getting shoesDon’t Forget to Pack the Shoes

One thing that can bring your trip plans to an end is the loss of a shoe. Talk to your farrier so they can schedule hoof care close to when you plan to travel. They may want to change the way the horse is shod based on your planned activity. Since I am traveling for 3 months my farrier made two sets of shoes for me to take, as well as the nails required to attach them. I also took photos of how the hooves looked just after shoeing. This information will help the next farrier shoe your horse correctly.

Your net horse adventure will go a lot smoother if you take the time to pack everything your horse need. To get you started with your lists please click on this link to download my free packing lists at the bottom of my recommendations page. https://horsetaillegacy.com/jqb2

Please feel free to share this information with all your horse loving friends.

Sign up for email update from HorseTail Legacy LLC and American Quarter Horse Irish as we travel across the U.S.

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How to travel safely with your horse.

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 buddyhorse heads photo

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 trailerHorse with 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.

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How to know if your horse is healthy enough to travel.

How to know if your horse is healthy enough to travel.

 

The health of your horse is the primary thing to consider before you begin any trip. How do you know if your horse is healthy enough to travel.  Your horse’s baseline vital signs allows you to evaluate the health of the horse before, during and after you travel. Below is a list of the common horse vital signs to check when you travel with your horse.

  • The normal body temperature Horse temperature check by a vet, How to know if your horse is healthy enough to travel.

The normal body temperature for an adult horse is 99 – 101 F (37.2 – 38.0 C).  The temperature for a foal is normally 99.5 – 102 F (37.5 – 38.9 C).  A temperature higher than that, may indicate an infection. A healthy horse’s temperature can vary by 3 degrees depending on weather conditions and level of exercise, stress or excitement

 

  • Normal resting heart rate:

Heart Rate Check by a vet, How to know if your horse is healthy enough to travel.The normal resting heart rate for an adult horse is 28 to 40 beats per minute. Newborn foals’ heart rates range from 80 to 120 beats per minute , older foals from 60 to 80 beats per minute, and yearlings from 40 to 60 beats per minute.

 

 

 

 

  • Respiratory rate:Respiratory Rate checked by vet, How to know if your horse is healthy enough to travel.

The normal respiratory rate for an adult horse is 10 – 24 breaths per minute. The respiratory rate for a foal is 20 – 40 breaths per minute.

 

 

  • Capillary refill :

Dental exam of a horse by a vetCapillary refill normally takes less than 2 seconds to return to pink after the gum tissue is pressed with a finger.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Hydration:

Check hydration by pinching the skin of the neck and watching for the rate at which the skin goes back to the normal shape. This should take less than 2 seconds. The best way to ensure your horse is well-hydrated is to offer clean, quality water regardless of whether he’s stabled, turned out, traveling, or competing.

  • Daily Hay Intake:

1.5% – 2.0% of the horse’s body weight

  • Daily Water Intake:

1 gallon per 100 lbs. of body weight

  • Daily Urine Output:

2 – 4 gallons for a 1000 lb horse

  • Daily Manure Output:

4 -13 piles or 28 – 44 lbs for a 1000 lb horse

Know your horse’s normal behavior.  Any changes in urination, defecation, or behavior could be a sign of a health concern.

This video link shows you how to take your horse’s vital signs. http://www.thehorse.com/videos/30388/how-to-take-your-horses-vital-signs

Click this link for a Quick Reference guide of horse vital signs. http://horsesidevetguide.com/vitals-and-anatomy

 

Veterinary documents are required whenever you travel with your horse!

Before you leave on your trip, call each state’s department of agriculture to find out what is required to enter their state. Most states require a negative Coggins test dated within six months to a year. The Coggins test monitors the serum level of antibodies  to the Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV), an incurable fatal disease for horses.  For more information on EIAV click on the following link https://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/eia/eia_info_sheet.pdf

Some states require testing for the disease Piroplasmosis. Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease that affects horses, donkeys, mules and zebras. The disease is transmitted via ticks or through mechanical transmission by improperly sanitized surgical, dental or tattoo instruments or through the reuse of needles and syringes.

Travel with a record of when your horse was given the core vaccines.

These core vaccines are: tetanus, Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus, and rabies. The American Association of Equine Practitioners website contains guidelines for equine vaccinations. http://www.aaep.org/info/vaccination-guidelines-265  Always work with your own veterinarian to customize your horse’s vaccination needs.

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection:

A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection attests that your horse exhibited no obvious signs of disease on the day of inspection. Each state has their own requirements of what information needs to be on the CVI. Check with each state to learn their requirements. The certificates are generally good for 30 days, though some expire in just 10 days. Many neighboring states have formed reciprocal livestock health arrangements so people who travel frequently with their horses between the states can obtain an “equine passport” or equine interstate event permit (EIEP). Horse owners in the Mid-Atlantic States and the South, for instance, have the option of getting an EIEP that is good for six months and includes 15 states, from Texas to Virginia, as well as New York. Horse owners in the western United States can obtain a six-month CVI and EIEP for travel between Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington. Some states also require an entry or import permit, which is usually good for the life of the CVI.

For links to state agricultural department you can visit the United States Department of Agriculture website at http://www.rma.usda.gov/other/stateag.html

Recovery Time After Travel:

Allow for recovery time after traveling. The general guide lines when traveling by road for 6 to 12 hours, is to allow at least a one-day of recovery time.  When horses travel longer than 12 hours by road or are transported by plane, you need to allow 2 – 3 days of recovery time.

Following these tips will help you keep your horse healthy while you travel. For more information on equine health visit www.thehorse.com 

To receive all the latest updates sign up for our mailing list using the form at the top of this page. 

Thank you to Carrie Wheeler, DVM from Edelson Equine Associates for doing Irish’s CVI. Now he is ready for his big adventure across the U.S. to reining horse trainer so his owner can be a better rider for him.  http://edelsonequine.com/ 

Thank you to Peggy McGee for all your editing skills.

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25 Things You Need to Know When Traveling With Your Horse

living quarters gooseneck 3 horse slant load trailer

25 Things You Need to Know When Traveling With Your Horse:

I am going to share the planning steps I have taken to organize my road trip with my horse. I have owned American Quarter Horses for 14 years and up until recently I have never traveled with my horse. That is not to say my horse has never traveled because he has, but I have always left the detail of that to my coach. My main focus has always been to ride and not to show so I didn’t have much call to learn about all the ins and outs of traveling with a horse.

Over the last year I have planned a horse trip of a life time and I would like to share what I have learned with you. These tip will help you plan your own trip no matter how big or small. For me I went big and planned a 3 month long, across the U.S. adventure with my horse Irish and my mom to Reining Horse Trainers and National Parks.

  1. What are your goals for the trip?
  2. Is your horse up for the challenge of the trip you have planned?
  3. How long will the trip be?
  4. Set a budget for the trip.
  5. Do you have anyone that would travel with you? This is a safety issue so even if your buddy does not ride you can always go to places that they will enjoy too.
  6. How are you going to get your horse and yourself to your destination?
  7. Can you even drive a horse trailer? Practice a lot before you hit the road. I hired an RV trainer to teach me and it was the best money I spent to have a pro teach me all I needed to know.
  8. Is your truck big enough to pull the kind of trailer you want to haul?
  9. Where are you going to board your horse? Show grounds, Lay over farm or a friends.
  10. Where are you going to stay? Show grounds, camp grounds, State or National Park, friends or hotel.
  11. Does your horse trailer well? Take your horse on short trips to see how he /she does before you hit the road.
  12. Do you need insurance for your horse and if so what kind? Horse insurance companies offer mortality insurance all the way to loss of use insurance.
  13. Do you have proof of ownership of your horse? If your horse is  registered with a bread organization that is a great way to show proof of ownership. If not, check with the states you are going to and find out what they will accept as proof. Take photos of your horse with you. I also took photos of him with my trailer and included the license plate in the photo.
  14. Call your veterinarian as soon as possible to schedule any needed care and health certifications appointments. Be sure you have a negative Coggins that is current for the state you are going. Some state require it to be within 12 months some are 6 months.
  15. Know what the health requirements are for your horse at your final destinations. It is best to contact each states department of agriculture to find out what is required by that state. This is also a good time to find out if there are any quarantines in effect. Also ask about what kind of documentation they require on the health certifications.
  16. Know what the health requirements are for all the states you are traveling through to get to your final destination. Even if you are not staying in a state you must meet their requirements to pass through.
  17. Check with your farrier to know if you need to have any special instructions for shoeing your horse if it needs to be done while you are on the road. Consider having them make an extra set of shoes for you to take with you if you are going to be gone longer than your horse’s shoeing cycle.
  18. Are you going to be traveling in Branded States? These are states that require a Brand inspection to leave the state. You can do a life time brand inspection for your horse in the first branded state you stop in. A life time brand inspections is good in all brand inspections states for as long as you own your horse. You need to do this even if your horse is not branded. You don’t need to get your horse branded to have a brand inspections done. This information is available through the state’s department of agriculture. Be sure to ask about brand inspection as well as health certification requirements when you call.
  19. Are you going to be traveling out the U.S.?
  20. Know your route. Map it out before you leave, GPS is great but we all know it can leave you hanging and you really don’t want to be doing that with a horse.
  21. Know where you can stop to take a break and get gas, food and water. Plan to stop every 2 – 3 hours. Give your horse water, hay, untie them, and evaluate their overall status.
  22. Consider signing up for road side assistance company that handles helping people with horses and trailers. There are two that I know US Rider and Trail Guard. If you have AAA they will not be able to help you as well as these other companies that deal with horse trailer roadside needs.
  23. Don’t forget to make arrangements for someone to care for your home.
  24. Make sure your vehicles are all in good working order and that your license, registration, insurance and inspections are all up to date. Don’t drive a vehicle you are not licensed to drive. If you need a CDL license get it.
  25. HAVE FUN!

 

I will be addressing all the tips in more detail in future blog post. I will also be blogging about all the horse training techniques I learn on the way.

Click this link to read – 6 goals for a horseback riding trip  https://horsetaillegacy.com/1u6v

Please sign up for email updates in the “Sign Up to Get Updates” section at the top of this page, this will keep you posted about our upcoming adventures and latest content.

Thank you to Peggy McGee for all your editing skills.