This procedure is standard when I travel long distance:
Water and hay are offered at every stop
- Load at 6 a.m. (horses will be fed their standard diet on the trailer). We discourage grains being fed the day before, and during transport.
- First rest stop is at 8 a.m. for 30 minutes (water is always offered by bucket so that we can monitor their intake)
- Second rest stop at 10:30 a.m. for one hour
- Third rest stop at 1:30 p.m. for 30 minutes
- Fourth rest stop at 4 p.m. for 30 minutes
- Unload at 6 p.m. and fed their standard diet.
- Horses will only be offloaded at reputable stables that have a turnout so that the horses can have a good stretch and a run-around if they want to
- Horses will always have a full 12 hours off of the trailer to rest during the night
- I am responsible for your horse(s) while he/she is in my care, and I take this very seriously. Therefore, I remain with the horses at all times. I park my trailer on the layover property right beside their barn/paddocks and sleep right next to them so that I can monitor them throughout the night.
- You will be provided with the names and numbers of all of the stables that I have arranged for layovers about a week prior to departure date, along with my full itinerary. I encourage you to contact the layover stables to check up on your horse as this provides you with 2 points of contact regarding your horse.
- In addition to this, the sending and receiving barns will receive an email from me, along with a photo of your horse during transport, every 4 hours so that you always know where I am and how we are progressing.
- The horses are re-loaded at 6 a.m. the following morning and the same rest/feeding schedule will apply.
- Please note that a bale of your own hay is required for distance hauls to maintain your horse's diet. And, I will request to fill my water jugs with your water prior to loading your horse, to encourage drinking during the trip
"I may take a little longer to get there, but your horse
will not come off of my trailer stiff, sore or tired!"
