Improving Your Horse’s Traveling Experience
One of the trickiest aspects of owning a horse is getting the horse to load into the horse trailer without putting up much of a fight. This is easier said than done, of course, but there are things you can do to help your horse be more at home in his trailer and thus make your life easier when it comes time to load up.
Even though this may sound a bit strange, you should try to look at the horse’s trailer ride experience from his point of view. Horses are absolutely terrified of the dark, so would a horse feel safe and comfortable in a trailer that was poorly lit and was painted with dark colors inside? Probably not. That being said, the horse trailer should have an interior that is well lit and also light in color, as this will ease the horse’s fear. Horses like to have some room to move around because this allows them to get into the proper posture to avoid losing their balance.
Image credit: Doneastwest
Make sure that any furniture that you have in your horse trailer is well padded. Horses need room to move their heads around, so make sure there is plenty of space for them to do that. Another measure you can take to increase your horse’s enjoyment of his trailer is to cover the floor with non-slip material that will keep your horse from sliding around and losing his balance. Feeding bags are another essential item to add into your trailer. You don’t want the bag too close to his mouth or he may get caught in it and panic trying to get free. Of course, you won’t want to put it too far away either, or else he won’t be able to get a snack from his bag.
It’s also crucial to have an experienced and skilled driver behind the wheel of the vehicle being used to haul the trailer. Driving with a horse trailer requires a lot of skill, and a driver needs to be extremely cautious. You should try to go slow when turning and going around curves. Do not go over two hours in between breaks to check on your horses. Stop often and make sure the horses are alright and that they are well hydrated. Try not to wrap them up in too many blankets, as you may cause them to overheat. Also be aware of how tightly you tie them up. If you tie them up too tightly they may not be able to turn their head.
If your horse is still giving you a hard time when you try to load them into the trailer, there may be other factors involved. Some horses that are unfamiliar with being inside of trailers tend to get fearful of small, enclosed areas that aren’t well lit. They may be afraid of climbing up the ramp into the trailer. Something else you may want to consider is the possibility of your horse being injured. The pain caused by the injury may cause the climb up the ramp to be painful and too difficult for the horse to do.
These are just a few things you should keep in mind to help improve the quality of your horse’s traveling experience. Remember that a safe trailer that meets your horse’s needs will be a great help the next time you go to load your horse on the trailer. Anything that makes your horse more comfortable and easy to manage is a worthwhile investment. As long as you keep that in mind and put these tips into practice, you and your horse will enjoy many road trips together.