Would you want to spend all day locked in a car or lorry where you're forced to brace yourself to keep your balance, with no control over your forward momentum? It would be like being stuck in the London tube, standing in the middle of a crowd all day long! You'd probably be totally stressed out when you got where you were going.
Horse transport is no different for your equine companion.
To keep your horse in top condition, both mentally and physically, it's up to you to keep the trip as stress free as possible.
That's an indisputable fact.
What's not always so easy to see is what you can do to make that happen.
Before you go anywhere make sure your horsebox transport is appropriate for your horse(s).
Forget for a moment that you're a human.
See the trip through your horse's eyes! What's seems easy to you during horse transport, might be horrible for them, when they have to actually get in and ride.
Here are a few tips that you might like to consider.
Since horses, as a species, prefer to be out in the open rather than closed into small, dark spaces, it's important to choose a horsebox with plenty of light and ventilation.
They should also have room to brace their legs and move their heads and necks, to help them keep their footing during transport.
Before any horse transport trip, familiarize yourself with the difficulties and techniques of driving a horsebox.
Learning to drive the horsebox empty, will ensure that your horse will have a comfortable ride, as you will have got a feel for it's idiosyncrasies.
Trips less than 3 hours long can be made without stopping.
If it's going to take longer than that to reach your destination, however, plan on stopping every three to four hours to stretch your own legs, refill the hay net and water supply and allow the horse to urinate.
Most horses and ponies are hesitant to do so in a moving a horsebox.
If you're going to be traveling 18 hours or more, you're going to need to plan on stopping for the night for your horse to be able to be un-boxed so that they can move around freely.
On overnight trips be sure to find hotels and inns that will allow you to care for your horse properly.
Horse transport can be extremely stressful at times, but it doesn't have to be.
With proper consideration the trip can be enjoyable and stress free for both of you, allowing you both to arrive at your destination calm, relaxed and ready to ride.
Horse transport is no different for your equine companion.
To keep your horse in top condition, both mentally and physically, it's up to you to keep the trip as stress free as possible.
That's an indisputable fact.
What's not always so easy to see is what you can do to make that happen.
Before you go anywhere make sure your horsebox transport is appropriate for your horse(s).
Forget for a moment that you're a human.
See the trip through your horse's eyes! What's seems easy to you during horse transport, might be horrible for them, when they have to actually get in and ride.
Here are a few tips that you might like to consider.
Since horses, as a species, prefer to be out in the open rather than closed into small, dark spaces, it's important to choose a horsebox with plenty of light and ventilation.
They should also have room to brace their legs and move their heads and necks, to help them keep their footing during transport.
Before any horse transport trip, familiarize yourself with the difficulties and techniques of driving a horsebox.
Learning to drive the horsebox empty, will ensure that your horse will have a comfortable ride, as you will have got a feel for it's idiosyncrasies.
Trips less than 3 hours long can be made without stopping.
If it's going to take longer than that to reach your destination, however, plan on stopping every three to four hours to stretch your own legs, refill the hay net and water supply and allow the horse to urinate.
Most horses and ponies are hesitant to do so in a moving a horsebox.
If you're going to be traveling 18 hours or more, you're going to need to plan on stopping for the night for your horse to be able to be un-boxed so that they can move around freely.
On overnight trips be sure to find hotels and inns that will allow you to care for your horse properly.
Horse transport can be extremely stressful at times, but it doesn't have to be.
With proper consideration the trip can be enjoyable and stress free for both of you, allowing you both to arrive at your destination calm, relaxed and ready to ride.
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