Anytime a Horse is loaded into a trailer, whether for a short trip or long trip, these fundamental measures should be taken:

  •  Train your Horse to load calmly and to accept the trailer as non-threatening. The best defense against injury and illness is good training.
  •  Make sure your horse trailer is safe. Once a Horse has been trained to trust you and the trailer, don’t let it down.
  • Drive Carefully. Remember you have live cargo in the trailer – drive accordingly.
  •  Make sure all inoculations are current. Current inoculations will protect your Horse from exposure to other Horses.
  •  Wrap all four legs. Just walking into a trailer can result in injury if the horses scrapes against something, so wrap legs every time your Horse gets on the trailer.
  •  Make sure trailer is vented. Horse are very sensitive to dust and noxious gasses; i.e., ammonia from urine and manure.
  •  Carry an emergency first aid kit. Keep it in your horse trailer and make sure it is always ready and up-to-date.
  •  Learn proper first aid techniques. Learn how to bandage wounds in various locations, control blood loss, and learn to recognize the signs of dehydration/heat exhaustion, and colic.
  •  Learn how to monitor vital signs in the Horse. If your Horse is sick or hurt, you can give the veterinarian current vital signs via telephone.
  •  Carry backup supplies appropriate to the length of the trip. Keep in mind your trip may be longer than planned due to unforeseen circumstances.
  •  Carry a medical ID. If you are incapacitated in an accident, it can be important to contact someone who knows you and your Horses.

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Neva Kittrell Scheve is the author of The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer and Hawkins Guide: Horse Trailering on the Road. She and James Hamilton, DVM, co-authored Hawkins Guide: Equine Emergencies on the Road.