Transportation of Horses in Horse Trailers

Transporting your horse to other places needs extra care because horses' health will be affected once the transportation process is not good. Whether the distance is short only or it has to longer hours, the condition of the horse while in transport should be properly attended.

If you have plans of moving out to other better location and you cannot leave your horse alone, or if you are into horse racing and your horse has a coming race, transportation to other places should be well-planned. This is because horses are easy to be stressed, especially during transportation. You would not want your horse to compete on any racing competition under stressed condition.

There are different ways of transporting the horse; it could be by land using vehicles made for animals; it could also be by water using ship; or by air using an airplane. Whatever type of transportation you would need to transport your horse, always make sure that the company you will hire or pay for has all the license and permit to legally carry and do this kind of service.

Most of the horses for racing are owned by people who also have the vehicle for transporting this kind of animals. But if you do not have vehicle to transport your horse, you can hire one that you can use to transport your horse. There are also some private companies that offer transportation services.

If you choose to hire their service, always make a pre-inspection of the equipment or vehicle that they are going to use to carry your horse. Check their policies and determine the important details of how they do the service. It would be better if you will ask the company all the things regarding the transportation.

It's always good to ask what items you can ship with your horse, a blanket and a halter are considered standard items, and additional items may cost extra and be at the choice of the driver. You as the shipper are required to disclose any information that will benefit the drivers, failure to do so may void your paperwork. Health papers are also required before a horse transporter will pick up.

When choosing a carrier make sure they are legally licensed to haul, private or not they need to be operating under the (US DOT) United States Department of Transportation. If your horse will be traveling long distances ask what kind of transport they will be in. If it's a goose neck trailer the trip shouldn't be over 3 hours, this will cause pressure on the horse's joints.

Before the transportation company pick-up the horse, they will ask for the horse's health papers so make sure that it is readily available. As the owner, it is your responsibility to check if the transportation company has all the necessary requirements and services that the horse would need. In case the company could not provide everything, there are many companies to look for. It is your right as well to choose the best company that will be able to take care of your horse.

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