Alleviating the impact of transport

A difficult start when first transporting a young horse can lead to the horse thereafter being difficult to transport. Young horses are especially sensitive when being transported the first few times and they need all our care and attention (Andronie et al., 2009).
When transport problems are proven – a horse presenting avoidance strategies, reactions of fear, profuse sweating – the horse will need to be reeducated to be able to subsequently travel calmly (Boureau et Gaultier, 2002). To avoid getting into this situation, do not hesitate to accustom very young horses to travel, and always drive very carefully.

The first approach to teach the horse are carried out on the ground.  Depending on the vehicles used, the horse should be famialiar with movements such as going backwards in hand, turning on the shoulders, or even moving his haunches sideways, and should carry out these movements when requested. The next step is teaching him to load and unload without necessarily travelling. Young horses should then be acclimated to short trips so that the vehicle becomes familiar. Don’t wait until the day before an event to introduce the horse to the vehicle !
The first few trips are of utmost importance and should take place in the best conditions possible. Try to take main roads or motorways, which will be straighter, and adapt your driving. The driver contributes to the serenity of the horse during the trip, by driving smoothly.
If a foal’s dam loads easily, she can be the ideal role model for the foal. She will educate in the  different steps : loading, travelling, unloading, and her presence will be a reassurance for the youngster.

Whenever transporting horses, it is extremely important to check a few key points relative to the material used :
•    The wheel housings : check there is no discomfort for the horse ;
•    The state of the shock absorbers ;
•    The state of the braking system;
•    The ventilation ;
•    The tie points : horses are usually tied when travelling to avoid turning round, it is preferable to use a safety  system to allow you to free the horse if there is a problem or a fall;
•    Presence and the state of the stall bars ;
•    State of the dividers ;
•    Flooring ;
•    Loading ramp;
•    Quick access doors.

Before they even get into the vehicle, horses should be equipped with protective travel gear . The most common gear, travel boots to equip the lower limbs, hocks, and knees. Bell boots can also be used to protect the heels. For horses who lean back, a tail guard is also recommended. If the ceiling in the vehicle is low, and with taller horse a poll guard should also be used.
During the actual trip, it is advisable to give the horses free access to hay. Take care however on how this is done. Haynets can be a source of injury if placed too low down (the horse can reach them with his forelimbs when pawing) or when placed too close to the horse, dust from the hay can be inhaled. Ideally, hay should be placed in augers when fitted in the vehicle. The hay given should be of top quality, and as dust-free as possible to avoid the appearance of breathing problems in the enclosed space of the vehicle.

It is recommended to stop every 4 to 6 hours at least to water the horses. Avoid feeding concentrates to reduce the risk of colic due to stress. Also to limit the risk of colic, make sure the horses don’t drink too quickly when you stop. Some horses may refuse to rehydrate due to stress. In this case, make sure you dampen their hay so that they have some rehydrating fluids to draw on, or accustom the horse to drinking water flavored with tastes that he is partial to.

Watch out for signs of stress during transport (cortisol, heart rate, behaviour). These signs are usually less apparent when the horses travel with at least one other horse : therefore it is preferable to have horses travel together in individual stalls. A trick can be to place a mirror or a reflecting surface facing the horse in the vehicle. This has been known to reduce behaviour due to stress (neighing, head swaying…) compared to travel alone.

Travel is for the main part to take a horse to a competition, to races, to a training session...which will require a sustained physical effort on the horse’s part.  For this reason, the horse should have a period of rest on arriving, so that the musculoskeletal system gets back to a normal state after the effort of travelling, and before a new effort (Lafon, 2009).
To prevent muscle soreness after a long trip, walk the horses in hand to eliminate the muscle toxins which have accumulated.

For two or three days after a long trip (more than 8 hours), horses should be monitored regarding their breathing and temperature.
When stopped, if possible the horses should not be left inside, especially in summer when the temperature outside is high. When they cannot be unloaded, for example for driver’s compulsary stop, a lunch break/ or inappropriate car parks, the truck should be parked in the shade for the duration of the stop, or be equipped with a dynamic ventilation system.