Top 10: Checklist for When Others Ship Your Horse

When talking to a commercial hauler you need to be of the mindset that you are a potential employer interviewing a candidate for a job. These are the points we recommend you cover.

• License and insurance please. If someone is in the business as a commercial shipper of horses, they have to have a legal license to operate. This means they need to have a Department of Transportation (DOT) number and carry liability insurance. Ask for proof of both and call to check up that everything is current.
  
  

• References. Ask for the names and numbers of people you can call directly to talk with about their experience with your shipping candidate. If they don't want to provide you with references, you shouldn't ship with them. When talking with a reference, always ask how the horse looked and behaved coming off the trailer. It's also important to ask the shipper if they are members of the National Horse Carriers Association, or the American Horse Carriers Association. These groups have select standards that must be met in order for a shipper to gain membership. Check websites for testimonials and ask professionals who they recommend and what they have to say about your hauling candidates.

• Tell me about your rig. You need to know exactly what your horse's accommodations will be for the trip. An air-ride is always preferred because the bumps and vibrations are minimized which reduces the stress on your horse. It's important to confirm the exact rig your horse will be transported with based on the miles traveled. A commercial shipper may have a lovely air ride van, but more than likely also has several other trailers to use depending on the size of his or her business. Goosenecks or stock trailers are just not the best options for a cross-country journey. Your horse will feel every bump and jolt. Whatever the rig, you want to make sure the trailers are well ventilated – and that doesn't mean the windows simply open. In fact, you can risk dust, hay and bacteria getting into your horse's lungs if wind is constantly blowing in their face/nose from an open window. We like the larger rigs with windows positioned above the horses' heads that can be opened and closed to control the temperature in the rig. Remember, the more horses in a rig, the more ventilation required. Don't forget to ask how often a shipper's rig is disinfected and how. This process is more than just picking manure.

• Get a detailed quote. When you ask for a quote it's not just the cost per mile you're evaluating. It's important to know how the trailer will be configured for your horse. A Friesian will need more space than the average quarter horse. The larger companies can reconfigure their rigs at various times during a journey. Horses may travel in anything from a cushy box stall to a more compact side-by-side arrangement while remaining cross-tied. You'll hear a lot of debate on whether it's better to have a horse loose in a stall or tied at a slant in a more confined area. Sounds like an excellent forum topic. Ask your questions and get a quote based on your personal preference. If you have a young horse and it's his or her first time on the road, we suggest a box stall each and every time without tying. Same goes for a mare and baby. If you prefer to have your horse tied, make sure your hauler understands not to tie too high or too tight. Your horse needs to stretch his neck and put it down from time to time both for comfort and to clear the throat of bacteria.

• Is your horse going to be traveling solo or with others? This is a big one. Maybe your horse doesn't play well with others or has a thing about being in the middle. You'll also want to make sure that the shipper you select is a big believer in having all the appropriate vet records including an updated Coggins and recent health certificate signed by a licensed vet within 30 days of hauling.

• What's the routine? Do the drivers communicate with you en route and provide check-ins to let you know how your horse is traveling? Are you allowed to check in directly with the drivers? How often are the horses checked, fed and watered? What feed will your horse be given? If possible, try to ship the horse with the same hay it's been receiving to limit the risk of colic. Grain is usually not fed for the same reason, but most companies will feed a horse its required supplements upon request. Is there a video-cam in the cab of the trailer with all horses visible? This is a pretty common accessory these days.

• Who's in the driver's seat? On long hauls, it's imperative to have a driving team. It's not only more efficient and limits the amount of time your horse has to be in the trailer, but it allows for a navigator to keep the driver awake. Ask about the drivers' experience with horses. Do they know what to do if a horse gets sick or colics? Can they take a horse's temperature? Do they know how to wrap a horse if leg wraps come loose? Is it policy for them to re-wrap a horse when this happens? Most shippers we know discourage the use of wraps because if they come loose in transit, a horse can get caught up causing more damage than good. If you insist on wrapping your horse, we suggest being very liberal with the duct tape to make sure the wraps won't come off in transit.

• What are the emergency procedures? Make sure to ask if emergency vet-care facilities with phone numbers are marked along the route for that 'just in case' incident. This is when the experience of your drivers is important to know. What is defined as an emergency and how does the driver notify you if he or she is concerned and feels other attention is necessary?

• What's the route? You need to know if your horse is being brought directly to you and what stops are planned along the way. A 24 hour haul per mile count, may actually take four days if there are multiple stops and pick-ups along the way. Too, just because stops are planned, doesn't mean your horse is getting off the trailer. Stops are appropriate when checking on a horse or feeding/watering, but we like to see these happen every three to four hours and for as short of a time period as possible. The stopped motion may add stress to your horse. It can actually be easier on your horse to endure fewer stops. A horse can rest on a good trailer while in motion.

• Is your horse ready to travel? Whether shipping or receiving, make sure your horse is ready for the road. All vaccinations should be current and it doesn't hurt to boost with immune modulators a week to ten days before shipping.

We hope you find this checklist helpful. Chime in and share your own tips and experiences by commenting below.