The Center for Equine Health at UC Davis recently conducted studies on transported horses. The following tips are among their recommendations:
• Avoid shipping sick horses unless it's an emergency.
• During long trips (six to eight hours) avoid restricting the horse's head and neck with cross-tying—a small box stall is best.
• On short trips, dietary adjustments are not necessary; provide feed and water on your horse's regular schedule. If you feed hay on trips, make sure it's quality with minimal dust or mold, and on long trips, provide water every six to eight hours.
• Temperatures in trailers can get humid and hot, so unload upon arrival or during stops.
• Watch your horse for depression, lack of appetite, nasal discharge or coughing after transport, which may be symptoms of shipping fever; symptoms may not emerge until two - three days after transport.
For more information or to view the complete report, visit www.vetmed.ucdavi.