Posted 2014-07-28 2:16 PM (#160172) Subject: long distance haul
New User
Posts: 2
Location: cocoa, fl
Soon will relocate from central Fla to Miss. Gulf coast. How many stops and for how long. My 2 horses have never hauled longer than 2 or 3 hrs. I have a 4 star 2+1, should I put them in box stalls or leave them in the 2 horse back end?
Posted 2014-07-28 3:40 PM (#160175 - in reply to #160172) Subject: RE: long distance haul
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by zsmom on 2014-07-28 2:16 PM
Soon will relocate from central Fla to Miss. Gulf coast. How many stops and for how long. My 2 horses have never hauled longer than 2 or 3 hrs. I have a 4 star 2+1, should I put them in box stalls or leave them in the 2 horse back end?
If we travel for more than a couple of hours we stop about every 2 or 3 hours depending on the heat and usually stop about 15/20 mins. to offer water and let them walk around a few mins. if there is room....
Posted 2014-07-29 4:57 PM (#160197 - in reply to #160172) Subject: RE: long distance haul
Veteran
Posts: 109 Location: Florida
I let the truck do the stopping, as in Fuel fills. Happens to work out every 4 hours or so. "To me" it works for all involved, horses and people get a good 30 minute break. Just remember those stops add up so don't go by your GPS/goggle maps and so on for time traveling. I use a 45 MPH rate to figure when I am going to get where I am going.
Example (mileage I have done)... 1235 miles per google says 18h 55m. But using my 45mph rate, it will take 27h 40m (sleep time not added). Doing that route/distance, I was right at 27 hours travel time (again sleep not included).
I know, more then you asked for, but I learned real fast when moving other people's horses to come up with a better time schedule so not to be late on pick ups or drop offs.
With that, horses really don't need the rest you think they do, once they "lock in" they are good for a very very long time... But yes, they do need watering, NO feed, just hay on their trip at all times (keeps their mind of the drive). Also IMO do not remove them from the trailer, they are safer where they are. You never know, one or more could have a problem with the trailer ride and not want to get back on and that in turn will stress out the other horse(s) and you, never mind if one gets loose.
Posted 2014-07-30 9:15 AM (#160202 - in reply to #160172) Subject: RE: long distance haul
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
I lived in central FL and relocated to the MS Gulf Coast. Hauled 4 horses. I don't know where you are, but our trip was 11 hours. We did the whole thing in one shot with stops only for gas, lunch and the Ag. center. The horses were fine. We offered water on the stops, but they didn't want it. Yours will be fine.But listen to the advise about not letting them out!
Posted 2014-08-01 9:58 PM (#160229 - in reply to #160172) Subject: RE: long distance haul
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Monroe, WA
I don't know how far that is but if we are going 600 miles or less, do it in one day. More than that, I divide it into 8 hour days. Take water to offer at fuel stops and lots of hay. I put bedding in the trailer to encourage urination.
Posted 2014-08-03 8:22 AM (#160240 - in reply to #160172) Subject: RE: long distance haul
Veteran
Posts: 218 Location: Ohio
We haul from Dayton OH to northern MI routinely in the summer. We do the same as has been posted, stop for gas, food etc. We let the horses rest during that time. We don't unload them. I would caution against that. There are few places to safely unload horses while traveling. We also put down shavings to that they can urinate. Many horses won't urinate if you don't put down the shavings. They don't like to get splashed. Check on them each stop of course. We also just added "Trailer Eyes" for monitoring them on the longer hauls.
long distance haul
