How to prepare your horse for a long journey by horsebox

A long journey is prepared before loading, not during it. A few simple habits reduce the horse's stress and problems on the road.

The day before and the morning of departure

Avoid sudden changes to the diet just before the trip: the usual hay, in moderate amounts, limits digestive problems linked to stress and standing still. Let the horse drink normally before loading. Keeping water from him does not help, quite the opposite.

The health check before loading

A horse that has a fever, is lame or looks weak should not set off on a long journey. If in doubt, ask your vet before departure. It avoids making a problem worse on the road, where your options are limited.

Protective equipment

Travel boots or bandages, hock boots, and possibly a poll guard limit injuries if the horse moves suddenly. A headcollar that breaks under tension (a safety headcollar) is better than a standard one if the horse panics while tied.

Documents, always on board

The horse's identification document must travel with him. See our article on the documents required to transport a horse. For a trip with a transporter from the Cavalotrans network, these checks are part of the professional's loading routine, but they are still worth knowing for a trip between private owners.

Every horse reacts differently to transport: if you have doubts about his condition or his behaviour in the trailer, your vet's advice remains the reference.