How To Choose The Most Suitable Mode Of Horse Transportation
As many horse riders and owners will know, a single bad travel experience can be enough to give a horse or pony a lifelong phobia of horse boxes and floats. The main reason equines develop an aversion to horse transportation is that he or she feels unsafe or uncomfortable on journeys. This can result in a whole variety of distressing behaviours such as refusing to load, kicking the sides of the trailer, excessive sweating, slipping, falling (often referred to as ‘scrambling’) and rearing.
The most important place to start when creating a good travelling environment for the horse, is the design of the horse float or horse box. For example, some individuals believe that the direction in which the horse is facing when it travels can influence how comfortable the journey is for them. Most modern horse trailers are designed so that the horse is facing forwards, in the way that the vehicle is travelling. A number of other trailers and horse boxes have angled partitions, meaning that the horse can travel sideways. However, research starting from as far back as the 1980s has shown that equines actually travel much better when they are facing away from the direction that they are going in. They arrive at their destination less stressed and more rested than when they are transported in any other fashion.
Recent research includes results published by the British Veterinary Association, in 1996, showing that a horse’s heart rate is significantly lower when it is transported facing backwards. The research also discovered that horses facing forwards ‘moved more, vocalised more frequently and held their necks at a higher angle’.
Another piece of research, produced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Ontario, Canada, in 2003, showed that heart rates were lower on those animals facing the rear of the truck or trailer. The researchers concluded that:
‘Horses were less physically stressed travelling backwards, as they tended to rest their rumps, dropping a hip, leaning over the forequarters, lowering the head and relaxing to the point of dozing off. They were also better able to balance and brace themselves during transport and vocalized less than their front-facing travel mates.’
According to Equi Balance Trailers, the only manufacturers of rear facing, rear loading horse trailers in New Zealand:
‘The centre of gravity with any horse, mounted or not, is at the girth and trunk area. The relaxed standing horse carries the bulk of his weight on the front limbs. The standing position of a relaxed horse is with a forward lean and lowered head (at or below the withers). Any change in stance created by handling a horse’s leg, its load or change in transport motion will alter its natural state of stability.’
When a horse is travelling in a forward facing trailer or box he finds it difficult to maintain the aforementioned ‘natural forward stance’, which makes it extremely hard for him to balance properly.
Acceleration and braking also cause a problem for the horse when he is facing forwards. His reaction to the forward pressure is to brace himself and lean against it. His weight is then unnaturally transferred to his hindquarters and he places his legs in an abnormal, uncomfortable position. This can lead to a whole multitude of strains and injuries including injury to the pelvis and sacroiliac region.
It has also been discovered, through research, that horses prefer to be facing backwards and ‘seeing things slipping harmlessly away from it’ as opposed to facing forwards and spotting scary objects come hurtling towards it.
Whatever the style of horse trailer or box, horse owners should remember to drive carefully. Corners should be negotiated slowly, bearing in mind that the horse will find it difficult to balance. The horse should also be bandaged and rugged up properly and provided with straw or sawdust for grip. Do not tie the horse up too tightly when travelling as he will need to use his neck to balance and he will also appreciate being able to look around at his surroundings. Hay nets can be an immensely useful tool in the horse float or box as they provide an enjoyable distraction for the horse and the chewing, eating and digesting process is also very soothing.
It only takes a few simple steps to make the horse or pony’s travelling experience a good and constructive one. Putting in the effort to research different modes of horse transport and making sure that the equine is well protected and ready for the journey ahead will make heading out in a horse box or float much more pleasant and relaxing for everyone involved.