By: William Jackson
Submitted: 2009-12-29 06:20:28 | Word Count: 476
If you are travelling somewhere then you expect your trip to be a comfortable one. The same thing is applicable to your horse as well. Many horse owners or trainers prefer travelling with their animal, and for this purpose, just having a horsebox is not enough. The two main things which you should keep in mind are the safety and the comfort zone of the animal while travelling. The following tips should be considered for making horse transport as comfortable and stress free as possible.
Consider the ventilation and the light
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Proper lighting arrangements and proper ventilation is a must for a horsebox in which the horse will travel. Any animal will never prefer to stay in a closed and dark environment for even a short while, as this may frighten him. Therefore if the horsebox has well lighting arrangements and enough ventilation then it will not make the horse feel that he is stuck somewhere. And the trip will be stress free for him.
Learn to drive a horsebox
Before putting your horse in the box you should familiarize yourself well with the horsebox. You should learn how to handle different difficulties of a horsebox and how to drive it properly. This is required to avoid problems while travelling with the horse and to ensure a comfortable trip for him.
Plan a halt for long journeys
If the journey is less than 3 hours then you can reach your destination without taking any halt. But if it is more than that then it is advisable to halt for a while to relax yourself and your horse. But if the journey is overnight, then plan to stay at an inn where proper care can be taken of your horse. During such long breaks it is better to unbind your horse from the box to make them move around freely.
Make the horse box look inviting
No horse will want to get into a dark room. So it is important to make the horsebox look inviting to the horse. Ensure proper lightings so that the horse does not get frightened. You can even place some hay inside it which should be visible from outside. If the horse is still nervous, you can lead him calmly into it. The main motive behind all these is to ensure the horse that he will have a safe ride with such a horse lorry.
Consult a veterinarian
Consult a veterinarian before the trip. Check whether the horse is properly vaccinated or not and take a health certificate for your horse. Get some health advice from the vet for long journeys and exactly what steps should be taken after reaching the destination.
These are few tips which should be followed to make the horse transport safe and comfortable.
