Hi

I have trucked long distances at times with my horses.  If you don't have good places to stop than you are better to keep going, as the stopping and starting with horses on stuck on the trailer seems to be worse for them, but since you seem to have good places to stop than by all means go ahead.  Just be sure to for at least part of the journey have buckets of your own water to start, as many horses under stress will not drink water from new places.  If your horses are fussy drinkers, one way of hydrating my horses is taking a bucket of hay cubes (about a coffee can size for each horse) and adding water and a scoop of electrolytes (naturally flaovered ones seem to work best) and a bit of molassass-- or not depending on your horses.  They love it, and they get water into them.  Also I only feed them hay when I travel, or haycubes wet, or if you can get them the type of hay cubes that come in nugget form that do not dry their throats out.  The less sugar (startch) they get when they have to stand the better, as this is what often causes the most trouble as they are not moving enough to digest their food.  I also do not like to take horses out of a field setting and truck long distances if I can help it, horses that are used to a lot of time in doors seem to do better, likely because their bacteria are more used to this setting, so I will have the horse be housed in a barn, or restricted area for a few weeks prior, with each day limiting the turn out more and more, until they are only out for a few hours before I have to truck them.  I also wear bandages to truck, and will on the days that I do stop (if I have this chance-- usually I do not) I will politice their feet the hair rim especially.  I also only use alchool on their legs under the bandages, as it will not irritate the skin, and I never use bandages with tape, always fresh cottons, I also check their legs at least once every 24 hours.  I carry a good spray for wounds, one that has a dry powder only, I carry bell boots, but only use them if I have to as they can chaffe under long distances.  I use any other protective head gear the horse is used to, I use leather, or break away halters for safety, and make sure I have extra leads, snaps and halters.  If it is cold I wear blankets, but I am very careful to watch the temp in the trailer, with multiple horses it can get warmer than you would like.  I don't want it too cold, or to hot.  I would rather blanket the horses and leave a window open if possible.  I stop at every gass station and offer water, I also if possible will leave a half pail of water in the trailer for the horse as we go, but not all trailers have the space.  I put the horses in the trailer in whatever position they are used to, but prefer to have the most 'delecate rope' horse (the most troubled) where I can reach them quickly.  We always ride with ours, always, short rides or long.  If this is not possible, then it isn't, but for us we are able, so we do... we have avoided many bad outcomes by having someone in the trailer.  I also carry bute, banamine, and lasix always on long hauls, vasoline for any bruises, and mineral oil in cause of colic.  We use Kidney Flush to keep them going, and this also helps those horses that don't go easily on trailers.  I would suggest that if you do stop that you use your own pails water and feed-- that you handle your horses your self, feed them yourself, and that you keep the hype to a minimum.  Also with horses not used to shipping long hauls I usually find a reason to take them for at least a 3 hour run or longer if possible (this is easy for us, I would just ship them to race a distance away), and see how they do.  You have an advantage with our group as they are a herd, and have learned to depend on each other and you, also they are used to your trailer and is sounds roomy enough, the old two horse straight loads are the worst for horses as they feel tied in and some do poorly in them.

take care, good luck,

deb mcdaid

Tiocfaidh Ar La Racing and Eventing Stable