If you are in the horse business for a very long time, you have to get the chances that you will have to stop a Horse sender at some point to move your horse. This can be to buy or sell a horse outside the state. Complete a cross-country train; Or to visit a vet if you do not have a trailer. Even for a low step, however, it is not always advisable to trust the first person who finds a truck and a trailer – there are many horror stories that horses are injured, are not picked up or even disappear.
Quarter Horse News Spoke to Maegan Alexander, the wizard of shipping at Equine Express, who has been working in the horse transport business since 1986 to get some tips on what to pay attention to when setting a Horse sender.
Research your research
When you start researching horse transport companies, there are some things you want to search for. One of the most essential things you should know is whether the company is licensed and insured. An uncomplicated way to find fraud – and to avoid – is to ask a freight forwarder directly according to his DOT number of the US Transport Ministry (DOT) and then check it online.
It is of great importance for your sender to have horse knowledge. * Photo by Pexels
“If for some reason you go with a company that is not licensed and insured, this is a massive risk,” said Alexander. “If the non -insured van is run over by DOT, it can be closed and you have to wait for an appeal to pick up your horse. If there is an incident, the owner of the horse can be liable for the employ of a non -insured van. “
Another thing you want to search for is a freight forwarder who has experience with horses. There are many companies that offer horse transport, but the drivers who move the horses have no knowledge of horse control or behavior. If your horse colic or violated, you may not recognize the signs that something is wrong.
“On the street, the driver must be able to recognize whether the horse travels comfortably, and if not, we have to find the next veterinarian,” said Alexander. “If we look for drivers, all horses must have before we join our team. It is indispensable to know what you are traveling with horses. “
If you are not sure where to start, the National Horse Carriers Association is a great source to find commercial freight forwarders because they have to meet certain requirements to be a member, said Alexander. After the “Education” tab, you will also find more information about legal and illegal freight forwarders.
Hold the details
As soon as you have a few companies in mind, you want to call quotes. Alexander recommended that you call at least three weeks before the trip was carried out, with the understanding that you may have to be versatile for less used routes. Before you pick up the listener, however, you need to have your horse's trip prepared. Make sure you know the start and end addresses and have an idea of the kind of status your horse should be sent.
“A horse that has more experience and has traveled before,” said Alexander. “If we send teenage, inexperienced horses or stallions, we will always send to a box, and during a long journey we recommend the box stand for every horse because it is twice as gigantic. The horse is not bound, so they do not have to stand in the same direction during the trip and can put their heads down to let their sinuses abolish. Other companies may offer different options depending on the supporters, but all of our trailers can offer the ties or boxing stables. “
Think of the time of year and the weather in the places where your horse will be traveling.
“Different companies offer certain routes, so this is always a great question that you can ask for an offer,” said Alexander. “The season in which you send can also be a massive factor, especially depending on the route you want to go. We try to go to Washington State almost weekly, but in the winter months it is always a weather -dependent route. “
Do you know the plan
If you find a company that seems to check most of your boxes, ask about your process to keep you up to date during your horse's journey. A sender who offers updates is a red flag. Before the trip, the company should communicate when the horse is picked up where it is, and at what day and at what time it is to be expected that it is due to delays due to the weather, traffic or problems of the horse. You should also offer a way to contact the driver during the trip so that you can be on your horse.
“We will output the driver's name and number before the trip begins. So if you have any questions, you can reach the drivers directly at any time,” said Alexander. “Depending on the route, we will have a stopover in which the horse is taken out of the trailer in their own stand, but we will all let them know in advance. We also try to send updates and pictures when we arrive to the layovers. In this way, customers know that we have arrived and the horse is doing well. “
Prepare your horse
Depending on the state in which you live, certain vaccines or paperwork may be necessary so that your horse can travel. If your horse travels from the state, you would like to get to know these regulations for every state it will go through. For example, a horse that travels from Recent Mexico to Florida, a brand inspection, requires current negative numbers and a current health certificate that has been signed by a veterinarian that lists the temperature of the horse and an access number that corresponds to the toughness.
The requirements can change and change. Therefore, it is always best to check the regulations of each state before shipping. If you call the Animal Health Commission for the states, your horse will leave and enter, the latest information should provide.
“It is best to contact your vet to see what you recommend for your horse, depending on the area you travel to,” said Alexander. “We also recommend starting the electrolytes two weeks before shipping. In this way, your horse drinks well before transportation. You can also practice charging and unloading with your horse before the freight forwarder arrives so that it is known beforehand. “
Send the essentials
Since the shipping can exert the horse itself, Alexander recommended that you keep so much of his routine to reduce stress. This includes sending part of his current hay and grain with the sender in order not to change his diet. Most shippers only eat hay during transport to reduce the chance of colic, but give grain when arriving in a stay.
“If a horse needs a certain medication, we would like to make sure that we keep it on what his veterinarian recommends,” said Alexander. “We wear hay on the trailer if the horse is not sent with grain or hay for some reason. We would like to make sure that the horses move and that the horses remain hydrated during the trip. We will stop every few hours to replenish hay nets and water buckets and ensure that all horses are comfortable. ”
A sender who takes the time to check horses and keep them and keep them fed can mean the difference between your horse, who arrives hearty and likes to get ailing. If you make a little trouble finding the right sender, you can save your horse and yourself unnecessary stress and quickly return to your normal routine as soon as he has settled in.
