{"id":406,"date":"2014-10-16T13:53:16","date_gmt":"2014-10-16T18:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/equinevetob.com\/eva\/?p=406"},"modified":"2017-07-17T14:17:17","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T19:17:17","slug":"winter-hauling-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equinevetob.com\/eva\/winter-hauling-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Hauling Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter Hauling Tips<\/h3>\n

With proper planning for winter trailering, you can keep your horses (and yourself) safe and healthy.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re driving a loaded horse trailer in winter despite rain, snow, ice, and a low wind chill factor. Why? Unfortunately, schedules for breeding, competition, and sale require that horses be transported in all seasons and weather despite increased risks. Another possible reason to haul horses in winter might be to evacuate because of a natural or man-made disaster. Yet another reason might be a medical emergency.<\/p>\n

Hauling horses in winter escalates the hazards for driver and animals. The challenges are to maintain your horse\u2019s health and arrive safely\u2013and on schedule. The risks of winter require more preparation than the same journey in other seasons. Use common sense in balancing your need to meet a schedule with the hazards of transport.<\/p>\n

An important planning step is investigating weather conditions at your destination. \u201cWe like to minimize great changes in weather when we can,\u201d says David Jensen, DVM, of San Marcos Equine Practice in Los Alamos, Calif., who handles long-distance horse shipping. \u201cPay attention to weather when you can. Don\u2019t ship a horse right after he shows or races in Florida, and then go to colder weather in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Keeping Horses Comfortable<\/h4>\n

The trailer shelters your horse from wind\u2019s chill, rain, snow, and hail. However, you can make a horse uncomfortable even in this shelter, especially if you close up the trailer tightly to keep out the bad weather. Analyze each phase of your trip\u2013before you leave, determine how you\u2019ll maintain a comfortable temperature inside the trailer.<\/p>\n

Jensen explains that horses thrive in cooler temperatures, around 50-60\u00b0F (12\u00b0C). Overheating is a more hazardous, and a more typical, problem for horses being hauled than getting chilled. Heat inside an enclosed trailer can build up quickly, increasing the humidity. The horse then sweats more, leading to added fluid loss. Also, many people over-blanket horses in trailers in cold weather, which adds to their discomfort.<\/p>\n

Jensen says that good ventilation inside the trailer can help keep horses from overheating. This is a must whether you are hauling in winter or summer. Air should circulate, but the trailer should not be drafty with wind blowing directly onto the horse. In frigid temperatures, the open sides of a stock trailer can permit too much cold wind on horses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout proper air circulation, condensation builds up and the horses end up breathing all that moisture in the air, which can lead to serious respiratory problems,\u201d says Jack Williams of Beacon Hill Horse Transportation in Wingdale, N.Y.<\/p>\n

The first step in providing proper ventilation is to check your trailer\u2019s vents. Along with windows, vents aid air exchange and help the trailer \u201cbreathe.\u201d Ideally, each stall will have a roof vent. The two-way ventilator can be adjusted to scoop air from the front or rear.<\/p>\n

\u201cRun the roof vents in reverse (opening to the rear) so they will draw all that steamy, dead air off the horses,\u201d advises Dave Dalzelle of Jamco Trailers. \u201cYou can get quite a breeze at 70 miles per hour. People often open the vents (forward) and blast air down on top of the horses, right down on their heads or backs. Leave the windows open and reverse the vents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another important step is to inspect a trailer\u2019s sliding windows. Make sure that they slide easily, aren\u2019t cracked, and close completely. As heat increases inside, you want to be able to adjust ventilation by \u201ccracking\u201d a window an inch or two, or opening it fully if it\u2019s very hot inside.<\/p>\n

Jim McKague of Jamco Trailers says, \u201cMost of today\u2019s trailers seal up tightly when you close them. In close quarters, you do get condensation. Don\u2019t open your storm doors in winter, but use windows to allow air to escape. The windows should have screens to stop any snow or moisture from coming in with the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Your trailer\u2019s insulation also affects the interior environment. Insulation in a double-wall construction keeps heat in and cold out, and you might need to adjust the windows and roof vents to compensate.<\/p>\n

Watering is another important part of winter travel, as dehydration can be more likely to occur in cold weather. Some horses naturally drink less in winter, and drivers might not want to take the time to locate, haul, and offer warm water to each horse in a trailer. However, hydration is essential to health\u2013plan to stop every three to four hours to water your passengers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Blanketing<\/h4>\n

If it is very cold, you might need to blanket your horse(s), but cold isn\u2019t the only factor. \u201cIf there is a full load in the truck, a sheet would be fine,\u201d says Williams. Several horses\u2019 body heat keeps the inside of a trailer pretty warm. However, \u201cIf you only have a few horses on, and the temperature is cold, you may need a blanket, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Match the warmth of the blanket to the horse\u2019s coat. A horse which is body-clipped will need increased warmth in cold weather, while one with a heavy winter coat might need no extra covering at all.<\/p>\n

At each watering stop, check the horses for overheating\u2013don\u2019t just peek in to make sure they\u2019re still standing. Catherine Kohn, VMD, in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, recommends, \u201cCheck under blankets frequently\u2013the horse is too hot if he\u2019s sweating under the blanket.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA horse that sweats is damp, and a draft is more dangerous,\u201d says McKague. He also advises looking for sweat on the horse\u2019s neck and shoulders.<\/p>\n

Angelo Duvall of Rock A Doo Farm in Bradford, Ill., hauls Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. He says, \u201cI prefer them blanketed in the winter, and I definitely have the windows open. Even in the winter, horses sweat because they are nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"

Photo credit: martinsz via Visualhunt.com \/ CC BY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting Ready to Go<\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re traveling right after a competition or other equine activity, take care of your horse before you load. McKague advises, \u201cIf your horse was worked heavily and heated up, cool him out before you transport\u2013especially if your trailer isn\u2019t enclosed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Horses should be trained to load and unload calmly, despite the weather. This will save both of you a lot of stress and time out in the cold. To make things easier for both of you, load and unload in well-lighted settings to avoid missteps and horses refusing to load into that large, dark cave we call a trailer. If you can, park so the ground near the loading door is dry. This will help keep the ramp and trailer floor from getting wet and slick. If the trailer has a ramp, make sure that the matting isn\u2019t slippery or in poor condition for loading and unloading. Be sure to secure any doors or swinging windows when loading\/unloading and traveling by latching them so the wind won\u2019t unexpectedly blow an open door shut or vice versa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What if Weather Stops You?<\/h4>\n

Sometimes you must stay off the road because of bad weather, no matter how important it is to get to your destination that day. Investigate weather and road conditions before leaving so you can plan ahead for potential stops. Have a Plan B before road conditions become impassable.<\/p>\n

These locations should have accommodations for your horses out of the weather, and there should be accommodations for yourself nearby. It\u2019s good to call ahead to see if stalls and rooms are available if you think you might need to stop.<\/p>\n

Duvall frequently hauls horses through the Midwest. \u201cWatch the weather,\u201d he advises. \u201cIf bad weather is coming, we can start for a layover place. You want to get horses off the road when you know bad weather is coming. We haul quite a lot of racehorses\u2013Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds\u2013as well as stallions, so we want to watch out for the horse\u2019s best interests. If I know bad weather or snow is coming, I make it clear that I need an extra day.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Truck and Trailer Safety<\/h4>\n

Your horse\u2019s health isn\u2019t the only part of winter travel that you should consider\u2013
\nsevere weather can drastically affect the way you drive your truck and trailer. Heavy rains mean muddy roads, wet streets, or flooded intersections.<\/p>\n

You might have to drive through low visibility conditions, such as a whiteout during a snowstorm, heavy rain, or hail. In northern climates, snow and ice can slow or even halt highway traffic, leaving you and your horses stranded. Assume your extra responsibility for safety by anticipating all of these risks.<\/p>\n

As you drive on less-than-ideal roads, continuously check your truck and trailer\u2019s performance. Reduce speed when the road is icy to assure yourself that you still have full control of truck and trailer. If you drive through a flooded intersection or dip in the road, test your brakes before you need to stop for traffic or other hazards to see if they\u2019ve become wet and \u201cgrabby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, a heavy horse trailer moving at a good clip can slide a very long way if the tires lose their grip on ice, so you need to drive more slowly and plan even farther ahead on icy roads.<\/p>\n

Always use your trailer\u2019s safety chains when you hitch up. A strong wind or a slippery road can hamper your control of the trailer, so you want it to remain firmly hitched to your truck even if the primary hitch fails.<\/p>\n

Should you use chains on tires? They can cause a rough ride, but Laurie Allred of Ketchum, Ohio, uses them for additional grip on slick roads. \u201cWe chain the rear wheels of the pickup, and the brake wheels on the trailer,\u201d she says. \u201cThat helps keep you from fishtailing.\u201d<\/p>\n

With proper planning for winter trailering, you can keep your horses (and yourself) safe and healthy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winter Hauling Checklist<\/h4>\n