Hauling Horses Long Distance: Paperwork, Packing List, Rest Stops and Arrival

By Gayle Woods Editors Updated 6 min read

A long trailer trip is hard work for a horse. It has to balance constantly against every turn, brake and bump, often in a confined space, breathing road dust and hay dust, and drinking less than usual. With good preparation, most horses travel well and arrive ready to settle in. This guide covers everything from paperwork to the first few days at the new barn.

Before the trip

Paperwork

Requirements vary by state, so check with the destination state's veterinary office or the USDA's interstate travel resources well ahead of time. Commonly required:

  • Negative Coggins test. The test for equine infectious anemia. Most states require one within the past 12 months; some require 6 months.
  • Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate). Required for most interstate travel, usually issued by your vet within 30 days before the trip after an exam.
  • Brand inspection. Some Western states require one when horses leave or enter.
  • Proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale or registration papers.

Some events and barns also require proof of specific vaccines. Keep all papers together in the truck, with copies on your phone.

Health and practice

  • Vaccines up to date, especially respiratory vaccines such as influenza and rhinopneumonitis if the horse will meet new horses.
  • Practice loading at home until your horse walks on calmly. Don't make the day of the trip its first lesson.
  • Short practice trips for horses that rarely travel.

Truck and trailer check

  • Tires, including spares: pressure, tread, cracks and age. See trailer tires.
  • Wheel bearings and brakes, serviced within the last year.
  • Lights, including brake lights and turn signals.
  • Trailer floor: lift the mats and check for rot or corrosion.
  • Hitch, safety chains and breakaway battery.
  • Ventilation: vents and windows open, with screens.

See our horse trailer guide for more.

Route planning

  • Plan stops every three to four hours, and an overnight layover for trips longer than about 10 to 12 hours of driving. Many horse-friendly layover barns rent stalls for a night.
  • Avoid the hottest part of the day in summer and bad weather in winter.
  • Know where vets are along your route.
  • Consider a roadside assistance plan that covers horse trailers. Regular car plans often don't.

Packing list

For the horse

  • Hay for the whole trip plus a couple of days, ideally the hay the horse already eats
  • Water from home, or a way to make new water familiar (some owners add a little apple juice or electrolyte flavoring at home in the weeks before)
  • Buckets, a hay net
  • Feed and supplements, pre-measured into bags
  • A spare halter and lead rope
  • Shipping boots or standing wraps
  • A head bumper (poll guard) for tall horses or those that throw their heads
  • Blanket or sheet appropriate to the weather
  • A horse first aid kit and thermometer
  • Manure fork, broom and bags

For the rig

  • Spare tire, lug wrench and a jack or trailer tire ramp that fits the trailer
  • A tire inflator and pressure gauge
  • Flashlight or headlamp, reflective triangles
  • Basic tools, duct tape, zip ties, a knife
  • Paperwork, phone, charger, cash

Loading and tying

  • Tie the horse with a quick-release knot or trailer ties with a panic snap that can be opened under tension.
  • Tie long enough that the horse can use its head and neck for balance, and short enough that it can't turn around or get its head under a divider.
  • Use a leather or breakaway halter, which breaks in an emergency, rather than a rope halter, which won't.
  • Let horses lower their heads when you can. Some trailers with box stalls or roomy slants allow horses to travel loose.

On the road

Driving

Horses can't brace the way people do, and every sudden movement makes them scramble for balance.

  • Accelerate gently and brake early and gradually.
  • Take turns wide and slow.
  • Leave extra space to the car in front.
  • Watch for crosswinds, especially with bumper pulls.

A trailer camera lets you watch your horses as you drive.

Stops

  • Every three to four hours: check each horse, look at its legs, boots and blankets, and offer water. Many horses won't drink at first; offer again at each stop.
  • Watch for signs of trouble: sweating, heavy breathing, scrambling, or refusing hay.
  • Don't unload at highway rest stops unless it's an emergency. An escaped horse near traffic is a disaster.
  • Clean out manure and wet bedding at longer stops.

Overnight layovers

On trips longer than one day, unload horses into stalls or paddocks overnight. Let them move around, lie down, drink and eat freely. Horses traveling more than about a day without a break are at higher risk of dehydration and respiratory disease.

Shipping fever

Shipping fever, or pleuropneumonia, is a serious lung infection that can develop after long trips. When a horse is tied with its head up for many hours, it can't lower its head to clear mucus and dust from its airways, and bacteria take hold.

To lower the risk:

  • Give horses chances to lower their heads, at rest stops, overnight, or by traveling loose in a box stall.
  • Dampen hay to cut down on dust.
  • Keep the trailer well ventilated.
  • Keep horses well hydrated.

After arrival, take the horse's temperature twice a day for at least three days. A temperature above about 101.5°F, a cough, nasal discharge, depression or loss of appetite means you should call a vet right away. See horse vital signs.

Arrival

  • Unload calmly and hand-walk the horse for a few minutes to stretch its legs.
  • Offer water and hay right away.
  • Keep the diet the same at first, and change it gradually over a week or two if needed.
  • Turn out or introduce new horses gradually, across a fence first.
  • Monitor temperature, appetite, manure and attitude for several days.
  • Give the horse time to rest before asking for hard work, usually a day for every few hours of hauling.

Using a professional hauler

Professional horse transport companies can be a good choice for very long trips, if you don't have a suitable rig, or for moving several horses. Ask:

  • Are you registered with the US Department of Transportation and insured for horse transport?
  • How often do you stop, and do horses get overnight layovers?
  • Will my horse ride in a straight stall, slant stall or box stall?
  • How many horses will be on the trailer, and how many drivers?
  • Can I have references from recent customers?

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions