How to Ship Your Horse Long Distance

If you're new to shipping your horse long distance, it can be daunting to think about. Here are some simple steps you can follow that I put together from personal experience, asking experienced show people and asking my local vet. 

1) Pick a shipper

Ask your horse contacts for recommendations. Call or email those shippers and ask if they're going your way when you want to go. If they are, check out their website to see what kind of trailer they have and how they take care of your horse on the trip. Look for windows that open and close. Bonus points if they ask you to provide some hay that your horse is used to for the trip. Ask them how often they stop and let the horse out. See if you can find reviews on Google, Yelp or any other site by searching for the shipper's name and the word review.

 2) Get your paperwork together

• Coggins - You'll need negative/good coggins test results that are within the last 6 months or year depending on the state. 
• CVI - You'll most likely a health certificate (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection). The vet will need to inspect your horse within a month of writing up the certificate. The state will probably want the certificate written within 30 days of the arrival date. 
• Permit - You may need a permit. Usually that entails having your vet call someone at the state you're delivering the horse to. 
• Brand Inspection - You may need a brand inspection. 

Start here to find your specific state regulations for each of the above.

3) Get your horse ready

Make sure you start any feed changes at least two weeks before shipping. During shipping you'll want to feed your horse grass hay without alfalfa and no grain. Get any vaccinations at least two weeks before the shipping date to give your horse plenty of time to recover. You may want to give your horse some mineral oil the day before shipping to keep the gut moving and prevent colic. If your horse is difficult to get in the trailer practice beforehand or have a pen ready that you can put the horse in and back the trailer up to so the shipper can get your horse in.

4) Blanketing and Shipping Boots

It's better for a horse be too cold than too hot on a trip. They'll be using their muscles constantly during the trip to keep balanced and that generates heat. Good shippers will monitor the temperature of the trailer and open and close the windows as appropriate to keep horses comfortable. Unless your horse is used to shipping boots, don't use them. If your horse kicks at the boots during the trip or if the boots slip down they can cause more harm than good.

5) Get your contact information together

Touch base with your shipper and the person in charge at the other end of the trip a few days before the pickup to make sure there are no changes. Make sure you tell the shipper and the person at the other end if you need anything like a blanket sent along with your horse. Label those items. If you can't be at the destination, ask the person there to take a picture of your horse when he or she arrives to give you piece of mind that all four legs are still attached.

6) Stay available on your phone during the shipping.

Things should go smoothly, but if not you're there to help.

Good luck!