hauling horses
This message is from: Janet McNally <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Okay, for those of you with stock-type trailers, I'm curious. > > Do you tie your horses? If so, how? Facing forward, sideways, or > backwards? With a regular tie rope or an elastic type tie? How do you > minimize the potential for horses slipping and falling on curves or > hills or during an emergency stop? Hi, We have a regular 16 foot stock type gooseneck trailer. The goose neck gives you a smoother ride, and is much easier to get out of tight places. We installed a home made slant devider, so that the front 2-4 feet can be used as a tack room. The back then can haul 4 average horses on the slant, with the heads facing forward, although I've heard of people who alternated the horses too. This has worked extreemly well for us on very long trips, but as I said before, I insist on unloading the horses every 12 hours and at least standing still for 30 minutes every 3+ hours. Standing in a moving trailer is work, even for a horse, and I feel it is especially important to be sure the horses (and driver!) are rested before entering the mountains. I would never unload any horse, no matter how trustworthy, at a typical way side rest stop. It is much too easy for them to run out onto the highway if anything spooked them. Instead we have found that fair grounds or rodeo arenas are rather easy and plentiful to find and much safer, and if empty, you can turn them loose in the arena for a good romp and roll. I tie the horse with the lead rope, giving enough rope for lots of freedom, but never enough to get a foot over, and make sure that one horse cannot attempt to walk under another's neck. Sand provides the best traction on the floor, and some wood shavings over top of the sand can help absorbe urine. Before ever hauling horses, the driver should ride in the trailer around curves, with stops etc to get a feel for what it is like to travel back there. I read a study that found horses travelled best when facing to the rear of the trailer. They are better able to brace themselves in this possition, the slant is the next best thing. to Judy, sorry, I do not haul horses for others :-( Janet
Shasta driving
This message is from: "Lassesen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Jack, Shasta even when it is snowing is ok. I have been on it just before it has closed and it is not due to snow but due to snow and fog. Before you leave check the 800 road number for California and plug in I-5. They will tell you if you are required to carry chains. Travel during the daylight hours will insure less closure if it does snow. They tend to close down at night if it is snowing. This weekend looks good so far... but in Oregon if you want the weather to change... wait a minute. Welcome to Oregon. Salem is a good location. Catherine Lassesen
fjordhorse-digest V2001 #337
fjordhorse-digestWednesday, December 26 2001Volume 2001 : Number 337 In this issue: Fjords at Denver's NWSS or RMHE ? Re: Hauling Happy Holidays! Re: I'm on my way to Oregon Holiday Greetings Re: I'm on my way to Oregon Re: Hauling Re: Hauling Re: Hauling Re: Hauling Re: I'm on my way to Oregon See the end of the digest for information on how to retrieve back issues. -- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 13:33:48 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fjords at Denver's NWSS or RMHE ? This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anyone heard if there will be fjords at Denver's National Western Stock Show? http://www.nationalwestern.com/NWSS/home/index.asp";>National Western Stock Show, Rodeo, Horse Show http://www.nationalwestern.com/NWSS/home/index.asp or Rocky Mountain Horse Expo? http://www.rockymountainhorseexpo.com/";>Rocky Mountain Horse Expo http://www.rockymountainhorseexpo.com/ I've looked at both websites, but don't find anything. That does not say much, though, as they leave a lot not printed on the websites. Sher -- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 13:42:50 -0600 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Hauling This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Okay, for those of you with stock-type trailers, I'm curious. Do you tie your horses? If so, how? Facing forward, sideways, or backwards? With a regular tie rope or an elastic type tie? How do you minimize the potential for horses slipping and falling on curves or hills or during an emergency stop? If you've used a "regular" horse trailer with dividers and an open stock trailer, what do you do differently when using the stock trailer? Inquiring minds want to know and all that DeeAnna -- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 13:08:21 -0800 From: "Knutsen Fjord Farm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Happy Holidays! This message is from: "Knutsen Fjord Farm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Peace in the New Year to all! Happy Holidays - Peg and Doug Peg Knutsen - Ellensburg, WA http://www.eburg.com/~kffjord/ -- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 16:28:12 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: I'm on my way to Oregon This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi there List, I just wanted to say I hope each one of you had a very merry Christmas. I am moving to Salem Oregon and leaving Ca. on Friday the 28th of December. I have one question. I have only traveled there via I-5 during the summer months, and have no idea how the weather will be going through the Shasta area and the mountains. If anyone can shed any light on this please let me know ASAP. I will be off the air by Friday. I will check my mail from now until Thursday evening when I will pack my little PC and go. I sincerely hope every one has a wonderful New Years, and a safe one. God Bless you all. I'll be in touch as soon as I have a phone to hook up to. Jack (barn mgr.) -- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 18:45:04 -0500 From: Diana Calder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Holiday Greetings This message is from: Diana Calder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> A happy holiday e-greeting from me and the rest of the Calder family: http://users.mnsi.net/~dcalder/card/card.html - -- Diana mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 21:30:46 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: I'm on my way to Oregon This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 12/25/01 1:36:48 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > I just wanted to say I hope each one of you had a very merry Christmas. > I am moving to Salem Oregon and leaving Ca. on Friday the 28th of December. > I > have one question. I have only traveled there via I-5 during the summer > months, and have no idea how the weather will be going through the Shasta > Welcome to Oregon! One of the best places to live, if I may say so! I've driven through Shasta in November and in June, and it was okay. I wouldn't guarantee now. But I'll check. If in doubt, Hwy 101 may be a bit of a longer drive, but it should be passable! Pamela -- Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 19:42:28 -0800 From: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Hauling This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > DeeAnna <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Okay, for those of you with stock-type trailers, I'm curious. > > Do you tie your horses? If so, how? Facing forward, sideways, or > backwards? With a regular tie rope or an elastic type tie? How do you > minimize the potential for horses slipping and falling on curves or > hills or during an emergency stop? I have a 2-horse slant-stock trailer. When I'm hauling our 2 Fjord geldings, I load them facing slant-rear, with the divider between them. I tie them w
Re: Hi from Jack
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi there, Oops, I deleted your message about the weather conditions. PLEASE send it again : ( I would like your phone number too, so I can call on my way through. Jack
Re: I'm on my way to Oregon
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi there, Thank you Pamela, I appreciate your response. I'll be looking for your mail. Jack
Re: Hauling
This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Okay, for those of you with stock-type trailers, I'm > curious. > > Do you tie your horses? If so, how? Facing forward, > sideways, or > backwards? With a regular tie rope or an elastic > type tie? How do you > minimize the potential for horses slipping and > falling on curves or > hills or during an emergency stop? We used to use a stock trailer to haul horses. They were tied on the diagonal, all facing the same side of the trailer with regular halter ropes. All rode fine. Then we bought a 'converted' stock trailer which had two solid divider tie stalls with mangers/tie rings and steel gates behind. The back one-third of the trailer was just an open space which was closed in by shutting the back door of the trailer and locking the slider door. This was a HEAVY steel trailer with a wood floor. We used it to haul all kinds of combinations of horses - from mares and babies to three adults. We always tied the two in the front 'stalls'(facing forward, usually)using trailer ties with 'quick release' snaps on one end. There was just one horse in the back part of the trailer - either a foal(hauled loose and bedded with straw) or an older horse(tied facing one side or the other - depending on which 'front horse' was most compatible with the 'back horse'). Must say we NEVER had ANY problems hauling horses with this trailer. We hauled Fjord mares, foals, mares WITH foals, fully harnessed Clydes, ponies - and everything in between. We always put either sawdust/wood chips or straw on the floors to help with footing and absorb liquids(which can be a major cause of horses slipping in the trailer). Later we bought a 'regular' two horse trailer - Circle J 'forward facing' with removable center divider. We hauled a pair of Fjord geldings in this trailer - tied in facing forward. Floor usually had some absorbent material on it for footing. The only problem we EVER had with this arrangement occurred when we put "mud cork" shoes on the hind feet of one of the geldings. He could not keep his feet under him with these "high heeled shoes" and so scrambled all over the trailer. It was the one and only time he ever fussed in the trailer, so it HAD to be the shoes. We removed the shoes and voila! he was fine again. I would never haul a horse with either 'sharp shoes'(for ice) or 'mud corks' in a trailer without a very good divider-preferable a solid divider all the way to the floor-to keep him from stepping on the horse next to him. It's bad enough if they step on themselves - even leg bandages sometimes do not prevent injury with these shoes. Possibly using very thick floor bedding - sand or sawdust? - would help this problem. I just chose to eliminate the problem by pulling the shoes. We have never had a horse fall in the trailer on curvy roads(you have to remember that there is 'live cargo' back there and drive sensibly) or in an emergency. Our emergency stop(a blown trailer tire) occurred with the 'front facing/tied in' trailer. Those boys hit the chest pads on the mangers, but never moved otherwise. They stayed in the trailer while the spare was put on, AND while the trailer was parked at the Les Schwaub dealership having new tires put on. They just stood there and slept or ate. These were Fjords of course - 4 year olds - so their naturally calm nature probably helped. Possibly a more 'frantic' breed might have lost it - who knows? > If you've used a "regular" horse trailer with > dividers and an open stock > trailer, what do you do differently when using the > stock trailer? We drove more 'defensively' with the stock trailer - realizing that the 'load' is more apt to shift in an emergency/unexpected maneuver. Be SURE you have a tow vehicle that's big enough, powerful enough, and properly equipped to handle that stock trailer!!! You DO NOT want the 'tail wagging the dog'!! Our tow vehicle for the stock trailer had duals in the rear because we also had a camper on the truck. We hauled the same trailer with a 'regular' truck(no duals) and no camper, which was also fine. Try to balance that load - and please use 'leveller bars' on a good sturdy properly installed hitch. Hope this helps. Mary = Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com
Re: Hauling
This message is from: "truman matz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Yes. Juniper would agree with you. I bought the horse and she was a > wonderful loader. > Pamela ==The mare who had the trailer incident will easily load into anything. She's been an extremely easy horse to work with ever since my friend got her, and I can see how great she is just by the little time I've dealt with her here. I guess all that is just one more reason I question the whole situation. Judy
Re: Hauling
This message is from: "truman matz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> how > were the horses standing in the trailer? Slant load? Straight load? Stock > trailer? Slant load, except for mare and foal who had the end of the trailer as a box. She unloaded just fine and was 100% after she got to roll. =To the best of my knowledge, this old mare has been on her feet ever since the incident. Think about the last time you took a Greyhound Bus anywhere. ===Been there, done that, and hope to never do it again!! ===I wish all of you a belated wish for Christmas blessings and a wonderful New Year. Judy > > Peaceful Holidays to All. > Pamela Garofalo
