Transportation of horses is important whether you are going a short distance or across the country. The main goal is to give the animals a safe and comfortable ride. Horses are hauled for showing, riding or going to a clinic or veterinarian. There are several types of horse trailers, and they can be sorted by hitch types, bumper pull, gooseneck, and semi-truck variants. Horse trailers are constructed with materials such as alloy steel, lightweight aluminum, composites and hybrid combinations. Factors to consider when choosing a horse trailer are how many animals to haul, how much room for tack and gear and are amenities needed such as living space and storage. The most common horse trailer is the original bumper pull, also referred to as tag-alongs. These trailers are often lighter weight with a maximum capacity of 3 to 4 horses. They are best used for short-distance trips and can be towed by smaller pickup trucks, RVs or SUVs. Bumper pull trailers are good for navigat...
One of the worst things about having animals is having to keep them on a schedule and routine. Depending on the day, weather and plans for the day it can become a large inconvenience. Having to feed them before doing anything for the day and making sure you’re home to feed them at night. My mother taught me that plans come after the animals and if you have to change plans so they get fed that is what you need to do. Ideally, they get fed at the same time each day but with a busy schedule that can be extremely difficult. Smokey is very old and needs to be fed 6 times a day and having to either stay on the farm or drive back and forth is frustrating. The rest of our horses have their quirks as well. Fireball and Whiskey need specialized grain. Denver spills most of his grain so he needs to be hand fed. Bo needs a probiotic and Durango needs supplements on his feed. Spitfire is the most low maintenance but she needs her water changed more than anyone else because she is a messy...
People see how large horses are and feel that they can withstand anything. That is true in some instances but they also have very sensitive skin and tack that is intended to be corrective can actually be borderline abusive. Some horse bits can be considered abusive because they can cause pain and injury to horses. Twisted wire bit have sharp edges that can press into a horse's mouth, increasing pressure and pain. Chifney bits are made of thin metal and are shaped to depress a horse's tongue. They can cause severe injuries, including lacerated tongues, with little effort. Thinner bits spread out pressure less across a horse's mouth, making them harsher. A corrective bit goes up into the horses mouth with no break and has constant pressure. Arabian horse trainers use halters with spikes behind the ears that forces the horse to keep its’ head at the perfect angle to release the pressure. Draw reins can put pressure on the horse's mouth and create discomfort if not used c...
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