Page 108 - September2021

EQUINE HEALTH
The problem with giving electrolytes is that you need to make sure the horse is drinking, or you are upsetting the fluid balance; those salts pull more fluid from the body.
Although some horses won’t drink while traveling, it is always wise to offer water, especially during warmer weather.
REST STOPS
Most people don’t like to stop and leave their horses in a trailer, but on a long haul it is a good idea to stop. “One recommendation is to stop briefly every three to four hours so the horse can relax and not have to keep contend- ing with the movement and vibration,” says Williams. “The horse can take a break from constantly balancing and his muscles can stop working so hard. If you can give him a break for about 30 minutes every three to four hours, this can help the horse,” she says.
These rest breaks are another reason to have fans in the trailer, to keep up some air flow when it’s not moving since you might not be able to stop in an area where you could unload the horses. “Not everyone wants to unload dur- ing a trip, especially next to a busy highway or if the horse isn’t a super-good loader. You may not want to risk having a problem getting him back into the trailer again. But if there are fans in the trailer, you wouldn’t need to unload the horses,” says Williams.
WATER
Most horses won’t drink water in a trailer, but it’s still a good idea to offer water every other stop on a long haul—or at least every 6 to 8 hours. I’ve never had horses that actually drink while they are in a trailer,
but if it’s really hot and the horse needs to drink, you should offer water in case they will drink, especially on a long haul,” Williams says.
“Some people give horses electrolytes before they haul because most horses are not very good drinkers while traveling.
The problem with giving electrolytes is
that you need to make sure the horse is drinking, or you are upsetting the fluid balance; those salts pull more fluid from
the body. If you are not sure the horse
will drink, wait until you arrive at your destination and then give the electrolytes,” she says.
Water is another thing you should keep as consistent as possible because some horses refuse to drink strange water. “Even if you have to take jugs of water from your farm,
I recommend doing it. I had a mare who was always reluctant to drink water away from home, so I had some 5-gallon containers
and took water for her to drink, and it really helped.” says Williams.
“Some horses do well with flavorings in the water or some different additives, but you need to get the horse used to
these things first before trying it on a long, hot haul.”
Regarding the actual water needs of a horse while traveling, many horses won’t drink while they are in a trailer.
“Studies have looked at how long horses can go without water, and it’s actually quite long. Some horses will go 24 hours and not drink until they get to their destination. Studies found that as long as they are able to drink once they get there, those horses are not any worse off than the horses who do drink during that length
of time.” The exception might be when hauling in very hot weather, with more risk for dehydration--which is why
getting them used to drinking different water sources or flavors is a good idea.
FEEDING
On a short trip, most people usually do not feed the horses. They will be fine for two or three hours without feed or water, and have less risk for colic, choke, inhaled dust from hay or grain, etc. If it’s a long
trip, however, more than five hours, horses should be fed. The best thing to feed is clean grass hay, which is less dusty than alfalfa, or hay pellets. “I also like to wet the hay—soak it before putting it in a hay net,” says Foss. This will minimize the amount of dust
they will be sucking into their lungs, and also adds a bit more moisture into the digestive tract.
Hay is always better to feed than grain. There is more risk for colic if the horse is fed grain and not enough roughage on a long trip. If you’ve been feeding grain, reduce
the ration just before the trip and gradually increase it again afterward. If a horse eats hay rather than grain on the trip, he will also drink more water. Dehydration can be
a serious problem on a long trip when horses don’t drink enough, and the problem is com- pounded by decreased gut movement due to standing in the trailer without
walking around.
What you feed a horse in hot weather can make a difference in how quickly he over- heats. Alfalfa, for instance, creates more heat during digestion than does grass hay. “It’s best to stick with a good grass hay in the summer. Alfalfa is a better winter feed to help a horse keep warm,” says Foss.
What you feed the horse while traveling may also increase or decrease his risk for ulcers from the stress of travel. This is another reason that hay is better than grain because it provides more buffer in the stomach to counteract excess acid. “Studies have shown that we can scope the horse at home in his normal environment and see that his stomach is healthy, and then haul the horse and he will have ulcers just from the short-term stress,” says Foss.
Realizing this, you could put the horse on a little anti-ulcer medication while traveling. Since ulcers are caused by stress, the more you can reduce stress when your horse is away from home, the better. Traveling in hot weather can be a big stress, so every attempt
It is recommended to stop briefly every three to four hours, so the horse can relax and not have to keep contending with the movement and vibration of hauling.
106 SPEEDHORSE September 2021