The following paragraphs have been provided to offer you sound and sensible advice on preparing your horse for transport and things to watch for after the trip. Proper preparation and after care will ensure your horse has a comfortable journey and remains healthy and happy.
When you make your booking It is very important that you provide us with any relevant information that may assist us in meeting your horse’s requirements whilst traveling with us, along with thorough information regarding any medication or sedatives that have been administered. Consider the size of your horse and whether he may require a larger than usual travel bay. The travel bays on our truck can be fully adjusted to accommodate the very smallest to the very largest of horses. Adjusting the bays to suit individual horses eliminates the risk of rubbed tails or flanks. Consider how well your horse travels. Providing us with your horses travel history (if any), preferences in traveling or any issues your horse may have whilst on the truck will help us to make your horses trip as stress free as possible. As stated above, our truck can be adjusted to create additional room for horses considered to have 'traveling issues'. If your horse is one to go off his feed or water when away from home, please let us know. Things to consider before the trip For the overall well being of your horse, its a good idea to keep his routine as normal as possible prior to his journey. If your horse is shod or is due for a trim, having them done a week or two prior to transport should be considered. This will ensure plenty of recovery time if any injury, pricks or soreness occurs and your horse can be comfortable in the truck. Worming and vaccinations immediately before of transport is NOT recommended. Please plan to have these things done well ahead of time. Ample access to water before departure will ensure that your horse has healthy gut movement during his trip. If you are concerned about the amount of water your horse has consumed, please let us know. When the truck arrives Have you horse caught and prepared to go for when the truck arrives. We will contact you to notify you of when the truck is due to arrive. If there are any changes to the estimated pick up time, we will notify you of this as soon as possible. Rugs, float/shipping boots and tail bandages are not recommended for travel on our truck. They actually do more damage than good on long trips as they can cause injury when applied for such lengthy periods, especially in hot weather. Our truck has full length dividers which prevents horses from biting or kicking each other and body heat generated by the horses on the truck ensures the temperature remains comfortable without the need for additional rugging. If you wish to supply a rug for use during overnight stops you may do so. Halters and leads are supplied by us during the travel. We are happy to carry any gear your horse may need at his destination. Please place any items you wish to send in a clearly marked chaff bag (or similar) with your horses name and your contact details or the contact details of the new owner. We appreciate that some horses require a specialised diet and are are happy to provide this service if owners can supply us with the horse’s feed as well as feeding instructions when we arrive to pick up the horse. . |
During transport
Nth Qld Horse Transport also complies with the transportation guidelines published jointly by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the RSPCA. All horses that travel with us are monitored throughout the course of their trip.Your horses comfort, health and safety is of great importance to us. Our truck is outfitted with top of line equipment. Air ride suspension ensures your horses comfort and a bump free trip and while our surveillance cameras alert to the driver to everything that goes on in the truck. We offer your horses excellent ventilation for optimum air flow while traveling and we make regular stops to check on their welfare. If your horse is embarking on a long trip, and needs to be stabled overnight, you can feel confident that your horse will be accommodated in safe housing, watered, fed and rugged if required. If your horse is suspected of having travel sickness, a vet will be called (at the cost of the owner) and transport stopped for that horse. We like to keep owners 'in-the-loop' and are happy for clients to contact us whenever they wish, whilst their horse in transit After travel It is important that you closely observe your horse for a few days after travel to ensure there are no symptoms of travel sickness. A raised temperature, nasal discharge, coughing and disinterest in eating or drinking are indications that your horse may be suffering. Travel sickness may present itself in numerous ways from a general listlessness to pleuro pneumonia, colitis and laminitis. Accurate detection and treatment will ensure a speedy recovery, however, if left untreated travel sickness can result in the horse becoming excessively ill and in some cases, death occurs.Further information of travel sickness can be found at the bottom of this page. Other useful information We can accommodate mares with foals at foot however we do NOT recommend foals younger than 3 weeks of age travel. Foals younger than this are generally not strong enough to withstand long trips. We can also transport Mares in foal throughout their term of pregnancy. We do NOT travel mares that are within 3 weeks of their expected foaling dates. Stallions are most welcome. Travel Sickness Travel sickness- one of the biggest killers of horses during travel. It is a good idea for all horse owners to familiarise themselves with this very real threat. Many studies have been done in recent years into the effects of long distance/long duration transportation on horses and into the connection with so-called “travel sickness” in equines. Some important findings have been uncovered and Nth Qld Horse Transport follows the recommendations outlined below. North Qld Horse Transport also complies with the transportation guidelines published jointly by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the RSPCA. We are happy to provide a link to this lengthy information upon request. General factors influencing horse welfare during transportation include;
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Generally, horses travel with least stress when they can brace themselves against the direction of forces experienced during travel.
This is one of the main advantages of travelling in a large truck; the horses travel on a reverse angle, which enables them to keep their balance more easily and therefore reduces the stress they experience. The bays on North Qld Horse Transport have full-length grilles on the stallion dividers for optimum safety, no square or sharp corners, no troughs, waterers or other potential hazards that might hinder them lowering their heads or pose a risk of injury and heavy duty rubber sheeting to minimise the risk of injury to legs, the sheeting is solid enough to keep the occupants fully segregated. The bays are fully size-adjustable to accommodate any equine. Due to the outstanding safety of the bays, North Qld Horse Transport can allow horses the freedom to move their heads up and down, which studies have shown is the single largest physiological factor in reducing the incidence travel pneumonia, lung abscesses and pleuritis, commonly referred to as 'travel sickness'. Postural drainage of the airways is of critical importance to horses, especially so if travelling for long periods of time. The internal truck environment is well-designed by a horseman; it has no sharp edges; excellent ventilation throughout the truck, including roof vents, louvers and higher ceilings to lessen a horse's natural tendency towards claustrophobia and the pathogens that thrive in a humid, ammonia-rich environment; a non-slip and shock-absorbing rubber floor; ramps with minimal incline and louvers placed so that the majority of horses have a clear view outside the truck. North Qld Horse Transport does not travel horses head-to-tail to avoid them inhaling urine and pathogens; they travel head to kerb and on a light bed of shavings to absorb ammonia and help keep the environment fresh and clean. The truck is meticulously maintained; being thoroughly cleaned before, during and after trips. The air-bag suspension minimises stress on horse's legs and makes the ride much more comfortable, thereby minimising general stress levels as well. To minimise the risk of salmonellosis, dehydration and general stress factors,North QLD Horse Transport feeds only good quality roughage to horses in transit as recommended. All horses are unloaded, stabled, watered, fed hay and rested overnight during their journey. During the journey, horses are monitored carefully by our experienced staff via the CCTV. Our experienced staff monitor all the horses in their care closely to ensure they step off the truck at all stages of the journey looking bright and alert and well-hydrated. They are watched to be sure they are eating and drinking normally and not showing any signs of impending illness such as depression, loss of appetitie, a soft cough or increased respiration rate or temperature. Veterinary attention is sought immediately if required and the owner contacted. North Qld Horse Transport only employs experienced horse-handlers with a calm and confident approach. More than truck drivers, the staff are involved in horses in their own everyday lives and take that extra care in monitoring the health and well-being of the horses in their care. The studies have all concurred that this factor is the single most important practical element in safe transportation of horses. Your horse's welfare is paramount to North Qld Horse Transport. We understand your horses are your pride and joy, possibly your livelihood and that in the horse industry, reputation is everything and hard-won. Both are treated with the utmost respect… we stand by our service and our excellent reputation. |