This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Trailers, Trucks, & Trailering Horses » Trailering Horses topics not covered by the above »
  Discussion on Keeping Your Horse Cool During Trailering
Author Message
New Member:
bpreeves

Posted on Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 - 1:38 pm:

Does anyone have any tips for keeping your horse cool during hauling in the hot afternoons? I am hauling a horse for 5 hours during the hot summer afternoon in South Texas (90 plus degrees). I have heard to wet the shavings and if possible to install fan. Don't know if the fan will work in my trailer, because it is an eight foot tall aluminum stock trailer.
Member:
hwood

Posted on Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 - 1:51 pm:

Equi-Par, welcome,

I have a neck cooler for myself, and a friend wondered if we could make them for horses, too.
The one I have is soaked in tap water and though the directions say that it doesn't need to go into the fridge, I sometimes put it in the fridge before putting it on myself . . . ooooooooooo! Feels good . . . and really does seem to help.
I wonder if making some neck coolers from an old sheet and filling them with crushed ice in plastic bags . . . and tying so that it sits against the horse's lower neck/shoulders would help keep the whole horse cooler. You could have a few of them and pack them in a cooler before you leave and stop every couple of hours to change them. I wonder about putting a bag of ice under a head bumper might help, too?
Just thoughts as I know how hot it has been, and can't imagine riding in a metal box on the interstate in over 100 degree heat . . . even if the air IS moving.
Member:
erika

Posted on Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 - 5:07 pm:

Can you go at night or early morning instead? Like Holly, I don't think anything would do it in that heat.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 - 6:55 pm:

Actually, the trailer stays quite a bit cooler than the outside temps if all the vents and windows are open. However, if I HAVE to travel when it's really hot, I put a cotton sheet on the horse and wet it down. It dries after an hour or so, so I take a big spray bottle along and fill it with water and re-wet the sheet. It's the best solution I've come up with. However, I live where it's very low humidity. I'm not sure how much difference humidity makes, but I know there is some formula to figure out the heat index (what the air actually feels like) with heat and humidity. The sheet might not dry out as quickly, but it also might not make the horse feel as relatively cool as it would in a dry climate. Just standing, in the shade, in a breeze, as a horse is when trailering, horses do pretty good here. I'm pretty sure the humidity makes the higher temps. harder to take regardless of the shade and wind.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 26, 2007 - 8:59 am:

The ability for a horse to stay cool depends on temperature, humidity, and wind. As long as the trailer keeps moving along quickly and is well ventilated the horses should be fine. I would not wet the shaving as this does not cool the horses but increases the humidity if stopped, making cooling more difficult. The wet sheet is sensible IF you keep it wet as it cools while the water evaporates.

The big snag is all this is what if you break down? Are you prepared to deal with the horses broken down in 90 plus heat if there is no natural shade? Is it possible to rig a tarp that will shade the trailer from the direct sun if broken down? Do you have plenty of water till help comes if help is more than a few hours away?

Safest is to wait for cooler parts of the day to travel but I understand this is not always possible.
DrO
Member:
hpyhaulr

Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2007 - 11:51 am:

If at all possible, I would try to move in the early morning before the horse has built up heat. When stopping for rest,we feed cut up cantaloupe or watermelon kept in the cooler.... cold water misting or the wet towel on her neck will give temporary pick me ups. Sloppy face washes...I would try these wet towels and/or misting on terra firma to get her used to them before doing it in a trailer confinement.
At least 30 gallons of water on board as Dr. O notes, mechanical breakdowns are the real danger here. Electrolytes begun 48 hours prior to boarding so they have effect while travelling also helps.
Let us know how you make out and what you used????
Member:
gailkin

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 - 4:38 pm:

I agree that traveling at a cooler time is best. That said, if you must go when really hot, I have water storage in my trailer. But I also bought a short piece of hose that I keep in my trailer. When we stop at rest stops, the water faucets there (in CA) have threads that you can attach a hose to and I hose off my horses to completely wet them down before moving on. Good air circulation is so important. Sometimes, you can't help traveling in heat. I left our vacation ranch one morning when it was 36 degrees, and it was 94 degrees when we passed through the central valley. I had no idea it would be that hot!! I worried alot, but the horses seemed fine with their hosing and one rest stop in 5 hours. Good luck. Gail
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC