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  Discussion on Horse transportation recommendations
Author Message
Member:
teddi

Posted on Saturday, Jun 11, 2011 - 3:01 pm:

Hi All,

I'm looking for recommendations on a company to haul my horse from Pasco, WA to Jackson, WY. I usually use Equine Express, but they can't haul until the beginning of July (still waiting to clarify when exactly that would be). I'd like my horse to arrive anytime between June 26th and July 1st. Any earlier and my pasture fence won't be finished. Any later and I'll just go with Equine Express. This is a yearling colt, so I'd like him to ship in a box stall on an air ride van. Any information/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!
Member:
hpyhaulr

Posted on Saturday, Jun 11, 2011 - 8:38 pm:

While I don't hold all that much weight on the air ride, the box stall is a good idea for a horse this young. I would go to MoveMyHorse.com and fill out a request form and you will get several bids. CHECK OUT THE HAULERS WHO RESPOND. And I don't mean just look at their website. Jack the ripper can have a nice website. If you board at a barn, talk to people who have had their horses hauled. Talk to staff at your vet's clinic....More than looking for the positive, look for the negative. Check on Ripoff.com and complaints.com
When you fill out the form on Move My Horse, set your priorities. 'I want a safe ride for my baby' there are a lot of times I just go to the delete button when I see a request come through focused on 'I want the cheapest ride possible'. I want the client who treasures their baby like I do mine. My goal has always been to be the best, sometimes that is at a good price, sometimes not. THere are haulers who will book everything they see at a really cheap price and then not show up if something else comes up which will make them more money. THey may or may not tell you this, and often leave you standing there while they stop taking your calls. There are bad apples in every business. I'm just telling you how to sniff out the bad apples in my business. Go past the emails, talk to the hauler and get a feel for them. Trust your gut. If it is all talk about business and contracts and they start sounding like a lawyer, run, don't walk. There probably is a reason for them to sound that way. You want a horse man, not a lawyer hauling your yearling. That first haul is very important, It colors how your horse will look at hauling for years to come. If you want to run the bids past me, contact me privately and I will be happy to help you sort through them.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 - 12:33 am:

Cyndy and Walt would be my first choice if they can schedule in your time frame. Walt hauled two horses from Virginia to Idaho for a friend of mine and those two horses looked wonderful and totally relaxed when they arrived. Also healthy! With a youngster, shipping fever is a concern, and in the big vans, your baby could be with 12 to 14 other horses. Been down that road, and a big vet bill resulted. An enclosed space, with that many strange horses is an incubator for germs. Even adult horses are susceptible, so be up to date on vaccines and as pro-active as you can.
Member:
teddi

Posted on Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 - 1:18 pm:

Thank you Cyndy and Julie for your input and advice. I really appreciate all the information. I especially appreciate your offer Cyndy of letting me run the bids past you. Very kind and generous offer!

I spent the better part of the past two days looking for a shipper who was licensed and insured, AND who had no complaints and great reviews. Also checked with the BBB. Funny because I saw stellar reviews for a company that is very well-known, been around forever, and I wouldn't trust to haul my trash.

As for price, I am happy to pay a fair price for a well-done job. Everyone has to make a living and it's worth it to me to be sure that my horse is shipped by people who are horsemen, know what they're doing, like their job, and have equipment that is clean, up-to-date, and in excellent working order. That isn't something that comes from the lowest bidder.

After talking with the breeder, I am going to keep my horse there until Equine Express can ship him at the beginning of July. I have had great experiences with them in the past, and don't trust him with anyone else.

Thanks so much for your input and advice. I truly appreciate it.
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