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  Discussion on Cross Country Trailering
Author Message
New Member:
Cihigh

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 14, 2003 - 9:35 am:

I was thinking of hauling a weanling from K.C. MO to Phila. and I have never done any hauling longer than 3 hrs. I live in the Phila area and have driven the highways to the breeder. Usually I put up in rest stops. Are we allowed to unload stock to stretch at rest stops (or will anyone care if we do, is another question)? I am not thrilled with some of the roads or the prospect of taking a little one in Sept. or Oct. on my stock trailer through a "cattle shute" in a narrow construction area. Rain or heat could be factors. She would have a flymask and blankie as needed, and the trailer modified to a box with plywood, I guess. Not sure of feeding or hydration schedules. I read posted fear-and-loathing stories about pro haulers and don't know if they would be right for the foal.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 15, 2003 - 5:47 am:

I do not know of any rules that prevent it Christine but wonder if it is the right thing to do: a scared weanling in unfamiliar area, just off the highway, with nothing but a rope and halter and you to restrain it. Be sure the tack is perfect and the weanling is very well halter broke. If the weanling has the whole stock trailer you might consider allowing the foal live in the trailer until home.
DrO
New Member:
rheard

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 3:35 pm:

We're trailering 3 horses from AZ to CO and are wondering if anyone knows of a rest stop for horses along I-25. We plan to drive straight thru and just stop for a couple of hours for the horses (in addition to the stops for gas & food we will be making).
Member:
hollyw

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 5:07 pm:

In what state will you be when you stop? Do you know which town you will be near? If so, I'd contact the state horse council and ask if they know of a place, or call the town Chamber of Commerce . . . or University Extension service . . . or Police station. If an HA member lives nearby where you stop, then I bet he/she will know.
Member:
dwinans

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 6:51 pm:

Hi Randi,

The fairgrounds in Albuquerque are a great place to stop for a break. Call ahead and make sure they are open and taking horses. I've hauled Parker to Phoenix many times with only one stop at Grants for fuel if you want to go straight through.
Member:
rheard

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 7:19 pm:

Thanks to both of you for some great information!
I hadn't even thought about the fairgrounds so I may just do that, and if we decided to spend the night, I'll contact the Chamber of Commerce.
Member:
hpyhaulr

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 8:08 pm:

Randi,
Don't know how I missed this thread before tonight.I have been working a lot and sleeping very little. We're horsehaulers, and use horse hotels every night. I am glad they have worked out for others, but we avoid fairgrounds. Security is the issue. If we have to use them, Walt will park the rig across the front of all the stalls we use as a security measure and he will sleep in the trailer. The only time he separates himself from the horses is when they are at a horse hotel in a barn with fencing and crossfencing, on site owners as well as as a security gate.Then he can relax and go to a human motel.
There is a website you need to get onto... horsemotel.com also horsetrip.com.
I like the first one better as it allows the guests to rate the facility.There are literally hundreds of horse hotels across the country. They generally run about $15-25 a night including bedding. If both those websites fail me, I will get into the local yellow pages with the word horse in the search. Vets, feed stores, tack stores, training facilities all will know good layovers.
If you can email me and give me the towns of departure and arrival,I will streets & trips your route and let you know where we have stayed along that way. What is your rig and how many miles a day are you planning to run? When are you planning to go?
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 8:34 pm:

If you're just stopping for a couple of hours, the fairgrounds are o.k., but I wouldn't leave my horses alone there. When we drive distances like that, we stop somewhere, like at a fairgrounds, and hand walk the horses, pick out the trailer, and offer water. We put buckets filled about a third of the way with hay cubes that area heavily soaked and very wet in the trailer for each horse. Some of the roadside stops along the freeway in AZ and CO actually have a safe holding pen for horses that are traveling, but I don't how to find out which ones have them. I was surprised to see one when we made a short "potty stop" in CO and again in AZ.

Also, we stop every 3 hrs. for 15 or 20 mins. to give water and give the horses a chance to pee as most won't pee while the trailer is moving.
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