Travelling your horse safely

Horses travel for all sorts of reasons: to the vet, to a show, to a new home. Whatever the reason, travelling is physically demanding for a horse, which has to keep its balance all the time the vehicle is moving. A safe journey starts well before you set off.

Everyone who transports animals has some basic legal duties. Defra's guidance says you must plan the journey and keep it as short as possible, make sure the animals are fit to travel, and check them during the journey to make sure their needs for water, feed and rest are met. You must not transport animals in a way that is likely to cause them injury or unnecessary suffering.

Is your horse fit to travel?

World Horse Welfare says a horse must be physically and mentally fit for a journey, and properly trained to load, unload and travel. Before setting off, check your horse's:

• body temperature
• nose and eyes, for any discharge
• legs and movement, for any lameness
• existing or old injuries that travel could make worse

For a mare, also consider whether she has recently foaled. Horses also face a higher risk of injury, dehydration and breathing problems on a journey, particularly if ventilation is poor or their head is tied up for long periods.

A horse's state of mind matters just as much. World Horse Welfare suggests asking yourself:

• Is your horse tricky or unpredictable to load?
• Does it become anxious when travelling?
• Has it had a bad experience before?
• Does it rush when unloading?

If the answer to any of these is yes, your horse needs more training before it travels. Transporting a stressed horse makes injury and disease more likely, and can make the next journey more difficult. Many horses travel better with a calm, familiar companion. See loading and unloading for how to prepare.

Before any journey, give your horse access to forage and plenty of clean water.

Check the vehicle

Whether you're using your own transport, hiring a horsebox or trailer, or using a professional transporter, World Horse Welfare says to check before every journey:

• lights
• tyres
• the floor and the horse area

The BHS goes further, with checks that include:

• The body: look inside and out for damage, rust, damp and rot. If the vehicle leans to one side on level ground, get professional advice.
• Partitions and breast bars: all pins in place, with no sharp edges or tears.
• Tyres: no cuts, bulges or embedded stones, pressures set to the manufacturer's figures, and at least the legal tread depth. That's 1.6mm across three-quarters of the tread, or 1mm on vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
• Lights: clean and working, inside and out. Check the connecting lead and sockets for wear.
• Floor and ramp: lift the matting and look for rot, corrosion or damage, from underneath too. Have any damage looked at by a professional before you travel your horse.
• Trailer hitch and brakes: check the hitch is secure, the jockey wheel is fully wound up and pinned, and the breakaway cable is in good order. The BHS says a breakaway cable is a legal requirement.

DVSA's checks for towing are similar: the coupling and its height, the cable and plug, the breakaway cable, tyres, wheel nuts, lights, and a load that is within the weight limit, evenly spread and secure. The BHS also recommends a professional service for your trailer or horsebox at least once a year, and double-checking that the floor will be examined. You can get a free safety check for a trailer of 3,500kg or less through the National Trailer and Towing Association, says DVSA.

For the licence, MOT and other rules for each kind of vehicle, see rules for travelling horses.

Don't overload it

Every vehicle and trailer has a maximum weight. World Horse Welfare says many people unknowingly exceed their vehicle's weight limits, which is unsafe and illegal. Add up everything you'll carry:

• the trailer, if you're towing
• your horse or horses
• tack
• passengers, including children and dogs
• fuel
• extras such as water and forage

To find out how much you can carry, the BHS suggests weighing your horsebox empty at a weighbridge, with enough fuel and water for normal use, and asking for a certificate showing its unladen weight. Take that from the maximum the horsebox may weigh: what's left is your payload. When towing, check that the car and trailer together stay within the legal limits, and remember that loading spare water and feed at the front of a trailer can put too much weight on the hitch.

The calculator on our travelling with horses page does the sums.

Give your horse room

Horses don't lean on partitions or the sides of the vehicle: they need space to balance. Constantly rubbing or bumping against them can cause bruising and injuries. World Horse Welfare's guidance is to allow:

• at least 20 cm of space between your horse and each side of the vehicle, and behind it
• at least 75 cm of headroom above the withers

In many vehicles you can safely remove partitions, or move them, to give more room.

Plan the journey

World Horse Welfare's advice:

• Plan the route in advance, allowing for the length of the journey, the weather and changes in temperature, with back-up options.
• Find safe places to rest, feed and water, and to unload if you need to.
• Keep the journey short, but remember that horses travel better on smooth roads. A slightly longer route on better roads may be kinder than a short one on poor minor roads.
• On the day, check for road closures and the weather.
• Charge your phone, and share your route and expected arrival time with someone who knows what to do in an emergency.

The BHS adds a few more:

• Carry emergency contacts, including your vet.
• Know where the safe stopping places are, and go left if there's nowhere to pull in.
• Carry spare water, feed and forage in case of a breakdown or delay.
• Check your breakdown cover includes recovery of a trailer with horses on board, since many standard policies don't.
• Never travel in the back of a trailer or horsebox with your horse: it's illegal.

If you break down on a motorway or major A road, the BHS says not to unload your horse unless the police or other agencies have given permission.

On the road

Drive smoothly. World Horse Welfare says to accelerate slowly, avoid harsh braking, and take corners and roundabouts gently. A camera lets you watch how your horse is travelling, so you can adjust your driving.

Most horses travel better with access to forage throughout the journey and regular water breaks. On a long journey, plan water and forage breaks at least every 4 hours.

In hot weather

Horseboxes and trailers can get very hot inside, even when it's below 30°C outside. World Horse Welfare's advice is to travel only if you really need to. If you must:

• Travel early in the morning, or consider travelling at night, when it's cooler.
• Open every vent and window for as much ventilation as possible.
• Carry plenty of water and offer it regularly. Horses can lose around 2–3 kg of water an hour when travelling in hot weather.
• Make sure your horse is rested and well hydrated before you set off.

If your vehicle can't keep a suitable temperature inside, don't travel.

After the journey

Give your horse time to settle and rest. World Horse Welfare suggests offering water straight away, and letting your horse lower its head and neck and stretch its legs. Hand grazing or turning out is ideal if it's safe. Then keep a close eye on your horse's behaviour and health.

Travel increases the risk of colic, especially if water was withheld, so watch carefully for the signs.

After a long journey, allow at least 24 to 48 hours before any strenuous exercise.

Using a professional transporter

World Horse Welfare suggests checking a transporter's experience and training, their insurance and what it covers, and their certificates. Ask for testimonials, and remember the cheapest quote may not be the best.

Anyone you pay to transport your horse more than 65 km must hold a transporter authorisation from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and a certificate of competence for transporting horses. Defra says that if you hire someone to transport animals, you must make sure they hold an authorisation for that species. An authorised transporter should let you see their documents.