Equestrian Guide To Commercially Shipping Your Horse.

Not everyone has the luxury of owning their own truck and trailer. Even for those of us who are fortunate enough to have a truck and trailer at our disposal, there are times when long-distance shipping is best left to the professionals. For those instances where it would be more comfortable for your horse to ship with a commercial service, here’s a quick list of things to consider, as well as expectations and etiquette.

Once you’ve decided to have your horse travel commercially, your next big step is choosing a shipping company. Social media and Google are full of companies that advertise themselves as legitimate commercial shippers. However, a closer look shows that many of these individuals are often “Hobby Haulers,” which are unlicensed shippers.

Hobby Haulers, by and large, are flying under the radar of regulations set forth by the Department of Transportation.

The DOT subjects commercial drivers to stringent rules and regulations, including random drug tests, the number of hours they are permitted to drive, specific insurance details, and much more. Here are some red flags to look for when talking to shippers:

• No Contract
• Only accepts cash or digital payment forms like Venmo or PayPal
• Often vague about pick up and delivery details
• Slow to respond to questions about DOT or Motor Carrier Numbers
• Motor Carrier/DOT number is inactive
• Hesitant to offer up commercial insurance info or defers to their personal insurance policy.

Using a Hobby Hauler can be drastically cheaper than using a commercial shipper, but those savings come at a price. If something happens during transport, you are likely to be left with no insurance to recoup vet expenses or other related financial losses, as well as limited recourse and potential liability exposure in the event of injury or damage to personal property.

Checklist for hiring a licensed professional horse shipper.

• Commercial shippers will have a Department of Transportation Registration Number as well as a Motor Carrier number.
• Commercial shippers will carry insurance and be forthcoming in answering any questions about their coverage, as well as supplying you with a copy of the policy declarations page if requested.
• Commercial shippers will file annual taxes under their business name
• Commercial shippers are subject to regular DOT safety inspections
• Commercial shippers can legally haul cargo for hire across state lines with proper documentation
• Commercial shippers operate under a legally binding contract that outlines pick up and arrival details, as well as clarifying their policy on veterinary treatment should your horse become ill in transit.

You can protect yourself by checking the company’s USDOT registration on the FMCSA website HERE or by requesting a certificate of insurance directly from the company’s carrier, and by using a written contract that outlines pickup, arrival time frames, and responsibilities.

Steps to prepare your horse for his journey.

Paperwork: Discuss with your vet, the shipper, and the barn manager, anticipating your horse’s arrival, what health documents will be required for your horse to travel and unload at his new location. Oftentimes, the documents will need to be written up within a specific time frame to be valid for your horse to travel.

Travel Neccesities: Discuss with the shipper how they would like the horse presented to ship. For example, will you need to supply hay and grain for the trip? If so, how much do they need? Is your horse funny about drinking water away from home? If so, it would be smart to see if the shipper would like you to send some water for the trip.

Travel Gear: Would they like the horse blanketed and presented with shipping wraps or boots? Some of these factors will likely depend on your horse’s familiarity with leg wraps and boots, as well as the anticipated temperature in the trailer. If considering blanketing, be sure to clear it with your shipper. This is also a good time to ask about any equipment ( tack trunk/buckets, etc.) you wish to travel with your horse. Some shippers won’t take anything, while others will accept equipment for an additional charge.

Loading: Your horse should be highly familiar and trained to load and unload using a ramp. If you are unsure how much experience your horse has with trailering, now is a good time to practice. Consider asking your trainer, barn manager, or a friend if you can use a truck and trailer at your horse’s current location. Practice loading and unloading your horse until they load confidently and are anxiety-free with the process. Keep in mind, it is not the shipper’s job to train your horse how to load; it is not entirely unheard of for a horse to be left behind if it refuses to load after exhausting all options.

Day of Departure For Your Horse’s Trip

Typically, the day before your horse is expected to depart, the shipper will give you a time frame so that your horse can be ready to load once the shipper arrives. If you won’t be present for your horse’s departure, make sure your horse’s items are labeled and organized, ready to load. Be sure to let the barn manager or someone in charge know the arrival time so they will be available to assist the shipper.

Before the shipper arrives, your horse should be stalled or contained in a dry location with easy access for the handler and shipper. If you’re stable lacks easy access for a commercial rig, it’s helpful to note in advance local places with large parking lots where the rig can turn around if need be.

Any necessities like documents, hay, grain, water, and equipment should be well labeled and organized nearby, ready to load up. Keep in mind that a variety of factors can affect the trailer’s arrival time, and it’s best to stay in touch with your shipping company to keep up with any issues that may affect arrival time. In my experience, commercial shippers are very good about keeping owners updated when delayed and while their horses are traveling.

Expectations Once Your Horse Arrives At The New Location

Once your horse arrives at his new home, he will likely be put into quarantine to make sure he is healthy. This means he will likely be put in a stall and paddock separate from the rest of the horses at the farm. This is meant to keep your horse and the horses at his new home safe from any possible airborne illness.
It’s just temporary, and this keeps all the animals, as well as your horse, safe.

Your horse will likely be tired from the journey, but eager to check out his new surroundings. If appropriate, it may be nice to hand graze your horse around the facility so they can stretch their legs and relax a bit before investigating their quarantine stall. Be sure to avoid letting your horse drink from common water sources, like a water trough, or touch noses with new potential friends until your horse is cleared from quarantine.

Following the guidelines on this list will help set you and your horse up for an enjoyable and stress-free commercial shipping experience.

Pro Tips For Using Commercial Horse Transportation:

• Label EVERYTHING you are planning to send on the trailer with your horse, including the halter used for the journey.
  
• Note EVERYTHING you are sending with your horse on the bill of lading when you sign it before the shipper departs. A brief description of your horse is also helpful. This way, if you are unavailable when the shipper arrives, the new barn knows what your horse looks like and what should be unloaded with your horse.
  
• ALWAYS remove blanket leg straps if shipping your horse with a sheet or blanket; leg straps make it nearly impossible to remove the blanket if the horse gets overheated while traveling.
  
• Wraps and boots: these can become counterproductive if they drop, loosen or otherwise come off. This can cause your horse to become tangled in the wraps or boots and panic. If your horse ships like a pro or is uncomfortable wearing leg wraps or boots, consider skipping altogether.
  
• Commercial drivers can legally drive for 11 hours before being required to take a 10-hour consecutive break. If your horse’s journey is in excess of 11 hours, confirm with the shipping company if the horse will be offloaded for a layover or if they will be using a team of drivers to navigate the journey.

I would be remiss to finish this article without a big thank you to Steven Loheac for his feedback and review of this article. Steven has been shipping horses for over thirty years and ships horses all over the United States. The Loheac family actively supports the local equestrian community, and are frequent exhibitors on the USEF and local show circuits.

Did I miss something? Do you have commercial trailer tips other equestrians would find useful? Let me know in the comments!