Quelah, I hauled my own three from PA to CA in November, 1998. I hauled them from CA to TN in September, 2003 to my semi-retirement home. On the 2003 trip they were 17, 16, and 10-1/2. I made both trips with a 1988 Ponderosa open stock bumper pull hooked to a 1978 GMC 4WD with a custom-built 454. I took 4 nights and 5 five days each trip. Coming to TN, I did not pull the horses out of the trailer until we were at our lay-up. I should add that my trailer is double floored (I added the 2nd layer) with thick mats. No one stocked up, but I don't have Performance horses. My PA vet had told me that it's the superior athletic horses that will tend to stock up and possibly become ill. Also, me hauling my Boys greatly reduced their stress because they were familiar with my "driving drill". Make sure the health certs and coggins are in current order for each horse. 1. Once I got my trip tik from AAA I figured my daily driving at around 550 miles. I don't know if horsemotel.com was around in 1998, but I made use of it in 2003 and HIGHLY recommend it. Also horseandmuletrails.com 2. I did not change my horses' grain, but did cut rations way back. Gave them plenty of hay and water. 3. At each gas stop (I only have an 18 gallon tank-lol) I had small plastic pails and offered the horses BOTTLED water at each stop. I kindly refused water out of those gas station hoses. Anything that stinks can't be good. 4. As someone else mentioned, unless you have screens, by all means keep face masks on the horses while traveling. My Boys dropped around 20-30 pounds apiece on the PA to CA journey. Coming to TN they didn't drop an ounce. Also, every place I stayed, I left the boys in Roundpens or small pastures. That gave them the freedom to move around and stretch outside, plus kept them calmer for the long hard trailer ride the next day. You and the horses will be warmly greeted where ever you stay. Myy Boys were treated like they were Royalty going to CA and coming to TN. One lay up that I well remember and that I can HIGHLY recommend was in OKLA City. Kenn and Donna Robinson's Barn-Bed-Breakfast. They have turned two stalls into the neatest "motel rooms" 1-877-733-2443. Donna MAY remember me as the lady (in Sept, 2003) that blew a rr truck tire on the Freeway at supper hour going 75 MPH and I had to switch trucks with hubby so he could get my truck fixed, while I took the horses on to Kenn and Donna's. It takes an awful lot to rattle me, but I was sure rattled that evening. Hope this helps. If I can offer up anything else, please let me knowJudy |