Posted 2010-06-16 2:56 PM (#121225) Subject: Do you ride after hauling 8 hrs?
Veteran
Posts: 182
Just wondering if people do this.. haul a horse 8 - 10 hrs in a trailer, then unload and trail ride it without giving them some time to settle into the environment ect?
Posted 2010-06-16 4:48 PM (#121231 - in reply to #121225) Subject: RE: Do you ride after hauling 8 hrs?
Veteran
Posts: 186
My horse yes, but I would probubly be too tired myself after 10 hours of driving to want to ride. My good horse doesn't need to settle in she is ready to work when ever. When I do more than 6 hour haul I take out the partition in my trailer so my mare can move around, she isn't ever stiff or stocked up since I have been doing this. No matter how tired I am I will take her in hand for 1/4 to 1 mile walk after 10 hours in the trailer. It does me good also.
Posted 2010-06-16 11:14 PM (#121249 - in reply to #121225) Subject: RE: Do you ride after hauling 8 hrs?
Veteran
Posts: 231 Location: Illinois
I wouldn't myself...8 hours + is a long ride and alot of energy is spent trying to balance themselves..they need time to rest and get their legs back under them..stretch, drink ,eat..I don'tnormally travel with hay in front of them...but I would make frequent stops in a trip that long and let them rest, maybe eat ( but they rarely do) and offer water if possible.
Alot would also depend on the weather/ tempts, road conditions, the grade of the roads ( hills, flat, heavy traffic with lots of stop and go stuff) JMHO
Posted 2010-06-18 7:45 PM (#121319 - in reply to #121249) Subject: RE: Do you ride after hauling 8 hrs?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I don't ride immediately after a long haul but a lot will be determined by the condition of your horse to begin with. Most trail horses are not 100 mile endurance horses either. They need time to rest and re-hydrate after a long haul. That's my two cents anyhow
Posted 2010-06-19 4:45 PM (#121323 - in reply to #121225) Subject: RE: Do you ride after hauling 8 hrs?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
8 hours is not a long haul. If you leave at 6:00 am and arrive at 2:00 pm, and want to take a 3 or 4 hour ride have had it. The horses are most likely in better shape than you are. Most of the time it is we mere humans that are the wimps, not the horses. They adapt much better then we do.
Posted 2010-06-20 1:01 PM (#121331 - in reply to #121225) Subject: RE: Do you ride after hauling 8 hrs?
Veteran
Posts: 174 Location: Missouri
After a long haul we unload the horses give them fresh water and some hay to pick on while we set up camp. We usually grab a bite to eat and then we go for a short 2 to 3 hour ride. They are glad to get the chance to move and stretch same as us. People that rodeo haul like that every weekend and have to unload and warm up and make a competitive run on their horses. As long as your horse is a good hauler and you don't overdo it I see nothing wrong with it.
Do you ride after hauling 8 hrs?
