It's official - we are moving from Virginia to Oklahoma. My husband
got orders to Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, OK yesterday and
we have to be there no later than November 30.
We will be splitting the 23 hour trip into 3 days and plan on
stopping at horse motels so our guys can get out and have time to
relax and stretch their legs.
Does anyone have any experience using horse motels? I found the
website horsetrip.com and have found several possible places to stay,
but am not sure how to determine which ones to use. We will be
traveling down Interstate 40 for the majority of the trip and
according to Mapquest it looks like we will need to stop in eastern
Tennessee and Arkansas. Has anyone used a horse motel in either of
these areas?
Also, the farthest I have traveled before with horses is about 8
hours. Any of you pros have tips or suggestions???
Posted 2005-06-16 11:37 AM (#26669 - in reply to #26603) Subject: RE: horse motels - traveling long distance w/ horses
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I recently traveled 14hrs from S TX to NM and broke the trip into 2 days. I installed flat backed bucket holders in my trailer so I could hang buckets in the trailer for the horses. Every time we stopped I would fill the buckets with water (from home). I dont know how much they drank and how much they played with, but they had it. I also kept the hay bags filled for them. I stayed with family overnight so I don't know anything about horse motels except that they sound convient.
Posted 2005-06-16 12:54 PM (#26683 - in reply to #26603) Subject: RE: horse motels - traveling long distance w/ horses
Regular
Posts: 90
Welcome to OK.
We have stayed at two horse overnight places. We slept in our trailer both times. One was in Amarillo and the other in CO. Can't help ya from the other direction.
We enjoyed being able to let the guys out and feel comfortable with their confinement. Neither place was expensive.
I will ask around on another site and see what I can find for ya.
Posted 2005-06-20 1:49 PM (#26806 - in reply to #26603) Subject: RE: horse motels - traveling long distance w/ horses
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
I hual long trips pretty much. I just made a 10 hour trip to IN from eastern PA. Only needed to stop for pooty and food. Horses were fine when I got there. My horse will not drink unless we are hauling on longer trips, like 25 hours ones. I tend to wet down the hay a bit for moisture until he does drink. I have used a horse motel 2xs. They have books with listings but , because I have an LQ now, my last 25 hour trip I just stopped at truck stops over night. Fed and watered the horses and let them stand on the trailer thru the night. They were tired but fine when I arrived. The only problem I have with horse hotels is that you never know what horse was in the stall before. Was he ever vaccinated or was he sick. BTW, when I drive the long hauls, I do have a partner to share the driving with.
Posted 2005-06-20 4:00 PM (#26812 - in reply to #26603) Subject: RE: horse motels - traveling long distance w/ horses
Regular
Posts: 68 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
I have always had good luck staying the fairgrounds of small towns. Seems the caretakers expect guests. Charges were reasonable. I fed my horses at my trailer and they drank only from their on buckets. They absolutely loved charging around the arena after being couped up all day. I don't feed pellets while trailering. I hear they can be dehydrating and the risk of choke if they aren't drinking much.
Posted 2005-06-20 6:38 PM (#26818 - in reply to #26603) Subject: RE: horse motels - traveling long distance w/ horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
There is some nice fairgrounds across the country. I use the fairgrounds often, most times it is just a donation. I leave a donation and send the fairboard members a thank you note..
Posted 2005-06-22 10:58 AM (#26923 - in reply to #26603) Subject: RE: horse motels - traveling long distance w/ horses
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Novato, California
Last year I traveled from California to Colorado. My vet recommended that I not travel longer than 8 hours with a stop at the fair grounds mid day, which I did. I mapped out my trip based on 8 hours of travel then when to the yellow pages and called vets to find boarding facilities that would take overnight horses. Their is a directory called the Overnight Stabling Directory (about $25.00) but it didn't have any information that helped me. If you are staying with your horse, fairgrounds are OK but I wouldn't leave one there and go stay somewhere else. My vet also recommended molassas in the water. Good Luck
horse motels - traveling long distance w/ horses
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