In two weeks I will be trailering my horses for 10 hours straight. After mentioning this to my friend, she suggested I give banamine as I leave as a preventative. She apparently was told this by her vet. Seems strange to me, but has anyone else been told to do this? What would be the advantage of this?
What are you hoping to prevent? I might give it (or more likely Bute or Previcox) to a horse with soundness issues that I expected to be stiff or uncomfortable after being in a confined space for that length of time. If you’re hoping to prevent colic, I would give Ulcerguard.
Yes, I am already going to give ulcerguard. I wasn’t really sure what her reasoning was on giving banamine, but something about preventing gas colic? Not sure how that would work.
It won’t prevent gas colic.
And a horse travelling long-distance may become a bit dehydrated, so I’d be cautious w/ the NSAIDs.
Ok, no bute, no banamine, just gastroguard 
Only “preventative” us old folk gave our horses back in the day prior to shipping long distance was a visit from the vet who passed an NGT, giving extra fluids and possibly some oil.
Maybe add some electrolytes from now until he travels and for a few days after to help them be well hydrated when they start and avoid dehydration. Many skip the grain night before and day of travel. Hay and water only to keep digestion simple. I always did this and so did the trainers I was with, never had any issues with the horses.
BTW 10 hours is not what most consider long distance and really does not require anything particularly complicated or that you run out and buy things. Except a tire pressure gauge. Just be sure the rig has been checked out as far as even braking and check your tire pressure every stop-that can save a blowout and those are a real PITA when you are hauling, only troubles I ever had were with the rigs. Mostly tires.
Only preventative thing other than Ulcergard that I’ve heard any vet recommend for a long haul (and usually multi-day haul) are fluids, electrolytes and antibiotics.
Thanks for the suggestions!
[QUOTE=Sansena;8255418]
Only “preventative” us old folk gave our horses back in the day prior to shipping long distance was a visit from the vet who passed an NGT, giving extra fluids and possibly some oil.[/QUOTE]
I remember when they used to do this!
We have done many 14+ hour hauls due to moving. Other than stopping for gas we go straight through. I offer water at stops but nobody ever drinks until we get where we are going. If your horse is in good health overall I wouldn’t do anything out of the ordinary.
Banamine would help with pain or stiffness due to traveling long distance would be my guess.
I suggest feeding hay before you leave and stopping every 2 hours to let the horse out and drop its head to drain Again I would offer hay and water then. Lucerne (Alfalfa) hay is the best hay to buffer against ulcers but give the hay they are used to eating.
Here in Australia it is heavily suggested that a driver is supposed to stop every 2 hours for at least a 15 minute rest anyway to prevent fatigue from driving.
It is strongly suggested not to give a horse hay while travelling. It could cause choke. I am not saying it will cause choke. I am saying that you want to minimize any chance of dealing with a horse choking on a road with traffic passing you at 100 klms an hour, especially if you are on a place where you can’t get off the road.
If you do not have a good loader you can leave them in the trailer and offer the hay and water in there, just as long as they can get their head down.
