Has anyone watched a horse in a box stall on a long trip (24 hours)? If so, what did you observe? It seems to me that unless they wedge their butts in a corner for stability, it would take more effort to balance in a box stall. It also seems like they would get thrown around more if the driver had to suddenly swerve or brake. It even seems like they would be less stable during normal starts, stops, turns. On the plus side, while highway driving and during any stops, they can move around.
Box stall, 100%. It allows them to shift how they brace and carry their weight. No question at all, a box stall is best for long hauls.
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Box stall is absolutely best for long hauls. You might contact some big shipping companies with your question, some of them have videos in the trailers and might answer you with what they see. There’s also several articles on Google.
Thank you. I have not asked any of the haulers as I assumed they had a vested interest in selling box stalls. The articles I find on line are all pro hauling loose so the horse can put their neck down and move a bit more. Only one mentioned that with a hard brake, a loose horse is more likely to go down. My horse has made the trip a number of times in a box stall and also in a tie stall with no ill effects. But, I think I will go with a box from now on. Long hauls are nerve-wracking no matter how you do it.
I’ve sent horses long haul in a stall and a half tie stall and in a box. Air ride rigs. Horses walked off TIRED from tie stalls. Took a couple days to recover. Horses walked off bright and eager from box stalls, had no recovery time.
There is really no contest. Boxes are so much better.
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My mare was the last off a 1200 mile trip which was 36 hours straight through. She was in a box stall and came off the rig as if she was walking out her stall at home.
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I do think the major factor is being tied and unable to put their head down. Of course, being tied in a box stall would then presumably give the issue of horse not having walls to brace themselves against. Being untied in a 1.5 stall would pose the issue of them being able to get under the chest bar or dividers. So, these versions probably haven’t really been tested by anyone. I guess if you have a 1.5 stall that has dividers/chest bars that go all the way to the floor, you could test and see if those horses fair just as well as those in a full box or not.
I shipped my 30+ year old pony 1800 miles in a box stall on an air ride trailer. The drivers said he was lying down napping for a good part of it, which was good as that’s how he was spending a lot of time at home. He came off the trailer bright eyed and happy. I was glad I went with the box stall.
Rebecca
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Question because I wonder how it would go with my anxious mare…
Anyone haul a super anxious/dancy/pacey type horse loose in a box stall? I’m curious how it would go, but nervous she would hurt herself.
I have one who does laps in a box stall at home. He shipped fine in a box on the air ride rig. They do have to spend some energy balancing, so that keeps them occupied, IME.
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My mare is the anxious type, she hauled from Ohio to Florida in a box stall just fine. I agree with Simkie, usually the energy they have to spend maintaining balance keeps them occupied.
[B]Box stall ~
Safe travels ![/B]
@Simkie and @mmeqcenter - do you think it would work in a 2+1 size trailer, taking the divider out of the 2 portion?
I leave my horse loose in a box stall even for short trips. She generally likes to face backwards. It’s easier to use their neck as a counter weight for stop and go traffic if they face backwards. My other (very calm) mare stands just like she would in a slant. My gelding is a nervous traveler and spins around in there if we stop at a light. It’s easier to tie him, but i would leave him loose on long trips.
Yep, you can certainly do that. I’ve hauled horses loose in big trailers with the dividers tied back, so similar set up. Works well as long as the doors are secure and the horse has no opportunity to get hung up on butt bars or chest bars. On some trailers, you just can’t secure the doors from the inside, so you can’t leave them loose.
But for long hauls, I still go with the air ride big rigs. The air ride makes such a huge difference for the horse.
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Box stall for sure! I’ve done a lot of long hauls- I can’t think of one instance where a tie stall would have been a better option
Absolutely, provided what Simkie said
I’m considering doing this for my mare next summer, if we don’t have to take a passenger on an 8 hour trip. My reservation with her is that she is a confirmed butt bar leaner, so I don’t know if she’d try a different position or not (and that I’d need to get a full-size butt bar if the divider is removed). Each time I’ve hauled loose ponies in the +1 part, they faced backwards on a slant with their butts on the driver’s side and leaning on the front wall. I might try it for a local haul first, to see what she thinks of it.
I did a long haul for my previous mare in a straight stall twice. The shippers told me they upgraded to a box stall for free because they had the space. This mare came off the trailer fine and I assume they upgraded my horse because horses generally travel better in box stalls and they had space.
I think I’m good then - my divider is separate from the rear door/ramp and front stud doors, and the chest and butt bars are totally removable. I’ll give it a try with some super yummy hay and a tired horse, haha
