Hi all! Quick poll. I’m shipping a little 9yo mare from Florida to Colorado and have quotes from both Brook Ledge and Bob Hubbard which are very similar. Brook Ledge is recommending the box stall, while Bob Hubbard says there will be a 1-2 day layover in KY and stall and a half will be fine.
I want the best for the horse and I am also on a budget. Since both shipping companies are great and are recommending two different options, I wanted to just get everyone’s take here. Difference is $1800 for Stall and a Half vs $3200 for Box Stall.
We have always shipped in a stall and a half and the horses have arrived in great shape. If you are on a budget, that is what I would probably go with. While the box stalls are obviously nice and have more room, it is often unaffordable for most people.
Agreed. If the horse is not a difficult shipper or fragile in some way, and you have no particular reason to expect that they will not do well, a stall and a half is fine esp. when they have a good layover in the middle.
With the lay-over to break up the trip, I’d be OK with stall-and-a-half.
A tad more information: The drivers for either company will be good horsemen (I expect); if they have a box stall available, they’ll put a horse in it, whether you paid or not. You might get more than you paid for for a leg of your horse’s journey.
And a pro tip: It’s my tradition to bring good food for pick-up or delivery since the long-haul driving job rarely lets drivers eat well. I am partial to good, local BBQ. And last time I had a horse picked up, they put her straight into a box stall. Just sayin’.
I have not shipped with Brookledge, but I have used Hubbard a few times. The above about box stalls and BBQ has been my experience with Hubbard and another very good but smaller company.
I used Brook Ledge from Ohio to Florida, and got boxes for both of mine. My gelding has neck arthritis that means he requires a box anyway, he can’t balance in a standard trailer stall (a 1 1/2 is a bit wider than a normal trailer stall and might have been okay but I didn’t want to risk it), and I went ahead and got one for my mare because they told me that, though they stop and offer water and gives breaks every couple hours, they don’t untie them for these breaks. They’re tied the whole time in the trailer in a 1 1/2 stall, which means they can’t lower or stretch their head/neck at all, which has been linked to increased chance of respiratory infection.
Both arrived happy, healthy, perky, and only a teeny bit tired. Brook Ledge was fantastic.
I usually choose a box so they can change positions to move the load around their bodies (since they aren’t tied). That said, if you are on a budget, and they will be unloading in the middle of the trip, the horse will likely be absolutely fine in a 1.5.
The plus to me for the box stall is that they can put their heads down which is how horses naturally live. It helps them keep their respiratory system clear. (Forgot the Veterinary details on that one, though.). So not only can they move around and lie down at layovers, it’s just generally healthier for them. Plus, I have them put a bucket of water in there, so they can drink freely. They just handle the trip better. So I always Spring for a box if it’s over 12 hours.
But with the layover, I might be inclined to do the stall and a half since there is a break in the trip.
I’ll second the bring the good food suggestion! I always try and bring something the guys can eat either while they’re stopped dropping horses or while they’re on the road. I’ve made cookies and muffins (hand held is a plus) numerous times. I shipped a horse to Florida recently and brought some local BBQ and they put my horse is a box stall right away- I had only booked a stall and a half. Most haulers are great horse people and will always consider the welfare of the horse above what you’re paying the company- as long as they have the ability to do so.
Come to think of it, maybe BBQ is the trick with these drivers…
When I shipped NY to WA, I think Brookledge told me they would ONLY do a box stall for such a trip? At least, that’s what I remember, but it is kind of a blur as I talked to so many shippers. I ended up with American as the timing worked best for them and still did a box – don’t recall the difference in price being so extreme as what you have posted (I think it was ~$700 difference between stall and a half vs. box). Just know with a lot of these shippers, other than that layover, the horses will likely be on the truck the whole time. If the latter part of the trip (after layover) is less than 2 days, I might go with the cheaper 1.5 stall option. But if it is longer, I’d go box.
For that trip, I’d do a box stall, for all the reasons listed above. I’ve never used Bob Hubbard, so can’t comment, but Brook Ledge is all that and a bag of chips. For a long trip, I will never use anyone else.
The food thing is a great idea! I will do that next time, although it will be baked goods, because I always seem to be picking them up in the parking lot outside the Laurel Park stable gate between 1-3 am. Let me tell you, if it’s available in Laurel in that time period, it probably comes with an STD…
Hehe…but at least you are willing to meet them somewhere convenient.
That’s reminds me of my other pro tip: If you can, offer to meet the drivers near an Interstate. Sometimes you can meet them somewhere “big” like a race track, but smaller farms don’t usually want a random person hauling in, even if that’s for the convenience of the shipping company they’ll use.
The first horse I shipped was 1.5 hours off an Interstate which meant those guys spent about 4 hours on just my delivery.
Even when I’m closer, I think about how it might be to get a huge tractor trailer from the interstate into the farm where the horse is/will go. If it’s at all a PITA, I throw them a bone and offer to meet them somewhere with my truck and trailer. As often as not, they will be able to suggest a truck stop or other big, safe parking lot where it will be safe to make the transfer.
I did a box with Brook Ledge when I shipped my mare from CA to MO. It was expensive but totally worth it. She was picked up Sunday morning and delivered to me Monday night and walked off the trailer looking like a million bucks. I don’t think she even realized she’d just been driven halfway across the country. I have a friend who shipped her mare from CA to IL with Hubbard in a stall and a half and she looked pretty good coming off the trailer.
I’ve used Brookledge multiple times for cross country trips, PA-ND and back and then PA-CA and back. I got a box stall every time because of their military discount but my horse handled the trips really well each time! He had no issues and seemed happy when he walked off the rig and the drivers were great to work with. Even if I didn’t get the discount I would still choose the box because of how well he did on such a long trip.
Oh, yes, that’s part of my sales pitch! Have them call me when they get to Fredericksburg, drive the 45 minutes to Laurel, bang boom, everyone’s on their way. The drivers have always been terrific horsemen and amazingly nice and friendly, especially for the middle of the night.
This isn’t really answering your question, but I have to chime in! You’ve picked the two most expensive players in the business. They’re great, but usually charge double what competitors charge. I shipped my treasured gelding from CO to NC for like $1600 in a box stall. He arrived in great shape. Feel free to PM me.
Co is shorter distance from NC then Fl, maybe much further if originating point is in South Fl, so it’s not really a fair price comparison.
For OP, with the day and a half layover in Lex at their gorgeous and immaculate facility? Should think stall and a half much more then adequate. It’s not like 24 hrs or more in the van each leg with no layovers a coast to coast haul would be.
Used BL, Hubbard and Johnson Bros and, based on my experiences and observations, these are worth paying more for. Nobody is perfect and there are always some unknowns with weather and traffic but they consistently deliver as promised, particularly in the condition of the horses. Company employed drivers, properly certified and licensed in company owned and maintained rigs. No sub contractors.
Get a quote from equine express as well. Fantastic to deal with. Used them several times (box stall), and they were great. Horses stepped off looking fresh.
