Looking at bringing a mare from Maine to Alberta (so over 4000km). She is a 16.2HH warmblood mare. Previous owner is concerned about her being in anything but a box stall for that long a distance but I have heard a lot of conflicting opinions. That they can lean on the side of a smaller stall better etc. I have hauled from ON to AB in a standing stall and the mare seemed to do ok but what is everyone elses thoughts? Have to be a box stall? Or is a double stall still o.k.? Thoughts/opinions?
Box stall.
I’ve had a mare shipped down to me 1750 miles in a slant, she was fine. With that said, I will say she is a smaller TB mare and not a big o Warmblood…
If you can afford the box, go with that…it will make you feel so much better…
SH:)
BOX STALL ~
~ BOX STALL ~
Depends on the horse…some prefer the confinement of regulare stalls as the walls make them feel secure, others fight them. Also consider if the prefer riding facing front or back as horses in the front half of the van ride backwards. I’ve found that many horses do not ship well at all in a box or double stall, but as I said, depends on a horse.
FWIW, I know dozens and dozens of horses that are shipped from Pa and Ky to Alberta in straight stalls; not even the great On The Road Again had a box to himself as a yearling, he came out of one the back stalls, was about 6th or so off the truck.
Box stall or at least some sort of situation where they can lower their head. Its really important on a long haul. I purchased a horse out of state which was shipped to me in a standing stall. He came off the trailer coughing up tons of junk from having his head elevated for so long.
No question; a box stall always for long distance shipping.
And here’s an article that discusses the research showing that box stalls are the way to go:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vetext/animalwelfare/equine/transport-hr03oct.pdf
Box stall for sure.
Box stall - absolutely.
And when shipping in straight stalls - the recommendation is to hook the cross ties on the upper rings of the halter so the horse can put it’s head low. When they are hooked on the lower rings the horse has more dust etc going into their nostrils.
While box stalls are always nice for long hauls, it’s not always feesible for all horse owners out there 
I’ve found with some shipping companies, the large box stalls can run $3,500 and up on a long haul compared to $2000 for a standing stall.
Most of our clients are rarely able to afford a box stall, and all of our horses have arrived healthy and happy in a standing stall. If you can afford the extra expense, box stalls are obviously the way to go!
I use to ship my horses from Colorado to the East coast once a year & we always just did a double. They always arrived in good shape & recovered quickly. My guys were all big warmbloods too.
Thanks I think I will definitely go box stall then.
I paid for a standing stall on my horses trip from Alberta to Ontario, there weren’t alot of horses on the truck so they ended up just giving her a box stall. Very nice of them.
I shipped my 17.3hh mare (who was 9 months in foal) from NS to TX (over 4100 kms) in a stall and a half. The only reason I didn’t go for a box was because the trailer was full of my bosses other horses. She was none the worse for the wear when she got there. They stopped often and fed/watered them LOTS so she actually gained weight on the trip…there were 3 other mares in foal on that trip, they too had a 1 1/2 stall and were in excellent shape when they got there.
I have had friends who have paid for straight stalls but ended up getting boxes if there is room on the trailer at no extra charge.
I shipped a mare from CA to WI in a box, air ride van. She arrived fine, but the shipper told me she was a good candidate for the stall and a half vs. the box, and that many horses arrived at their destinations exhausted when they had too much room to move about. Walking in circles for 2500 miles can take its toll I guess.
Stall and a half… Shipped my stallion from VA to CA in a box stall with a very well-known shipper. The horse fell down for reasons we’ll never know and de-gloved one of his front legs down to the bone by sticking his leg through the stall wall! After a six week stay at the hospital the horse resumed his trip to CA - this time in a stall and a half…:yes:
