Horse’s first long haul

[AlexxSays]

Hello!
I have a 14 year old QH that I’m shipping out of state for the first time in his life for a horse show. He was bred half an hour from where he currently lives, and has only had one owner other than me who lives up the road.

The longest he’s ever been on a trailer is 4 hours and we’re getting ready for a 19 hour out of state haul to a show.

My trainer is the one hauling him and has an awesome set up- and he’s going to be next to his best friend/stall neighbor, but because I see my horse as my child I’m a little nervous.

He has sensitive skin so I got him a fleece shipping halter, he’ll also be wearing his back on track quick wraps (he won’t tolerate shipping boots), fleece lined bell boots, a clean fly mask in the same style he always wears and a head bumper (just in case- i’ve seen too many horses scramble and bonk their heads). He has his ulcer guard schedule all set up with guidance from our vet, and all of his paper work in order, and his supplement containers organized, measured and packed. My trainer even has already said she’ll send pictures whenever they stop because she knows how I am about him. (i’m flying up to meet him a few days later.)

He’s honestly usually a dream to trailer according to my trainer (he self loads, stands like a good boy with no banging, happy as a clam to just munch on his hay during transport). She actually usually has nervous horses watch him load because he’s so happy to get on the trailer- apparently road trip hay tastes better than the exact same hay that’s always in his stall.

But I’m still a tad nervous since I feel like I’m sending my kid to summer camp. I know he’s going to be with the best people, that I trust more than anything to take care of him and that he’s going to be more than fine.

Is there anything else I can do to help prepare him for the trip there and back? Or help prepare me since I’m the one having a tough time with this?

Thank you so much for any advice and wisdom!

[Foxglove]

Only thought I have is that you must remember that “time” is a human concept. Your horse has no concept of long trip v short trip. He lives in the now. If he is with his friend, fed, watered, comfortable, and feeling well, then he is as happy as he would be at home in the same situation. You have done well in your preparations. This will be harder on you than on your horse.

[Haliburton]

Most commercial long distance haulers recommend shipping naked, the more things they wear the more that can go wrong during the long hours he will be unsupervised in the trailer. I shipped my gelding across the country naked personally I would ditch the stuff on his feet & the fly mask, ship in the head bumper & fuzzy halter only.