Nation-Wide Horse Transport

[IronwoodFarm]

I am sorry for your loss. I have used Nation Wide several times over the last 16 years and have had no problem with them. However, I was shipping on the big air-ride vans from coast to coast. The haulers in the story sound like sub-contractors.

As a general rule, I dislike all horse shippers. They tend to be like gypsies and are completely unreliable. Part of it goes with the territory, but the experience can be variable. I’ve had a horse take 8 days to travel from Missouri to Virginia with one shipper. I had another shipper insist they were coming to pick-up a horse that was scheduled to be shipped by another shipper.

There ate lots of tales of woe and horror with horse shippers, unfortunately. And sometimes a good story or two!

[jwjechura]

In my opinion, even horses shipped to slaughter are offered more humane treatment than it appears this company practices. Unfortunately, this is only the most recent in a number of allegations of abuse against this particular shipping company. (Read their YELP review but only if you’re in bothered by graphic photos) This is not the first instance of a horse being either so severely injured or in such poor medical condition upon arrival that it was necessary to humanely euthanized it (a simple google search on this company is horrifying). The similarities of the posted information are: a number of people have shipped their horses with this company; the horses have been injured, the company reportedly took no responsibility for those injuries, and horses have either endured months of intensive medical support in order to recover, or died as a result of being in the care of these shippers. Because its typical to pay prior to departure, I would be interested to know whether or not the transport company kept the entirety of that payment when they delivered this injured horse. (From the article content they offered only a small fraction of the cost toward the medical bills and/or the value of the horse). It appears that much of their business starts on the East coast for travel west. Please pass the this information to horse people in your circle of friends-especially those on the east coast. It may benefit the horse people at the point of origin to have that information when they decide to commercially ship a horse. An informed decision is better than trusting this company and hoping for the best.

[jwjechura]

The photo and story appeared multiple times on my FB page as well. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m in the small group of people who shipped from the West Coast to the Mid-West with this company when it was operated by the original owners (2009). Other than limited communication during transport, my gelding arrived little freaked out and very thirsty but in fairly good shape. I understand that the operation of the company and the quality of the care diminished significantly once it changed hands shortly after that. Thank you for posting the information that you did. Based on my previous experience, I may have considered shipping again with these guys. That is no longer the case (nor will I ever recommend this company to anyone who asks). (Before their attorney gets wound up about slander, it is not only what happened to your mare, but also the multiple, graphic depictions of abuse that scatter the internet that solidified my opinion that this company treats the horses they are paid to transport with such disregard for their safety and well being that it rises to a routine of abuse as part of their everyday business practices). I’m frankly floored that this company continues to operate; that there are no regulatory agencies looking at them closely, and that the Humane Society hasn’t stepped in to either close them down or at least require them to be educated in basic horsemanship to improve their quality of care. Even a novice horse person would likely know that it’s necessary to stop every two to four hours to offer water and/or something tasty that will encourage the horse to put their head down for 20 minutes or so in order to moisten and clear their nasal cavity. Failure to do that can lead to the complications that your mare experienced. I’m not an attorney, but this looks like basic neglect to me. I am very hopeful that you will prevail with legal action. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you. Good luck to you.

[Daventry]

It looks like this story at least got the attention of Rate My Horse Pro! https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10154463876651738&id=347596381737

It has also been covered on the news the last few days.

[Lady_Eboshi]

Back around '07 I put a nice young horse on a Nationwide van in CT, perfectly sound. Age 7, working on the flat and over fences and hunter pacing.

He arrived in CO dead lame, Dx of laminitis in all 4 feet, which never resolved. The horse was never able to tolerate full work ever again.

Best we can piece together, they drove the route straight-shot without a rest.

I’ll never let anyone here use them, ever again.

[Onetrickpuppy]

OP I’m so sorry about your mare. I do appreciate you sharing your experience and will avoid NWHT in the future.