I may be transporting a relatively unhandled Arab mare from southwest Indiana to central Massachusetts.
Any recommendations or dire warnings for shippers?
I’m planning on inquiring with JR Hudson and Blue Chip.
The 26 yr old Dutch Warm Blood that is now retired on my farm, came from SoCal to Middle Tennessee via https://www.kchorsetransport.com/
He is a retired show jumper, used to being transported.
This company hauls a lot of race horses. The WB was on standby for an open space. It was a two week wait. The fee to get him here was amazingly cheap IMO.
He arrived in great condition and was expertly/kindly handled by the crew. His ulcers flared up but that’s a heck of a trip for a 26 yr old. He did not, however, have any emotional scars from mishandling that I could see. He came off the van 17H of teddy bear😍
The previous owner swears by KC Transport to move any horse she is involved with across country.
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I had a good experience with Marvin Yoder. Yoder Equine Transport. He shipped a relatively unhandled long yearling to me (Iowa to Ct) a year and a half ago. Had good communication all the way, despite having to stop and wait out a very nasty snowstorm. The horse came off the trailer well, given that he had never been on a trailer before and had spent a long, very cold night snowed in at a truck stop, all by himself.
It was the last run of the season, and was actually an empty trailer movement; but the horse’s breeder knew Marvin personally, so I ended up getting a ride.
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Brookledge (though I’ve never actually used them, just heard good things and they were very helpful even though they couldn’t accommodate the route I needed.)
General advice, since this is interstate commerce, make sure your shipper has the appropriate credentials and insurance. If the contract is a single page and says things like “Any damage to the trailer or other equipment will be paid for by the owner” and “Owner releases the Transporter from any and all liabilities related to the transportation of the horse” then stay far away.
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Oh, I fully intend to go with someone reputable. This is not a place to pinch pennies.
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I really like Chasing The Sun, which is based in Kentucky. Really good equipment and monitoring and training. They also have a breeding operation at their farm (including taking clients for foaling out) so I think are used to handling some level of unhandled stock.
I’ve only heard good things to hear about them.
Here’s my list of trusted shippers:
JR Hudson
WJ Barry
Judge Manning
Lukens
Elite Horse Transport
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Oh how fun! I used Holly Hill to bring my horses from MN to CT and had an excellent experience through the whole thing. They’re based in MA. Definitely worth checking in with them.
Enjoy your new project!!
I’ve also had great experiences with Creech. Sallee and Brookledge are also great. All 3 focus on the TB market but Indiana and Massachusetts aren’t so far from Kentucky and Saratoga, and there will be a lot of vans making that trip soon for the racing meet and upcoming sale. And obviously all are used to working with young horses.
I’ve used these companies within the last 10 years for cross-country trips. Was very happy with both, so it just depends on your route if either would be practical.
Brook Ledge
Tony Aprile
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another vote for Marvin Yoder, with yoder equine transport, He has hauled horses for me, and I have driven with/for him and he and his team are top notch
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I used Blue Chip and loved their communication and care to ship my mare from NM to PA.
I used Equine Express to ship horses multiple times, as did my barn, and also had good experiences with them.
Be prepared for hay bales to not make it to the final destination,
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American Horse Transport hauled my new gelding from Washington to Colorado last summer, and back in March. Very good communication to set up the trip, and during the trip. All good.
They’re based in Washington, but go coast-to-coast. My horse’s return trip to WA started in Kentucky, with a drop in Iowa before picking him up in Fort Collins.
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Equine Express is always my first call. If they don’t do that particular route they can usually recommend someone who does.
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JR Hudson are the best. If the horse needs to move between rigs during transport they’ll set it up so they just walk across the ramp from one to the next and never actually come off the trucks.
Also really like Equine Express but I’d be surprised if they do that route without dropping them from Indiana to a layover in TX first.
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Current situation: neither JR Hudson or Brookledge can do it.
Several other inquiries pending.
(current owner has offered to haul if necessary)
*Morrissey’s Horse Pullmans
*Equine Express
- Johnson’s
Just heard back from Equine Express, and will likely go with them.
Just need to confirm with current owner of horse that he’s ok with relatively hort notice that the shipper is coming.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions, and I’ll let you know how it goes!
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How did it go? I’m currently trying to ship our appendix mare from Virginia to our daughter in Indianapolis, IN. Also got a quote from Blueribbon Horse Trailering and Nine Points out of Virginia. Anyone know anything about either of them?
