While it is natural for horses to feel a little uneasy on the road, the stress of trailering can contribute to colic, self-mutilation, and damage to the trailer itself. Use these tips to help your horse feel safe and stay calm when traveling.
Less Stress Trailering Starts With Loading
Always be patient when loading your horse, especially if it is their first time trailering. If possible, allow your horse to become familiar with the trailer at least a few days before the trip. You can even feed your horse inside the trailer to help them develop a positive association with it.
Basic groundwork skills not only make loading much easier, but also build trust between you and your horse, helping them feel more confident about trailering. Incorporate the trailer into groundwork exercises if possible, focusing on helping your horse feel safe in a potentially intimidating enclosed space.
Keeping Your Nervous Horse Calm In The Trailer
One of the biggest sources of stress in trailered horses is the sensation of losing their balance. Smooth, steady driving can make a big difference in your horse’s ability to relax. It can be helpful to take a ride in the trailer to understand how your horse may feel when you stop, turn, and change speeds.
Practice driving without your horse first, then work your way up to short distances with your horse inside. If you are new to driving with a trailer, it may help to ride with someone who has more experience trailering horses.
Horses often feel calmer when traveling with a companion. If you cannot bring more than one horse, installing a mirror inside the trailer may help your horse feel less alone. Trailering with a mirror has been shown to reduce behavioral signs of stress in horses traveling by themselves.
Supplements And Products That May Help Keep Horses Calm
In some cases, calming supplements or horse health products may help reduce stress during travel. Many horse owners use nutritional support to promote relaxation and comfort before a trip.
Perfect Prep supplements contain a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that are naturally found in your horse’s body and may help support feelings of calmness and security. A Hemp for Pets supplement may also help some horses stay calm while traveling.
Horse owners can explore additional options such as:
- Calming supplements available in the Horse Vitamins and Supplements category at 1800PetMeds
- Digestive support products in the Horse Digestive Health category that may help horses prone to stress-related colic
- General wellness products found in the Horse Supplies category for everyday equine care
If your horse still has moderate to severe anxiety when trailering, talk to your veterinarian about medications and other options that may help your horse stay calm on the road.
