How to prepare a horse for travel
Updated: 13.10.2026
A calm horse on the road is a safe horse. Most problems can be prevented before loading.
A day or two before
- Make sure the horse passport is at hand and, for travel abroad, that the veterinary documents are ready (more).
- If the horse is difficult to load, say so in your request — the carrier will plan time and help.
- If the horse is ill or injured, ask your vet before travelling.
What to pack
- Horse passport
- Headcollar and a spare lead rope
- Hay net
- Bucket and water (for longer trips)
- Travel boots or bandages, if the horse is used to them
- A rug suited to the weather (a trailer can be warmer than outside)
- Destination address and a contact phone number
On loading day
- Arrive early — rushing makes horses nervous.
- Load calmly, without shouting; let the horse look at the ramp.
- Use leg protection only if the horse walks calmly in it — unfamiliar boots can cause panic the first time.
- Hay in a net helps the horse settle.
On the road
- Drive smoothly: gentle braking and cornering.
- On longer trips plan breaks to check the horse and offer water.
- If the horse sweats heavily, trembles or scrambles — stop somewhere safe and check.
On arrival
Unload calmly, let the horse look around, offer water and hay. For the first hours watch whether it eats, drinks and behaves as usual.