HANDLING:

Don’t spread infectious diseases – if your horse has a running nose or a cough, do not take them off your property.

Do not share tack – pads, blankets, cinches, grooming equipment with other horses outside your own herd - skin fungus can be transmitted to your horse from these materials.

Do not share common water troughs while on a trail ride, take your own buckets and fill them for your horses. Many common herd flu and colds, plus more intense diseases and infections, can be transmitted to your horse.

Do not let your horse touch another horse – many infections and diseases can be passed by a simple touch of the nose – i.e. Strangles. Or you may get a violent reaction i.e. kicking, striking out or squealing.

When loading a trailer, load the lead (dominate) horse last, this way the other horses in the trailer will have room. Use muzzles if needed, so your horses come out of the trailer with all their body parts.

Loading into a trailer – take your time; don’t use whips, butt ropes, or too much pressure. When under a time line don’t load a horse that has a problem with the trailer, i.e. new to loading or has had an injury in a trailer or is just scared of loading. If you are in a hurry – it might not be the best time to load the horse. The longer you are able to stay calm and patient with the horse the better he will load the next time. The more comfortable you make the trailer, the more they are willing to get into it the next time.

One step at a time, reward the horse for the effort.

Secure all windows on your trailer before traveling. Do not leave horse windows open when in transit.

Do a TRAILER INSPECTION before loading and then do a double check on your trailer before moving. Check the doors to make sure that they are all secure, test all lights and tires. Check the floor before placing your horses in a trailer – always. Check and secure all doors and latches on the trailer, check them twice.