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Ease on Down the Road
There are quite
a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to going down the road.
When you leave
home, leave prepared ready for the serious business of winning. That
means:
1.
Do
have all your health papers in order. Coggins tests are required in
many states nowadays. Also, if you are entering any registered shows,
remember your registration papers.
2.
Do
plan stops along the way. Every four hours is a good plan for
getting the horse out of the trailer and walking him.
 Try
to find a good safe place to unload him. In our Western store we have a
great book entitled,
Nationwide Overnight Stabling Directory
that will help you find suitable places to stop.
3.
3. Don’t let him eat grass when you get him out. You don’t know
if that grass might have been sprayed with poisons or insecticides.
Remember horse arenas or rodeo grounds are better for stopping and
exercising your horse, than roadside parks, rest areas or gas stations.
4.
Don't water him in public water troughs. Other horses that have
been there might have diseases.
5.
Do
take plenty of your normal brands of feed so you don’t have to
change the horse’s feed because you ran out. I like
to take my Purina feeds in pre-measured packages. For example, I put each feeding
in a plastic bag. Also, with
Purina feeds you can always find it on the road.
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6.
I
make sure my Big Tex/Cimarron
Trailer is comfortable for my horse. Good floors
with extra padding and bedding are a necessity. In the summer, open the
vents to give him as much air as possible. In the winter, keep the trailer
as warm as possible, but not hot and steamy. Use blankets or sheets to
keep the horse warm. Remember, though, that a sheet can sometimes be too
warm in a closed trailer. This is why I recommend having a thermometer in
a trailer.
7.
Check out any stalls you might put your horse in. Make sure they
are safe, with nothing (like nails or sharp edges) that could injure your
horse. Look for any exposed electrical cords that your horse might chew. Be alert
for anything that could spell potential danger for your horse. Make sure
that the horse will be secure in the stall and unable to get out. If it's
at night when you put him in an unfamiliar stall, take your flash light
and look for molding feed or hay that needs to be removed first.
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Martha
Josey measures her
Purina Feeds
before each trip |
8.
If a horse won’t drink unfamiliar water, try adding kool-aid in the
water.
9.
Do
take a first-aid kit along with you to treat any cuts or soreness
that might develop on the trip. Be sure and have plenty of grooming
materials –brushes, fly spray, scissors, etc. Check out the great
Oster and
United Vet Equine products for superior grooming
and horse care supplies.
 10.
10. Do take a water hose along with you so you can wash a horse
off and run
water over his legs.
I always take my EZ-ALL foaming tool and
EZ-All shampoo along to
give my horse a good bath.
Martha Josey uses EZ-All Total Body Wash on her great
stallion, Harveys Wallbanger.
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GET YOUR EZ-ALL PRODUCTS AT THE JOSEY WESTERN
STORE!
Our instructors demonstrate to the students how easy
and fun it is using EZ-All products.
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Check List for the Road
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Necessary Equipment for Horse
____ Saddle
____ Competition bridle & exercise bridle
____ Tie-down noseband & strap
____ Saddle pads
____ Front girth
____ Breast collar
____ Horse blanket
____ Overreach boots
____ Front combination boots
____ Rear combination boots
____ Bat or over & under
____ Rubber bands
____ Halter
____ Leads
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Medications
____ Colic medicine
____ Syringes
____ Needles
____ Furox
____ Peroxide
____ Sterile gauze
____ Vet wrap
____ Vaseline
____ Medicine kit
____ Poultice |
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Grooming
____ Brushes
____ Curry Comb
____ Mane brush
____ Shampoo
____ Wash buckets
____ Sweat Scraper
____ Hoof dressing & pick
____ Tail & mane conditioner
____ Fly Spray
____ Paper towels
____ Bristle hair brush
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For the Legs
____ Plastic wrap
____ Leg wrap padding
____ Leg wrap bandages
____ Alcohol for rubbing
____ Epsom salts
____ Velcro leg wraps
____ Absorbine |
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Feed
____ Good brand of
complete horse feed
____ Lite salt
____ 2 buckets
____ 1 haybag or hay net
____ Hay
____ Grain Scoop
____ Stall chains, locks & keys
____ Electrolytes
____ Vitamin supplements if needed
________________________________
The Barrel Race
____ Hat
____ Boots
____ Belt
____ Shirts
____ Pants
____ Jeans
____ Scarves
____ Raincoat & hat cover
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Other
____ Winter blanket
____ Light sheet
____ Tail wrap if needed
____ Black tape
____ Shin guards
____ Spurs if needed
____ Hole punch
____ Safety pins
____ Flashlight & batteries
____ Extension cords
____ Water hose and nozzle
____ Disinfectant soap
____ Rake & broom
____ Muzzle if needed
____ Necessary health papers
____ Copy of registration papers (originals
needed at some shows)
____ Trailer keys
____ Current road atlas
____ Overnight Stables Guide
We highly suggest this book to help
keep you up to date for stopping over
areas. |
TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD
Whether you’re heading out to a week-long show or loading up
for a day of trail riding, your success depends on your horse’s ability to
perform. I have been fortunate to win the world championship in the Women’s Professional Rodeo
Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and National Barrel Horse
Association. Good traveling will not only help you win more championships
but will also help your horse learn to trust you.
I have experienced four decades of professional rodeos,
show, and clinics and have learned the best ways for keeping a horse safe,
sound, and sharp on the road – and the best ways a rider can handle the
stresses of hauling. Being organized is one of the best ways to cope with
stress.
Continue.......
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