Driving with a horse or livestock trailer :Cross Stitch – Travel and transport

Driving with a live animal on board can be stressful. Follow this advice from the Highways Agency to make your journey safer and your horse more comfortable on the road.

There are risks in travelling with animals on board. If you break down or are involved in an accident, you could cause long delays, particularly if there are problems with your vehicle recovery insurance.

If your animals get out of the vehicle and become frightened, they could bolt into the road and cause a serious accident.

Both these risks can be reduced if you plan carefully and follow the guidelines below.

If you are not fully covered with an animal on board you could face a bill for overnight stabling if you break down. There are specialist insurance brokers who offer horsebox/livestock trailer breakdown schemes. You can find them by putting the phrase ‘equine insurance brokers’ or ‘livestock insurance brokers’ into a standard search engine.

Be prepared

Get your animal used to travelling by taking a few short trips in the trailer before you set off on a longer journey.

Plan your journey and check the latest traffic information so you can avoid long delays.

As well as the standard emergency kit, make sure you have:

• plenty of hay or feed and water in case of breakdown or delay
• the phone number of your vet in case you need advice

If you are transporting a horse you should also take:

• reflective riding jacket
• warm coat for the horse if you are travelling in cold weather

If you are transporting a horse, make sure it is restrained and has well-fitting boots or bandages. Note that this may not be appropriate for foals or unhandled stock.

If you break down

Do not take your animal out of the vehicle. Keep the animal as calm and comfortable as possible and make sure there is enough ventilation. In a trailer you should open the groom’s door if it is away from traffic and you can do so safely. In a lorry you should stay with the animal if possible.