Lynn Palm ~ Palm Partnership Training® Tip of the Month: Keep your horse happy and healthy while traveling:
When I travel with my horses for six or more hours, I am sure they are prepared for the trip by mixing a hot bran mash with mineral oil at least six hours before the trip.
By adding half his grain ration with two cups of bran, one cup of mineral oil and enough warm water to saturate the mix, each horse is getting a treat and I have some insurance that things will continue to move smoothly as we travel.
I will also add ½ teaspoon of table salt to each feeding about three days prior to the trip. The salt should encourage the horse to drink. Electrolytes may also be used.
I give my horses free choice hay throughout the trip and offer them fresh water at each stop. I am always conscious of the ventilation in the trailer. I am sure that the horses are not too hot or too cold so as not to add any additional stress.
When I stop for fuel, I check my horse’s hay intake, water intake, body temperature, and manure/urinating. I am sure that my stops are at least 30 minutes so my horse can rest.
For other traveling tips, check out Successfully Traveling with Horses, a 4 part DVD series with over 2 hours of educational material that can be found at http://www.lynnpalm.com.
About Lynn Palm
Palm's career highlights include 2007 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Horsewoman of the Year, a record four AQHA Superhorse wins, AQHA Female Equestrian of the Year by the Women's Athletic Association, named one of the top United States clinicians by Horse & Rider magazine, over 34 AQHA World and Reserve World Champions, over 50 bridleless dressage exhibitions at events including the National Horse Show, 1989 World Cup and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and World Cup. Palm and Cyril Pittion-Rossillon are co-founders of three horse industry companies: Palm Partnership Training, Women LUV Horses, and Alliance Saddlery USA. Palm is the author of the new release, The Rider’s Guide to Real Collection.
Being the first female with an equine educational TV show, Palm’s training show airs on HRTV Dish 404 Tuesday evenings with additional airings throughout the week and on demand at HRTVlive.com.