Moving around the country with horses is a challenge. Without horses we could stop at any gas station, any restaurant or any coffee shop. With horses we are limited on our parking, we must find diesel fuel and at night the horses need a place to stay.
There are other things to consider such as how much hay we can carry with us as well. We keep our grain the same and when we get new hay we mix it with what we are carrying. I have learned to carry alfalfa cubes along because they are consistent and they take up less space. I add water to them and Newt loves the game of trying to catch them much like bobbing for apples. It only lasts a bit because then the cubes absorb the water and fall apart but he still enjoys the bobbing while it lasts.
One horse person to another; this lady brought me hay!
During this trip I had a full load of horses when I headed east which limited the hay I could carry. I had heard about the compressed bales that can be bought at farm stores and thought I might give them a try.
At the store I wasn’t impressed with the way they looked on the outside. Maybe it was just that batch but I actually confused the alfalfa for straw when approaching the isle! On closer inspection I could see it was hay…but it wasn’t a good first impression. The young lady working at the store asked if she could help me and I asked if there were any other options for hay. After exploring what the store had (I passed) she also showed me the community bulletin board and introduced me to someone who had a farm and horses.
The lady with horses said she had extra hay. She also said she was going to be passing by where I was and even offered to drop the hay off to me…now that’s service! Again I am reminded of how friendly and helpful most people are.
Even gas station stops are more interesting with horses. Some people, like this young lady, recognize the trailer and stop to talk (she made her mom turn around and drive back) and others just want to see the horses. All are positive and friendly.
This is good news for us as Joshua and I will be heading back to Texas tomorrow. We are also talking about moving to Pennsylvania for July and August which would mean yet another big trip just around the corner and meeting even more people.
Traveling with horses can be a challenge but on the positive side, my gelding, Newt has finally stopped pawing in the trailer after being hauled about 5,000 miles this spring!
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Where in Pennsylvania???????I live 50 miles North of Philadelphia in Bucks Country….Ann
I hope its western Pa! I would love to come to your clinics! be safe in your travels!
Ok Stacy, so is that the best way to get a horse to stop pawing in the trailer is just miles? I haven’t done quite 5,000 mikes but I have gone about 1,000 round trip and she is paws when the trailer stops. I’m afraid to put a hay bag in for her (I don’t have mangers) for fear she’ll get her foot caught which she did. Any other suggestions would be very helpful.
You can your haynet up high where she can’t get her foot in it…we do that with my mare…doesn’t paw or anything but just wants to stand in her hay bag
I’m with Flo and Jackie. Please, please Northeast PA for a clinic!!!!
Having spent 69 summers in Texas, spending July and August in Pennsylvania sounds like a very good idea!
Lol…that is what we gathered from everyone in TX! Although the humidity is so much less in TX right now compared to Ohio that it makes me wonder how the really hot part will feel.
My horse doesn’t paw the trailer until he can see home, then he paws like mad all the way up our road. He’s 16.2hh and gets the trailer and ute really rocking at times. Good thing the float is solid 🙂
There are a lot of Traveling farms out there for you to stay on your way. Very nice way to travel with horses. They are all over the US. My Cousin has one in Lexington, KY. Good luck and Safe travels.
Ha, ha, I can’t wait for someone to ask me how do you stop a horse from pawing in the trailer. A. “Just drive 5,000 miles”…. This is a good example of how long it can take for horses to change their mind about something.
We Miss you, Stace! But I hope all is well and we will see you again soon 🙂 Maybe even a shoot that we run into you guys at 😉 *safe travel prayers*
Please make a stop in Kentucky, and try and do a clinic! So many people would be happy to host you!
Interesting blog Stacy … and like Flo I hope you are heading toward Northeast PA .. because that is not far from my hometown and I would so love to meet you and a clinic would be awesome!
I have always said “horse people are the nicest people”
A few years ago, I didn’t have any horses of my own, but a friend did. She knew I loved hanging out with them, so she asked me if I would be interested in showing one of her minis in a halter class at a local club show. Of course, jumped at the chance.
At the show, when I was getting ready for my class, my friend got tied up elsewhere and couldn’t come help me, so I was left on my own to figure out how to do everything. I was clueless, but I fumbled around until I got everything on her. She was so cute with rhinestones galore!
Before we went into the arena, a lady whom I did not know, with a mini of her own in tow, came walking by and stopped and pointed out something I had hooked up wrong/upside down (it’s been years now so I even remember now what it was). She was very kind and tied her mini to our trailer for a second and helped me correct it. I p explained it was my first time ever even at a horse show and it wasn’t even my horse etc. I thanked her and she went on her way.
It turns out, we were showing against each other in the same class and I ended up placing and she came over and congratulated me, and said “see, that worked out better” and smiled.
That single act of kindness left a huge impression on me of people in the horse world.
And along my path, during traveling with a friend and her house, I’ve had several other great stories like that!
I’ve officially worked my way up and as of this Sunday (mother’s day) I became a horse owner myself. I’m so ecstatic. Can’t wait to see what adventures await Fancy and me!
Oh please, please, please make it Northeast PA and do a clinic!
^^^^^^what she said^^^^Please come to Pennsylvania! Not too far for my friend and me to travel!