Planning on hitting the road with your horse? Maybe you are traveling a long distance to a big show, or maybe your are moving your horses from one part of the country to another. Whatever cross-country adventure you and your horses are undertaking together, it's imperative that you become a horse hauling expert! Check out these helpful hints on hauling horses, and save yourself lots of hassle!

• Make a list of all the states you are visiting or passing through. Then check out both their health requirements and driving requirements. If your trailer is more than 25 feet long, you should know that many states require the driver to have a commercial driver's license.

• Make sure your trailer is well-ventilated. It should be neither too hot or too cold, but should maintain a temperature that allows the horses to travel comfortably. A horse who is not comfortable on a long trip will get stressed, and will be susceptible to illness.

• Learn your knots! Horses being transported should be tied with a quick-release knot. The rope should be long enough to allow the horse to reach his hay and water, but short enough so he doesn't step over it or become entangled. For added safety, have your horses wear break-away halters.

• Don't underpack! If anything, carry extra items and supplies. Extra lead ropes and halters are always a good idea. You'll also want three buckets per horse—two for water and one for grain. If you run into a situation where temporary stabling becomes necessary, you'll be happy if you've packed double-ended snaps, screw eyes, twine, a long water horse, and a hammer. These items will make things much easier!

• Before you leave, hone your driving skills. Transporting horses takes a lot of skill and care, and if you are going on a long trip make sure you are comfortable and confident driving the trailer. Take corners slowly, and make sure your starts and stops are smooth, not sudden.

• Make sure the trailer floor has good footing, which will cut down on injury. A few inches of sand will do the job nicely in a stock trailer. Rubber mats with a non-slip tread and shavings are a good choice for horse trailers. Whatever you choose, the goal is to make sure that your horses have the best footing possible around corners and during stops and starts.

• If you are going to be traveling with green horses, remember that practice makes perfect. Spend some time loading them off and on the trailer before you embark on your trip, to get them used to it. For first-time horses who are very wary of getting on the trailer, a little grain never hurts as an incentive! Having the green horse watch a more experienced horse calmly walk on has been known to work wonders as well. Once the horse is on the trailer, allow him to stand quietly and eat. Then fire up the engine and go for a five- or ten-minute drive. As the horse becomes more comfortable with hauling, you can increase the amount of time in your practice trips.

• When you are on your trip, check on your horses and offer water to them every time you stop for gas. Check their food supply too—they should have hay to eat at all times. If your horse isn't a good drinker on the road try giving him something with water in it, like a carrot or apple. It is also a good idea to give your horse a mash with electrolytes in it every eight hours or so.

• You may want to protect your horse's legs and feet during travel, and that's fine. However, shipping wraps do decrease circulation and probably aren't a good idea for horses traveling more than five hours. Unless your horse is a really poor traveler, bell boots on the front feet should suffice.

Happy travels!