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If you think that safely transporting horses, particularly over long distances, causes you strife, just imagine for a moment the stress your horse must feel. While many management strategies minimize stress and illness during and after transport, injuries, dehydration, and respiratory issues persist.

Gastric ulceration occurs when horses experience stress, contributing to weight loss and changes in behavior and performance, and transport can certainly stir stress in many horses,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research.

Considering the nature of the industry, transport over long distances can rarely be avoided, especially for competition horses and many breeding horses. In an attempt to minimize transport stress and the associated health problems, veterinary researchers recently attempted to identify healthier ways to travel.

Twenty-six mares were either confined to a box stall for 12 hours or taken on a 12-hour trip. During transport, mares were either confined to a single box stall or a wide bay, and were either faced forward or backward. During the trial, mares balance and stress behaviors were assessed, and various health parameters were measured. The following observations were noted:

  • Loss of balance and the expression of other balance behaviors were associated with an increased severity of gastric ulceration and elevated muscle enzymes suggestive of tying-up (rhabdomyolysis).
  • Increased heart rate and rectal temperature during transport were also identified in horses with gastric ulceration following transport.
  • The expression of stress behaviors (biting neighbor, head-tossing, shaking, chewing, licking, kicking, pawing, etc.) was associated with decreased gastrointestinal sounds.

Based on the study findings, the authors concluded, “that adequate space and rear-facing position facilitates better balance and may enhance the health and welfare of transported horses. Behavioral observations, heart rate, and monitoring of rectal temperature are useful to identify horses at risk for development of transport-related disease.”

According to Whitehouse, Kentucky Equine Research offers several products designed to support a horse’s gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach.

“RiteTrac, for example, contains fast-acting antacids and coating agents to quickly neutralize excessive gastric acid, protect the stomach lining, and restore the normal gastric environment,” Whitehouse said.

*Padalino, B., and S.L. Raidal. 2020. Effects of transport conditions on behavioural and physiological responses of horses. Animals (Basel) 10(1).

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