Trailer Sensibility

It’s travel season and that means making sure your horses are comfortable and safe when you hit the road. In this newsletter we’ve put together a safety checklist to ensure your trailer is ready to head down the road, a packing list for the most commonly needed items when you’re headed away from home with your horses, and some of the tips and tricks we’ve found help make traveling more relaxing and fun. Make sure your equine companions are sporting their Soft Ride boots for a comfortable journey and enjoy your travel time with these pointers!

Soft Ride Team

Horse Trailer Safety Check

Pre-Trip Inspection

Trailer Tires

• Check tire pressure and condition
• Ensure the spare tire is properly inflated

Brakes & Lights

• Test brake lights, turn signals, and running lights
• Verify the brake controller is working properly

Hitch

• Ensure the hitch is properly secured and locked
• Check safety chains and ensure they are crossed and attached correctly

Flooring

• Inspect the floor for any signs of wear, rot, or damage
• Ensure mats are clean and properly placed

Interior & Exterior Check

Doors & Latches

• Confirm all doors and windows open, close, and latch securely
• Inspect latches for wear and functionality

Ventilation

• Check vents and windows for proper operation
• Ensure adequate airflow for your horses

Walls & Dividers

• Inspect walls and dividers for damage or sharp edges
• Confirm dividers are secure and functioning

Safety Equipment

First Aid Kit

• Ensure the kit is stocked with necessary supplies

Emergency Tools

• Carry a jack, lug wrench, spare tires and flare, and other essential tools

Fire Extinguisher

• Verify the extinguisher is charged and accessible

Horse Comfort

Soft Ride Comfort Boots

• Make sure your horses are wearing their Soft Ride boots to help protect their legs from the bumps and jostling of the road

Flooring

• Ensure bedding and/or floor surface is clean and comfortable

Water & Feed

• Carry ample water and hay for the journey

Safety Ties

• Use breakaway ties to secure your horses

By following this checklist, you can help ensure a safe and comfortable trip for your horses, making your travels more enjoyable and stress-free.

What Your Horse Needs on the Road

Having the right products for your horse’s health, safety, and comfort is essential when traveling. Proper preparation ensures your horse remains happy and healthy on the road, and a thorough packing list helps you avoid forgetting any critical items. Here’s a detailed packing list to guide you.

Health & Safety

First Aid Kit

• Bandages and wraps
• Antiseptic wound spray
• Medications and prescriptions
• Thermometer
• Soft Ride Ice Spas, hoses, and air compressor
• Banamine or other prescription drugs for colic prevention

Identification

• Coggins test and health certificates
• Copies of registration and insurance papers

Feeding & Hydration

Water Supplies

• Water buckets
• Portable water container
• Electrolytes

Feed & Hay

• Sufficient hay for the trip
• Grain and supplements
• Feed buckets
• Hay nets or bags

Tack & Equipment

Riding Gear

• Saddle and pad
• Bridle and bit
• Halter and lead rope
• Splint boots and Bell Boots

Travel Equipment

• Soft Ride Comfort Boots
• Leg wraps
• Fly mask or sheet
• Blanket or cooler (if needed)

Comfort & Maintenance

Grooming Supplies

• Brushes and combs
• Hoof pick
• Fly spray

Stable Supplies

• Shavings or bedding
• Manure fork and bucket
• Stall guard or chains

Emergency & Miscellaneous

Tool Kit

• Duct tape and utility knife
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Spare halter and lead rope
• Extra shoes or SoftRiders
• Vet wrap

Documentation

• Emergency contact numbers
• Travel itinerary and directions
• Out of State safety paperwork (check on Global Vet Link or call the states you will be traveling to or through)

By carefully packing these items, you can ensure a safe and comfortable journey for your horse, allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip

Preparing Your Horse for Travel

Preparing your horse for travel well in advance can make the journey smoother and less stressful for both of you. With the right preparation, your horse will be more comfortable and better equipped to handle the challenges of the road. Here are some tips and tricks to help get your horse road-ready.

Gradual Acclimation

• Introduce your horse to the trailer gradually, allowing them to explore and get comfortable with it over several sessions.

Practice Loading and Unloading

• Regularly practice loading and unloading your horse to reduce anxiety and ensure a smooth process on travel day

Conditioning Rides

• Take your horse on short trailer rides to acclimate them to the movement and sounds of traveling

Health Check-Up

• Schedule a vet visit to ensure your horse is in good health and up-to-date on vaccinations before the trip

Hydration

• Encourage your horse to drink more water a few days before traveling and bring familiar water from home to help them stay hydrated

Feeding Routine

• Maintain your horse’s regular feeding schedule as closely as possible and provide hay during travel to keep them occupied.

Rest Breaks

• Plan for regular rest breaks every 3-4 hours to allow your horse to rest, stretch, and stay comfortable.

Comfortable Environment

• Ensure the trailer is well-ventilated and free from hazards, providing a safe and comfortable environment for your horse

Comfort Boots and Wraps

• Use Soft Ride Comfort Boots and wraps to safeguard your horse’s legs from injury during travel and to minimize travel fatigue in your horse’s hooves and legs

Emergency Preparedness

• Carry a well-stocked first aid kit and have an emergency plan in place, including contact numbers for vets along your route

By following these tips, you can help ensure your horse is well-prepared for the journey, making travel safer and more enjoyable for both of you.

Where you can see us this Summer:

We will be interviewed by Dr. Regina of the Horse Industry Podcast early next week and spend some time discussing what Soft Ride boots are, how they can be used, and what information clients need to have to get the most out of our products. The podcast will be available in mid-July on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Radio Public, Pocket Cast and wherever public podcasts are available. We’re looking forward to answering some of our most common questions about the boots during this interview.

Event Info:

Website: https://horseindustrypodcast.com/

Contact: info@horseindustrypodcast.com

This conference will provide continuing education and wet lab opportunities for veterinarians and vet students. Soft Ride’s sponsorship helps allow 72 students to attend the conference. The conference includes dozens of equine practices from across the state of Texas

Event Information:

Fort Worth, Texas
August 1-3, 2024

The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel

200 Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102

https://www.texasequineva.com/continuing-education

This conference will focus on understanding equestrian surfaces for the modern-day sport horses, addressing sport medicine in foot related injuries, and the role of therapeutic shoeing in relation to today’s footing surfaces. It will feature speakers Dr Raul Bras DVM, Curtis Burns, APF-I, Dr Lars Roepstorff DVM, and many others.

Event Information:

Pittsboro North Carolina

August 23 & 24

Chatham County Convention Center

https://equinesportsmedicinesymposium.com/register

Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar (OEPS) is the leading student forum in equine veterinary medicine, with over 4100 students attending since its inception in 2003. Third-year veterinary students attend the meeting, where they receive information about various avenues and disciplines of equine practice, employment, and practice ownership. Students gain valuable information through face-to-face encounters and presentations from current practitioners, and veterinary practice management consultants. Approximately 200 -225 veterinary students will be attending the 2024 meeting.

Event Information:

August 30 - Sept 1
Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Lexington 
Address: 1800 Newtown Pike, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, 40511
Phone: 1-859-231-5100

For more information please contact the seminar host:
Dr. Craig Lesser
info@oeps.com

Keeping it in the Family: Summer Break

Soft Ride has worked over the last two decades to be a global presence, shipping internationally to over 50 countries, being stocked in over 6,000 veterinary clinics, and in use in every veterinary teaching hospital in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. 

But, at our heart, we’re a small family business. Our operation is very close knit, employing just a handful of people across the US. Many of us are direct family members, or staff we care about like family. We have always made the quality of life among our employees a top priority. That means we make a point of having two one-week vacations a year, one in the summer and one in the winter, so our staff can take the time to focus on their families. Our summer holiday this year is July 1st through the 5th. We will reopen for shipping and customer service on Monday July 8th. Our website ordering system will continue to operate normally during that time and any order placed will leave our facility when we reopen. We appreciate all our loyal customers giving us this time to focus on our human and equine family, and who knows, maybe when we’re all together this break we’ll brainstorm the next amazing Soft Ride product to help keep your equine family safe and comfortable!

Learn more about our origins here:
https://www.softrideboots.com/our-mission.php

Learn more about Roger Ruetenik here:
https://www.softrideboots.com/roger-ruetenik-article.php

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Soft Ride Mission

As we continue our drive to keep your horse on his feet, we've received more than 15 patents, ship to over 50 countries, and work with more than 6,000 veterinarians around the world, as well as every veterinarian school in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. And with horse owners from every discipline using our products, we can safely and proudly say, "The best in the world rely on Soft Ride."