It wouldn't hurt to give a dose of the probios tube (comes in different strengths and by different manufacturers, as well) each morning before rolling. I don't use it often, but for long hauls, I've done that. Good luck with the new job and the transport. Bet it goes without a hitch!
I never haul with shavings - I think all the possible problems and mess outweighs any dubious comfort they might give. All my trailers have at least one stock side if not both so shavings blowing around would be a huge concern for me. I also want their urine to drain away and dry rather than be soaked up and held in by shavings, the ammonia in a closed or even mostly closed trailer can really mess with the horse. Shavings may be a real reason for a lot of horses having respiratory issues after trailering.
Probiotics are great - I definitely recommend the paste or gel in a tube though. Powder and liquid usually require the horse ingesting something else with the probiotics on them. You have to hope they get it all whereas with a paste you just administer by mouth and you're done. The directions are on the tube.
It's ok if she cannot ride loose - I like it but I think there's positives in the horse being able to lean and brace against something during the ride. Even loose my horses like to stuff their butts against sides or in corners to help themselves during rides. Sounds like you have worked hard to make sure she's going to be comfortable and that will help her have a great trip.
I've put shavings in the trailer only once in recent years and that was to haul a filly her first time alone and the trailer was closed up more than usual because it was bitter cold so they couldn't blow. Once she was home post-surg, the shavings came out. I was loading her from icy ground and the mats, even with the texture, were a wetter and slicker than I'd like, so traction was my objective. Worked well.
My trailer has drop down windows/bars in front and a stockside on the back, but I do have sliders in for all but the last foot during the worst of winter mainly to keep the snow from blowing in and keeping the floor wet. I prefer it pretty open year round for hauling any distance. The respiratory trade-off of shavings isn't worth it to me -- especially as you note your horse won't be able to hang their head down as far as you might like.
The shavings do blow around in the beginning, but seems like they settle pretty fast. My BIG reason for shavings is that it provides for some cushion, 12 hours is a long time to be standing on a bouncing trailer deck. I like to give their legs a little extra support, maybe I am anthromorphizing... remembering a fast food job I had as a kid, standing on cement floor all day. (Ahhh, the golden days before OSHA) I also have a gelding that will try his hardest to not pee in the trailer, seems like he is a little more apt to if he's not getting wiz all over his legs with shavings. Call my horse a Princess, maybe he is, lol... I have mats in the trailer, but I don't think they do a whole lot as far as deadening road noise, protecting from road heat. The floor of my trailer is solid... made of aluminum diamond plate, so there's no give like wood floors have.
On an unrelated note regarding trailer floors, I got a new trailer for work. Someone suggested instead of mats, having the whole floor rhino-lined/bed-lined. It seems to work pretty good, except it is DARN slippery, especially in cold weather! Bob was skating around in there when I used him for work with a little snow. Anyone else had it done?
No experience with the spray-on-flooring, Sue, but appreciative of the information for future. Have wondered about it but I do have board floors so not an option for me.
Just a maintenance note... I am pretty careful to keep the trailer clean -- gets cleared out after just each use, and if really wet, mats are rolled. Have replaced 2 boards so far and the trailer is 7 years old. I used mine quite a bit and before I put sliders in the open side, it'd collect standing snow/rain -- just to remind folks to check flooring condition regularly.
No experience with the spray-on-flooring, Sue, but appreciative of the information for future. Have wondered about it but I do have board floors so not an option for me.
Just a maintenance note... I am pretty careful to keep the trailer clean -- gets cleared out after just each use, and if really wet, mats are rolled. Have replaced 2 boards so far and the trailer is 7 years old. I used mine quite a bit and before I put sliders in the open side, it'd collect standing snow/rain -- just to remind folks to check flooring condition regularly.
Hmmm... just a random thought, might not be a bad idea to rhino-line the floor boards and maybe 12-18" up the sides, then put mats on top of that. Just rambling.
I really like the aluminum box flooring from a maintenance standpoint.
I like it from the safety standpoint. Having seen the aftermath of a floor giving way, the 16"-18" interval between steel struts sometimes doesn't seem like enough to support the boards -- especially coulpled with rot on boards...
My husband, dad & I have been totally redoing my 2-horse trailer for the past year or so between other projects. Almost done now and we've decided to buy some rhino-type spray and do all the underside of the trailer, plus on top of where the boards go, the front of the trailer & the side fenders. Then we're going to seal the pressure-treated boards and then spray them w/ the rubber stuff. Any little bit helps w/ cushioning & deadening noise, plus we hope it will keep it from rotting out faster.
The trailer is 30 yrs old and the steel sides, frame, wiring, everything was rotting out, so we've basically re-built the entire thing. Axles & single set of brake drums are good, amazingly.
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Confucius I ain't... confused I am
My trailer is also 30 years old. I sanded all the rust and old paint off and painted the entire trailer with rust resistant paint, and then clear coated it. The floor boards are new, so no worries there, though the rhino liner sounds awesome. I'd think that would be great, to spray the under carriage and the boards and put the rubber mats over top of them... Sounds like a good project once we get moved in to our new place.
Re: One Long Haul
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