Good horse tips for me?

I don't know if my horse has ever been in a trailer before. Any good horse trailer tips?

• I want to enter my older horse (18 yrs.) in a local Christmas parade. The ride from the barn to the parade site is about 30 minutes long. I don't know if my mare has ever ridden in a trailer, but she is very spook-free and I don't think she would have any problems adjusting to the trailer. My only concern is that she has a bad back leg. Would this affect the way she rides in the trailer? Is it too risky? I also need some trailer basics, like what kind of equipment would she need to wear, and can she eat food in the trailer? I am totally clueless. I need all the help on trailers I can get! Please help! Also, some grooming tips for the parade would be nice. :-)

• Answer:

  Tack shops make all kinds of protective equipment for trailering horses. I her back leg has an issue I would definitely wrap her legs to avoid any injuries. As far as if its too risky, that would be your call, 30 minutes is not a long time at all so it would depend on your mare's condition. Here are some things to remember while loading and trailering your horse: 1)Approach the like you would approach anything else, if you make a big deal out of it, then your horse will too. 2)When approaching the trailer, always keep your mares heard forward and focused on the trailer (avoid letting her look around). 3)Never circle your horse if she does not get on. Keep her going towards the trailer. 4)Most of the time it is best to have someone help you, if she does not want to get on, have someone gently tap her in the but with something (that wont scare her!) but be sure that they are careful not to get kicked. 5)NEVER BLIND FOLD YOUR HORSE TO LOAD THEM- I once was at a show where they were trying to get the horse on the trailer that way and the horse panicked (of course) and flipped over backwards in the trailer. ***Remember...safety first, horses are very large animals and can sometimes panick in these types of situations so always be cautious. Always tie your horse, properly, in the trailer. You can hang a haybag in the trailer, but 30 minutes is not a long time so it is not a huge deal. Just make sure you bring food and water for her while your at the parade. As far as grooming, they make showsheen products that make your horse really soft and shiney (just make sure you dont put it on the saddle area because your saddle will slip), and I would suggest giving her a good clipping like you are getting ready to go to a show.