Do NOT Haul Horses with Open Windows

This is a personal rant! Do not EVER haul your horse in a slant load with the windows open so the horse can hang their head out while the trailer/rig is moving.

I used to travel a lot and would see horse's heads hanging out of the windows while traveling down the Interstate. Even some big names will haul like this...I've seen them up close and personal. Do you know what would happen if the lead rope somehow came loose or slipped out of the window and became entangled around a tire or wheel?? Something would have to give and it won't be the rope, it'll be your horse. Put yourself in your horse's place if a rope did get caught and the panic you'd feel being pulled through the window and practically cutting off your neck! I hope you get the picture. Gives me the heeby-jeebies to think of it but you gotta think!

Another thing I've seen...okay, the lead is securely tied but the horse can still stick his head out. Do you know that an opposing big rig can clock the horse on the head (on a two lane road) with his outside mirror and practically decapitate your horse?? Yes, it can happen and I've heard of numerous events. Of course, the horse has to really stick his head out but, yep, your horse can do it, especially if he's a bigger breed, like a TB or similar. They can stretch their necks a mile.

An offshoot of this is when you're turning a corner and horse has his head is out, I actually heard from a vet tech friend of mine about a guy who was turning (horse's head is out, looking around) a corner around a building and crunched the horse's head between the building and the trailer. Smacked the horse up pretty good, didn't kill him but sure hurt him badly. I'm assuming the guy felt really bad, I hope so! Not to mention the big vet bill. My friend said she couldn't reprimand him but I told her to let me at him and I'd set him straight! She politely declined for some strange reason...

So, if you feel it's too hot to shut the windows, at least use the bars or the mesh to keep his noggin inside. The downside to the mesh is if you have a colt with a pain-in-the-neck personality (we've all had one at one time or another, haven't we??), he can worm his little noggin around (or tear) the mesh to get his head out while you're moving. I've seen that too. So, I think the bars are better, but that's just me.

If you do see something like this, I've heard that you can contact the State Troopers and make a report and they'll make the driver at least close the bars. I don't know if this is true but if it's a public danger, I'd think they'd help at least. If you confront someone about this, be prepared, they aren't going to appreciate your 'help' but at least you can do the right thing yourself. Setting a good example at least.

There isn't any reason in the world to haul with a horse's head hanging out while you're moving. None at all.