THERE are a number of common stressors associated with the transportation of horses.

These may include behavioural stressors such as social isolation from stable mates, aggressive interaction of other horses during transportation, lack of security in their environments, disrupted training regimes, interrupted feeding schedules, the improper handling of horses by handlers and/or poor driving techniques which can cause both behavioural and physiological stress effects.

Here are some of the options available to help alleviate these stressors:

> If you are travelling with two horses, make sure that they are tied so that they cannot touch noses or aggravate each other. Head partitions can be fitted in most horse boxes and lorries if necessary.

> If your horse becomes anxious when travelling alone you might consider a travelling companion. Many racehorses have travelling companions, for example, American Pharoah and his travelling companion Smokey.

> For horses that become unbalanced when travelling you could try removing the partition in a horse box or giving the horse more space to help them balance. Sometimes horses benefit from facing backward in a horsebox.

Horse owners should also consider protective travelling wear to help prevent a bad traveller from incurring an injury. Below is a list of commonly used travelling wear for horses.