From the Eyes of a Horse Hauler

I deeply appreciate everybody who trusts me with their horses on the road. After forty-five years as a shipper, my business differs from most. In this day of criminal scammers flourishing, please allow me to tell a story about GOOD shippers not often heard.

We not only transport precious cargo, as horsemen do — putting their comfort, safety, and needs well ahead of ours — for the private shipper, we usually pick up a sold horse and deliver him to his new home.

Often, there are tears at pickup — we give those time, love, and hugs when needed. There is hopeful joy at delivery that we also celebrate. The horses understand more than most credit them for. For them, there’s all the time they need and patience for their goodbyes, finicky adjustments for their long-haul comfort, soft, kind words, and calming touches.

Recently, I was entrusted to take a sweet, dramatic gray warmblood to his new home eleven hours away. Even driving slow and carefully with well-timed rest stops won’t smooth every bump in the road so we AND the horses arrive a little on the fragile side.

After meeting the parents and new thirteen-year-old owner, I asked if the young girl had met her horse yet. She shyly told me she hadn’t. I went on to unload Gray, petted and told him he was SO very lucky to be getting his very own ‘little girl’ to love.

He came off slowly and politely on a respectfully loose lead, found ground, and used the slack to walk straight to his young lady, drop his head to eye level and greet her. I hope they grow into a formidable team.

You see? There’s more to a good shipper than meets the eye and those horsemen among us take it very seriously.