Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Lara Dyson
Tips for Travelling Stallions
Cyden Stallions owner and dressage rider Lara Dyson offers advice on travelling with stallions.
Transporting horses can be a stressful business for both horse and owner, this stress can be multiplied when a stallion is on board
Competition horses will usually be frequent travellers but the effects of this un-natural situation on horses should never be underestimated. The stress caused by constant travel can have an impact on health, welfare and ultimately performance.
The journey itself can be both physically and mentally challenging for a horse, from the exertion required to balance during transit, to the effort they expand simply standing in the back of a lorry being similar to walking for the same period of time.
For stallion owners, travelling requires more thought and planning, especially if they are to travel with other horses, be they other stallions, mares or geldings.
Top tips from Lara Dyson
Get to know your stallion inside out. This will prevent you from putting him in a situation he will not be comfortable in. If he is new horse and you are still getting to know his quirks always take sensible precautions and don't travel him next to another horse.
When travelling the three Cyden Stallions together, Lara always loads them in the same order. Bodyguard goes on first, followed by Amigo, and then Lara will load Cadans with a spare partition between him and the other boys.
Use full headboards when travelling stallions next to each other to prevent them from touching noses and squealing.
Fit travel boots to ensure safety during transit or bandages for longer journeys, as boots can sometimes slip down.
Provide hay during the journey to keep them happy and their minds occupied elsewhere.
When travelling on long journeys, stop every three hours to offer the stallions water.
While stallions can be good travellers, they may become unsettled once you reach your destination, consider blacking out a window if they can get over-excited by what is going on outside.
Consider where you park your lorry at a venue and try to pick a quieter spot away from other horseboxes.
When un-loading stallions at a venue, always use a bridle and a lunge line to be 100% in control, if someone walks past the lorry with another horse just as you come down the ramp.
The most important thing when travelling stallions is to understand your own horse and what they can cope with.
Lara said of her own experience with the Cyden Stallions: "I tend to travel Cadans with a spare partition between him and another horse, he will travel with one next to him but it does unsettle him, so I tend to (when possible) always leave a gap and travel him next to the ramp."
"They all travel with other mares and geldings, with headboards in place to avoid any nose touching. Amigo is very cheeky and can get his headcollar off easily, so we have to tie him up to the rings at the top otherwise he performs his party piece and then puts his head under the headboard and tickles Bodyguard on his front legs and knees!"
Cyden Cadans M and Cyden Bodyguard Moorland will be standing at Stallion AI Services for a limited time this summer with frozen semen available from Cyden Oostings Amigo.
For further information contact Lara Dyson on 07920 452739 or visit www.cydendressage.com or like the Cyden Dressage facebook page for news of all three Cyden Stallions and other horses and ponies for sale.