Transporting horses is one of the most welfare-challenging routine procedures in equine management, causing physiological stress, respiratory problems, and injury risk.
Transport stress in horses involves fear from loading, motion sickness, respiratory challenge from head position, dehydration, and accumulated fatigue on long journeys. The respiratory issue is significant: horses cannot clear their airways effectively when tied with their heads elevated, leading to infection risk. Training horses to load calmly from an early age dramatically reduces stress. Trailer design, orientation, and journey management all significantly affect welfare outcomes.