(NARRATOR) HERE IN NORTH AMERICA,
THE HORSE HAS ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL PLACE
IN OUR CULTURE.
SOME OF US RELY ON HORSES IN AN EMOTIONAL SENSE,
CONSIDERING THEM AS BEING COMPANION ANIMALS,
OFTEN TIMES KEEPING THEM IN BACKYARD STABLES.
OTHERS OF US DEPEND ON HORSES IN AN ECONOMIC SENSE,
MAINTAINING THEM ON RANCHES TO PERFORM A VARIETY OF TASKS.
BUT WHETHER A HORSE IS
OR
IT MIGHT BE AT AN AUCTION WHERE IT'S BOUGHT AND SOLD.
THIS INCLUDES HORSES FOR RIDING...
FOR WORKING...
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
THROUGH ITS ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE--
APHIS--
IS CHARGED BY CONGRESS
TO ENSURE THAT HORSES SOLD AT AUCTION FOR SLAUGHTER
ARE TREATED HUMANELY WHEN BEING TRANSPORTED.
IN FULFILLING THIS RESPONSIBILITY,
APHIS HAS INITIATED A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
IT HAS SOUGHT OUT THE OPINIONS
OF VARIOUS ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS,
AS WELL AS RESEARCH FINDINGS BY LEADING EXPERTS
IN THE FIELDS OF ANIMAL HANDLING,
ANIMAL STRESS,
AND TRANSPORTATION.
LIKE OTHER ANIMALS,
HORSES MUST BE TRANSPORTED IN A HUMANE WAY.
BUT THERE ARE UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS
HAVING TO DO WITH THEIR PROPER HANDLING AND MOVEMENT.
THIS PROGRAM WILL EXPLAIN
HOW EVERYONE WHO'S PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION CYCLE
IS A VITAL LINK IN THIS CHAIN OF HUMANE CARE.
TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROPERLY TREAT THESE ANIMALS
WITH THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY THEY DESERVE,
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND
THAT HORSES RESPOND DIFFERENTLY
TO STRESS THEY ENCOUNTER WHILE THEY'RE BEING TRANSPORTED.
THINGS THAT MIGHT INFLUENCE THEIR REACTIONS
INCLUDE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED,
THE CONDITION OF THEIR HEALTH,
THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITH HUMANS AND OTHER HORSES,
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS,
THEIR BREED, AGE, AND GENDER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION
BETWEEN INJURIES THAT ARE CAUSED
BY BEING IMPROPERLY TRANSPORTED
AND THOSE RESULTING FROM OWNER ABUSE OR NEGLECT.
THAT'S BECAUSE USDA-SPONSORED STUDIES
HAVE SHOWN THAT NEGLECT ON THE PART OF ORIGINAL OWNERS
IS A PRIMARY CAUSE OF SEVERE WELFARE PROBLEMS
IN HORSES THAT ARE SOLD FOR SLAUGHTER.
REPUTABLE AUCTION HOUSES SHOULD REFUSE TO ACCEPT A HORSE
THAT HAS SEVERE INJURIES OR AILMENTS.
INSTEAD, ITS OWNER NEEDS TO ARRANGE FOR THE SUFFERING ANIMAL
TO BE EUTHANIZED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
HORSES THAT ARE PURCHASED IN GENERALLY GOOD CONDITION
NEED TO REMAIN THAT WAY.
THE FIRST STEP IN SAFEGUARDING THEIR WELFARE
IS TO OBSERVE THE BEHAVIOR OF EACH HORSE
BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE AUCTION.
THAT'S BECAUSE AGGRESSIVE HORSES
NEED TO BE PLACED IN SEPARATE PENS.
THIS HELPS TO PREVENT PAINFUL INJURIES
FROM BEING INFLICTED ON MORE SUBMISSIVE ANIMALS.
MANY TIMES, DEALERS GO FROM AUCTION TO AUCTION
TO BUILD UP A LOAD OF HORSES.
BUT WHEN DOING THIS,
THEY NEED TO AVOID FILLING A TRAILER AS THEY GO--
TAKING PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED HORSES
ALONG WITH THEM FOR DAYS AT A TIME.
INSTEAD, AFTER EACH AUCTION,
NEWLY PURCHASED HORSES SHOULD BE TAKEN
TO A NEARBY FEED LOT OR FARM.
THERE THEY CAN BE FED AND WATERED
UNTIL ENOUGH HAVE BEEN PURCHASED
TO MAKE UP A FULL LOAD.
IN MOST CASES, DEALERS HIRE COMMERCIAL SHIPPERS
TO TRANSPORT THEIR HORSES.
BUT SOME DO IT THEMSELVES.
EITHER WAY, IT'S OFTEN NECESSARY
TO TRANSPORT A LOAD OF HORSES OVER LONG DISTANCES.
AN IMPORTANT PART OF HUMANE HANDLING
HAS TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE THAT HORSES ARE LOADED ONTO.
THERE ARE THREE STYLES NOW BEING USED
TO HAUL HORSES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
THE SMALLEST OF THESE
IS THE LONG SINGLE-DECK GOOSENECK TRAILER.
IT'S DESIGNED TO BE PULLED BY A PICKUP TRUCK
AND IS USED MOST OFTEN
FOR SHIPMENTS ORIGINATING WITHIN THE SAME STATE
AS THE FINAL DESTINATION.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE GOOSENECK
HAS ROUGHLY HALF THE CAPACITY OF LARGER TRAILERS.
USDA-SPONSORED STUDIES INDICATE
THAT THE LONG GOOSENECK
CARRIES AN AVERAGE COMMERCIAL SHIPMENT
OF 11 HORSES.
DURING LOADING AND UNLOADING,
THE DESIGN OF A GOOSENECK MAKES IT NECESSARY
FOR A HORSE TO TAKE A STEP DOWN OR UP,
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE LOADING AREA'S FLOOR
HAVE A NON-SKID SURFACE.
THIS CAN HELP TO AVOID INJURIES
RESULTING FROM A HORSE SLIPPING AND FALLING.
ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT'S USED FREQUENTLY
IS THE STRAIGHT, SINGLE-DECK SEMI-TRAILER.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT, ON AVERAGE,
22 HORSES ARE TRANSPORTED IN THIS STYLE TRAILER.
A STRAIGHT TRAILER
NEEDS TO BE PARKED FLUSH WITH THE DOCK
DURING LOADING AND UNLOADING.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE DOCK'S RAMP
TO HAVE A GRADUAL INCLINE AND NON-SLIP SURFACE.
THAT'S BECAUSE HORSES HAVE LONG LEGS
AND A RELATIVELY HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY.
THEY CAN EASILY LOSE THEIR BALANCE AND FALL,
SUSTAINING PAINFUL INJURIES--
INJURIES THAT COULD EASILY BE AVOIDED.
A THIRD DESIGN IS THE DOUBLE-DECK SEMI-TRAILER,
COMMONLY CALLED A POTBELLY.
DUE TO ITS LARGER CAPACITY,
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF TRAILERS USED
WHEN TRANSPORTING COMMERCIAL HORSES.
STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE
IS USED TO TRANSPORT 28 HORSES ON AVERAGE.
BUT THE POTBELLY'S TWO-TIER CONFIGURATION
MAKES IT AWKWARD FOR TRANSPORTING MOST HORSES,
OTHER THAN SMALLER FOALS AND YEARLINGS.
THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE LOWER CEILING HEIGHT
THAT'S CAUSED BY USING TWO DECKS
RATHER THAN JUST ONE.
THE HORSE NEEDS ROOM FOR A FULL RANGE OF MOTION.
IN THAT WAY, IT'S ABLE TO MOVE ITS HEAD AROUND NATURALLY.
BUT IN A POTBELLY,
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH CEILING HEIGHT TO DO THAT,
WHICH CAN CREATE A PROBLEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN STARTLED,
A HORSE MAY SUDDENLY REAR ITS HEAD.
THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THE TRAILER HITS A POTHOLE,
OR COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP.
AS A RESULT,
THE HORSE COULD HIT ITS HEAD ON THE LOWER CEILING,
RESULTING IN TRAUMA TO ITS HEAD.
DOUBLE-DECK TRAILERS CAN ALSO RESULT IN INJURIES
DURING LOADING AND UNLOADING.
MANY HORSES ARE RELUCTANT TO WALK UP AND DOWN
A POTBELLY'S STEEP INTERNAL RAMPS.
WHEN FORCED TO DO THIS, THE ANIMAL MIGHT PANIC.
IF IT JUMPS AND FALLS,
THE RESULT COULD BE A SERIOUS INJURY
TO ITS HEAD OF WITHERS.
FOR THESE REASONS,
THE TWO-TIER TRAILER IS MOST PRACTICAL
WHEN USING A FLOATING DECK.
THIS CREATES JUST ONE LEVEL
AND MAXIMIZES THE OVERALL CEILING HEIGHT.
BASICALLY, ALTHOUGH MORE HORSES
CAN BE LOADED ONTO TWO-TIERED POTBELLY,
GOOSENECKS AND STRAIGHT SEMI-TRAILERS
ARE MORE SENSIBLE
FROM BOTH AN ECONOMICAL AND HUMANITARIAN PERSPECTIVE.
THAT'S BECAUSE FEWER INJURIES CAN RESULT,
ENSURING THAT EACH ANIMAL REACHES ITS DESTINATION
IN THE BEST PHYSICAL CONDITION POSSIBLE,
AND THIS ENSURES THAT ITS WORTH IS MAINTAINED
FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
THINK ABOUT IT.
IF A HORSE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED DURING TRANSPORT
AND NEEDS TO BE EUTHANIZED,
THE DEALER LOSES HIS ENTIRE INVESTMENT
IN THAT ANIMAL.
ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS DURING TRANSPORT
IS FIGHTING.
HOWEVER, BITE AND KICK INJURIES
THAT ARE INFLICTED BY AGGRESSIVE HORSES
CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.
THAT'S DONE BY SEPARATING STALLIONS
FROM MORE SUBMISSIVE HORSES.
ALTHOUGH CERTAIN ONES CAN BE SAFELY PENNED WITH OTHER HORSES,
TWO STALLIONS MUST NEVER BE PLACED TOGETHER.
THIS TYPE OF ISOLATION SHOULD ALSO BE USED
FOR AGGRESSIVE MARES AND GELDINGS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT A LOAD OF HORSES
IS MADE UP OF ANIMALS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER.
EACH ONE HAS HAD A VARIED LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE
WITH OTHER HORSES...
WITH PEOPLE...
AND WITH BEING TRANSPORTED.
FOR THAT REASON,
EVERY HORSE NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY OBSERVED
AND, IF NEEDED, SEPARATED BEFORE TRANSPORT.
KEEP IN MIND, THESE ARE HERD ANIMALS.
WHEN INITIALLY PLACED TOGETHER,
A GROUP OF HORSES ESTABLISHES ITS OWN PECKING ORDER,
WITH ONE BEING DOMINANT
AND THE OTHERS TAKING THEIR PLACES
IN A DESCENDING ORDER OF DOMINANCE.
SO IT'S NORMAL FOR SOME DEGREE OF BITING AND KICKING TO OCCUR.
BUT AN OVERLY AGGRESSIVE HORSE--
ONE THAT CONTINUALLY ATTACKS OTHER HORSES
FOR NO APPARENT REASON--
WILL QUICKLY BECOME OBVIOUS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, A HORSE THAT'S EXTREMELY SUBMISSIVE--
ONE THAT'S REPEATEDLY BEING KICKED OR BITTEN
BY SEVERAL HORSES--
MAY NEED TO BE SEPARATED AS WELL.
REMOVING REAR SHOES BEFORE TRANSPORT
IS VERY IMPORTANT
WHEN PUTTING HORSES TOGETHER IN LOOSE GROUPS.
THAT'S BECAUSE THIS SIMPLE PRACTICE
CAN HELP LESSEN THE SEVERITY OF KICKING INJURIES.
IT CAN ALSO REDUCE DAMAGES DONE TO THE SIDES OF A TRAILER
DUE TO KICKING.
REMOVING HIND SHOES
FROM A HORSE YOU HAVEN'T WORKED WITH BEFORE
CAN BE SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING,
SO BE CAREFUL.
WHEN BEING LOADED,
SWING GATES IN THE TRAILER SHOULD BE USED
TO KEEP OVERLY AGGRESSIVE OR OVERLY SUBMISSIVE HORSES
SEPARATED FROM THE OTHERS.
AGAIN, CAREFULLY OBSERVING
HOW PENNED HORSES INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER
IS CRUCIAL BEFORE LOADING THEM FOR TRANSPORT.
BY DOING THIS,
COMPATIBLE ANIMALS CAN BE SELECTED TO TRAVEL TOGETHER.
USING PROPER HANDLING TECHNIQUES
WHEN LOADING AND UNLOADING HORSES
IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP AVOID INJURIES.
FOR INSTANCE, HORSES HAVE VERY SENSITIVE HEARING,
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO AVOID CREATING LOUD NOISES
WHEN MOVING THEM.
THEY ALSO BECOME EASILY FRIGHTENED
BY SUDDEN MOVEMENTS.
SO HANDLE HORSES QUIETLY AND WITH PATIENCE.
A HORSE'S SIGHT IS ALSO VERY SENSITIVE
TO RAPID LIGHT CHANGES.
AS A RESULT, IT MAY BALK WHEN BEING PRODDED TO GO
FROM A TRAILER THAT'S IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT
ONTO THE RAMP OF A DARK BARN OR LOADING AREA.
A POSSIBLE SOLUTION MIGHT BE TO ADD SKYLIGHTS
IN THE ROOF ABOVE THE RAMP,
CREATING SOFT, EVEN LIGHTING WITH NO SHADOWS.
THAT'S BECAUSE SHADOWS CAN ALSO FRIGHTEN A HORSE.
WHEN MOVING A HORSE, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND
THE POSITION OF ITS FLIGHT PATH.
IF A PERSON STANDS JUST BEHIND ITS SHOULDER,
THE HORSE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
STANDING IN FRONT OF A HORSE WILL CAUSE IT TO MOVE BACKWARD.
HORSES HAVE A FAIRLY THIN SKIN,
SO AT NO TIME SHOULD AN ELECTRIC PROD BE USED.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THAT
IS IF SOMEONE'S SAFETY IS AT RISK.
WHEN SORTING AND MOVING HORSES,
THE USE OF RATTLE PADDLES AND FLAGS
IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE,
AND MUCH MORE HUMANE.
THE NUMBER OF HORSES LOADED ONTO A TRAILER
CAN ALSO AFFECT THE AMOUNT AND DEGREE OF INJURIES.
GENERALLY SPEAKING,
EACH HORSE SHOULD BE GIVEN ENOUGH SPACE
TO ENSURE THAT IT'S NOT CROWDED,
WHICH MIGHT CAUSE DISCOMFORT OR INJURY.
IF TOO MANY HORSES OCCUPY THE SAME COMPARTMENT,
ONE MAY BITE OR KICK THOSE AROUND IT
TO GAIN MORE ROOM.
OR IF A HORSE FALLS,
IT'S MORE DIFFICULT FOR IT TO STAND BACK UP
IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM.
THIS PROBLEM CAN BE COMPOUNDED
IF OTHER HORSES TRIP OVER THE DOWNED HORSE,
CAUSING THEM TO FALL.
ALLOWING MORE SPACE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
WHEN TRANSPORTING HORSES ON A VERY HOT DAY.
DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE,
IT MIGHT BE ADVISABLE TO DRIVE THE LOAD
ONLY AT NIGHT, WHEN IT'S COOLER.
MAKING SURE THAT A TRAILER OFFERS ENOUGH VENTILATION
IS ALSO ESSENTIAL,
WHETHER DRIVING DURING THE DAY OR NIGHTTIME HOURS.
HORSES HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY TO KICK,
SO THE SIDES OF A TRAILER THAT'S USED TO TRANSPORT THEM
CAN BE DAMAGED OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME.
TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM,
SOME CARRIERS USE PLYWOOD AS REINFORCEMENT.
ALTHOUGH THIS PROTECTS THE TRAILER,
UNFORTUNATELY IT CAN COVER MUCH-NEEDED VENTILATION HOLES
THAT PROVIDE THE HORSES WITH AIR.
IN THIS WAY,
DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER THAT'S CAUSED BY KICKING
IS PREVENTED,
AND THE HORSES THAT ARE BEING TRANSPORTED
ARE PROVIDED WITH ENOUGH AIR.
THE FLOW OF AIR ALSO INCREASES
THE MORE THAT A TRAILER IS KEPT IN MOTION,
SO A DRIVER SHOULD STOP ONLY WHEN NECESSARY,
SUCH AS FOR CHECKING ON THE CONDITION OF THE LOAD.
WHEN HAULING A LOAD OF HORSES,
GOOD DRIVING TECHNIQUES NEED TO BE USED.
THIS INVOLVES ACCELERATING SLOWLY,
DECELERATING SLOWLY,
TURNING CORNERS SLOWLY
AND WITH CARE.
THAT'S BECAUSE...
DRIVERS NEED TO CHECK ON A LOAD
AS OFTEN AS CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW.
THIS ENTAILS OBSERVING
THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE HORSES,
AND PROVIDING VETERINARY ASSISTANCE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
IF ANY ARE IN OBVIOUS PHYSICAL DISTRESS.
BEFORE BEING TRANSPORTED,
IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT HORSES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REST,
WITH EASY ACCESS TO FOOD AND FRESH WATER.
THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE
FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX HOURS BEFOREHAND.
THEIR FEED PRIOR TO BEING LOADED ONTO A TRAILER
SHOULD CONSIST OF HAY OR GRASS.
THAT'S BECAUSE OATS CAN CAUSE DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
DURING TRANSPORT.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT WHEN PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE FOOD,
FRESH WATER,
AND REST AT LEAST SIX HOURS BEFOREHAND,
HORSES CAN REMAIN ON A TRAILER FOR ABOUT ONE DAY.
BUT LEAVING THEM ON FOR A LONGER PERIOD THAN THAT
CAN COMPROMISE THEIR WELFARE,
ESPECIALLY DURING HOT WEATHER.
AFTER THAT TIME,
THE HORSES NEED TO BE UNLOADED AT AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION
WHERE THEY CAN BE FED AND WATERED.
ONCE THEY'VE RESTED FOR A NUMBER OF HOURS,
THE GROUP CAN BE RELOADED TO RESUME THE TRIP.
TREATING HORSES HUMANELY WHEN BEING TRANSPORTED
IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYONE INVOLVED.
AS PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY,
IT'S CRITICAL TO FOLLOW CERTAIN GUIDELINES--
ONES THAT HELP ENSURE
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EACH ANIMAL
IS SAFEGUARDED.
THIS MEANS NEVER TRANSPORTING A HORSE
THAT ISN'T ABLE TO BEAR ITS WEIGHT ON ALL FOUR LEGS,
ISN'T ABLE TO WALK WITHOUT ASSISTANCE,
IS BLIND IN BOTH OF ITS EYES,
IS YOUNGER THAN SIX MONTHS OF AGE,
OR THAT IS LIKELY TO GIVE BIRTH WHILE IN TRANSIT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CONDITION OF EACH HORSE
BE ACCOUNTED FOR DURING TRANSIT.
THAT'S ACCOMPLISHED
THROUGH THE USE OF AN OWNER-SHIPPER CERTIFICATE.
THIS USDA FORM
DOCUMENTS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH ANIMAL,
ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT'S USED TO TRANSPORT IT.
THERE SHOULD BE NO ARGUMENT ABOUT THE NEED
FOR TREATING HORSES THAT ARE SOLD FOR SLAUGHTER
IN A HUMANE WAY.
THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING MUST BE SAFEGUARDED
FOR BOTH ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN REASONS.
THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE BY EVERY INDIVIDUAL
WHO'S A LINK IN THE TRANSPORTATION CHAIN.
THESE ANIMALS DESERVE TO BE TREATED
WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
THEY NEED TO BE KEPT
IN THE BEST PHYSICAL CONDITION POSSIBLE.
AND WHEN BEING TRANSPORTED,
THEY NEED TO BE FREE OF FATIGUE,
DEHYDRATION,
STRESS,
AND TRAUMA.
IT'S SIMPLY COMMON SENSE.
IT'S SIMPLY COMMON DECENCY.