Once your horse is loaded and ready to go home, clean up the area where you have been parked. Be especially careful of leaving behind any metal or sharp objects, realizing that a horse could be injured there in the future, or that you could drive over something sharp and ruin a tire. Don't be in such a rush to get home that you neglect your horse. Shipping boots that cover the pastern are a real luxury, but they have helped prevent many injuries in horses. Remember that your horse is just as tired as you are, and that his reflexes might be decreased by fatigue.
Some horses brace themselves while trailering, which takes a lot of energy.
A relaxed horse will trailer more quietly, so your horse will benefit from hand-walking for a while before loading. When you get home, make a few notes on your calendar about what to do before the next show. The day after the show, be sure to check your horse's feet and legs carefully for any bruises and cuts that might have swollen during the night. Run your hands up and down each leg and hoof, checking for heat and swelling. Check behind the pastern, just above the heel bulbs, for an elevated pulse.