Travel can be like any other experience we have, one that is positive and beneficial or one that produces health-threatening stressors and fatigue, depending on the choices we make. Although most horses seem to tolerate travel, it is a stress to some degree to all horses. Horses lose body weight and run the risk of respiratory disease during travel. Because of the risks, no matter how seasoned the showman, moving horses can be a stress for most horse owners, as well. When the horse or human is faced with a stress and copes with it successfully, he is better equipped to cope successfully again in the future.
Thoughtful preparation can help one cope with stress and avoid fatigue or an assault to health.
Long before the trips begin, you can help your horse get ready for a season on the road. This gentle circular massage with the finger tips can have a profound effect on your horse's behavior and his relationship to you. This technique is designed to stimulate circulation and relax muscles, but it also can enhance the communication and bonding between you and your horse. Using the finger tip circles to induce a state of deep relaxation in your horse on a daily basis will have a long-term positive effect on his health. In that deeply relaxed state, the body has an opportunity for repair.