Riding in cars with Minis

[west_mini]

I hope I don't regret asking this but I just don't know where else to ask so bear with me please.

: I was wondering how many (if anyone) rides their mini around in theit vehicle instead of a trailer. We currently just have 1 mini and 5 large horses. Our trailer is a 16 ft gooseneck which we pull with a dually. It is so impractical (and expensive gas wise) to use it to take Spirit anywhere so I thought maybe I could take him in the back of my SUV for vet visits and local shows. I would just like to do more with him but I am not ALLOWED to drive the truck or trailer which makes me rely on my husband (which I hate to do). So please be nice and let me know what you think. Thanks! Jodi

 

[whimsical]

When we first began I took mine in a car a few times. Mainly for those unexpected vet trips. The vet's office thought that was so funny to have a horse in the back seat of a car. We did it with the truck to by putting up the back seat of the extra cab. Our horses are pretty laid back though.

I have heard of others converting vans and such with inserts to keep the yucky stuff contained.

I am sure others will give you specifics.

 

[Sandy S.]

DEPENDING ON WHAT SIZE THEY ARE OF COURSE AND HOW WELL MANNERED. WE TAKE ZOEY, OUR LITTLE DWARF THAT IS 23" BUT WEIGHS NOW ABOUT 90 LBS AND TO HEAVY TO PICK UP IN THE BACK IN THE EXTENDED CAB OF OUR TRUCK. WE HAVE RAMPS THAT SHE WALKS UP INTO THE BACK. USE TO TAKE THEM TO THE VETS IN OUR VAN. SO I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM AS LONG AS THEY ARE WELL MANNERED AND DON'T GO CRAZY. AT THE VETS AND ANY PEOPLE AROUND ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY WHEN WE PULLED OUR 16 FOOT HORSE TRAILER AND THEN UNLOADED 1 MINI. THOUGHT THEY MUST HAVE REALLY BEEN A WILD ONE TO NEED THAT BIG OF A TRAILER.

WE USE RUBBER MATTING ON THE FLOOR THAT WE BOUGHT AT WALMART THAT IS FOR A TREADMILL. AND THEN WE BOUGHT TWO CHEAP PLASTIC LINED TABLE CLOTHS TO DRAPE OVER THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT AND THE FOLDED UP SEATS. SO FAR IT HAS WORKED FOR ANY ACCIDENTS. EXCEPT FOR THE POCKETS IN THE DOOR, SOMETIMES THEY GET FILLED.

 

[littlesteppers]

Like that??? :bgrin :bgrin

 

[west_mini]

Yes...that pic is exactly what I am talking about. My boy is very laid back so I don't think he would spook I guess the big probem would be getting him in and out. I'd have to come up with a ramp. I felt kinda stupid when we pulled Spirit to the fair to show him. Didn't even look like anything was in there....lol Now when I see a horse trailer that looks empty I wonder if there are a couple shortys in there :bgrin

 

[MiLo Minis]

To make a ramp use a wide board and screw narrow strips of wood across it at appropriate spacings - 6 to 12". At the high end put hooks on the underside to hook it over the edge of the vehicle so it can't slip off - I used ones that I found at the hardware store in the construction dept. I think they were meant for holding beams or wood together but they worked great.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

I don't use a ramp. Deacon jumps right up into the truck. I have a F150 with the rear seat removed and replaced with an outdoor carpet, two layers of heavy plastic tarp, and a carpet base. I bed it lightly with pellets and have four heavy towels to absorb "liquids". So far we've traveled about 500 miles like this. He poops not infrequently but mini poop is easy to clean on the side of a road with a straw mini-broom and a dustpan, into a 5 gallon bucket in the back. He's only peed once on the way back from the hospital, and the towels worked wonderfully, it didn't even get onto the first layer of carpet. Any stains wash out easily at the carwash with their carpet shampoo. I also tie him and face him "backwards" compared to normal trailering. I found that he is too personable and will annoy the driver dangerously if he's allowed to roam free. The first two pictures are him the FIRST time he jumped up, the last picture is him in his renovated Deacon-mobile.

PS: He's 38", and fits PERFECTLY with the front seats in normal positions. Tight enough to protect him from falling in a panic stop, but loose enough to let him shuffle and brace. He has about 24" or so back there, I really don't know. Maybe 8" more than his belly

Although he's gaining weight (the good kind) so I might have to scoot the seat up a notch next time...

 

[Bluerocket]

There is a lady named Margot who lives in PA who has a SUV/Van with a wooden stall in the back. It has a ramp. Nice setup. Perhaps she will post a picture for you. She does belong to the forum.

I have a small enclosed utility trailer 4' wide, 8' long, 4' tall (too short for me) that has been converted to haul minis. I CAN in a pinch haul 3 in there at one time - for a short distance. The trailer was not expensive and was easy to modify -- you can have a trailer place put in the bus windows with bars and a roof ventilator and a ramp if you want one. I recommend 2 axels if you can afford it - it is safer that way.

Picture a UHAUL trailer in your mind - kinda like that.

JJay

PS edited to add - forgot to mention it is small enough and light enough I could tow it with my Ford Escort station wagon. Its perfect to take 1 or 2 minis somewhere -- even to the vet in an emergency.

 

[west_mini]

Fantastic.....Thanks for the pics. Deacon looks very excited! The ramp idea i think will work great. Thanks so much for all the input. I think I can make this work! Then hopefully me, Tanner (daughter) and Spirit can burn up the highway and leave the unnecessary husband at home!!! :aktion033:

 

[susanne]

We transport 2 of our 3 minis (one at a time) in the back of our Ford Windstar. however, I would only take our colt this way in an absolute emergency, as he is not quite as laid back as the other two.

Keep in mind, though, that even a small mini becomes a dangerous, heavy flying object in an accident. We have a removable safety barrier behind the front seats just in case of the unthinkable.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Definately, some kind of safety screen is MANDATORY. That's why I love the way mine is set up; those seats are designed to take that kind of weight in an accident, as long as the flying object doesn't have time to accelerate (ie a mini van with no seats in it. The horse is looking out the tailgate, and goes flying forward, crushing the front seats). I HAVE done panic stops driving down I25 in Denver with Deacon in the back seat, and it was absolutely no problem whatsoever. Definately have some kind of restraint and a slant load/side load situation like Deacon travels in. First priority is keeping everyone else who's sharing the road safe. Next priority goes to keeping the human passengers safe in the case of an accident. Then make sure the horse stays safe. And since the horse is generally high up on the list of priorities, all three should be taken care of.

And remember, emergencies are NOT the time to disregard safety factors. In fact, an emergency run to the vet hospital should be MORE safe than a normal trip, since you will be rushing and have other things on your mind.

 

[BlackDraft]

As long as you have some sort of barrier (and don't mind the smell) I think it's okay for emergencies. You just want to be prepared in case of an accident... even a mild mannered horse will panic in an emergency...

Andrea

 

[lilhorseladie]

I use my minivan once a week to transport my little ones to the nursing home. I have the two back seats out and put a large box in with a door cut out. I recently purchased a pet steps two ramp for dogs that holds up to five hundred pounds. It folds in half and only weights eleven pounds. I have driven three hours with them in the back. I stop and remove any poop, I don't like the smell trapped in the car. I use linolium coverd with egg crate matress on the floor to sop up urine if need be. Mine know to stand still when I put them in, sometimes I haul two. I usually tie them to the seat brackets in the beginning. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

(and don't mind the smell)

Ya know, now that you mention it, I can't say I've noticed a smell. Maybe my truck is already ruined and smells ANYWAYS, but somehow I doubt I did that in three months I mean, I've gone back to put a bag of shavings in the back of the cab sometimes and came across a fecal ball or two, dried out by the heat of the sun, and I never noticed a smell. That's really odd I know, but I take "respectable" people around in my truck and they don't notice either

(unless they are just too polite...)

 

[Bess Kelly]

I had a mare transported by the seller from FL to VA in the rear cargo area of a Blazer ...... like others mentioned, plastic lined, with rubber mat for stability, etc.

I've also transported many times in a pick-up with a camper shell, mats, etc. for footing. A ramp is great but, you can back up to a dirt embankment, a loading dock, throw a couple tight bales of hay at the rear, etc. Used this transport so often that I actually built a ramp to back up to at home.

: We transported one in a limo once :lol: That got some attention!!

Of course, like a trailer, you need to put them in and do a couple practice runs for emotional comfort.

 

[Equuisize]

We used this shipping box to bring home, at different times, our little stallion

and then his wife. Her ride home was about 4 hours and she rode just fine.

It slides into the back of our Dodge Caravan and holds them secure.

It is padded on the top with carpet and their heads were tied off. The bottom was

sealed with silicone, so it didn't leak and we put shavings in the bottom.

We haven't used it in a long time but if we were to do it again, it would bolt thru the

floor and have a safety divider between the front and the rear of the van.

It's pretty darn convenient for hauling minis....

 

[Dona]

Here are some photos of Sandy P's setup in her minivan. She transported Baby Doll from our place in Ohio to Wisconsin in the back her her new Mini van. She had taken out the rear seat & built a solid/stationary two-horse stall in it's place. Just slid the side door open & walked up up a ramp. It was really cool.

:

 

[outlawridge]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with transporting minis inside a vehicle that has plenty of room for them and you have something in place which prevents them from coming forward. Just keep safety for you and the horse foremost in mind.

When we purchased our first mini, our stallion Romeo, he rode from New Jersey to Wisconsin inside our old Dodge Ram Charger with us. We took out the back seat and he had far more room then he would have had inside a transporter's trailer (unless he had a large box stall). We placed a wood and wire sturdy divider behind our front seat and placed construction grade plastic, an old carpet and shavings down for him. He could easily walk in a circle and had plenty of head room.

Our vehicles are designed for our comfort regarding suspension etc so I figured he would have even more support and comfort during the long trip then he would've have in a trailer, and I didn't have a trailer at that time. Plus I could keep an eye on him. I did cover the long side windows with freezer paper. Didn't want any semi's scaring him but still wanted the light. As it turns out that was unneccessary as Romeo thoroughly enjoyed the trip. In fact he became enthralled with watching all the people smiling and waving to him. He especially liked the people in a minivan behind us. So much that he whinnied to them rather loudly waking my napping husband who almost went through the roof he jumped so bad! The inside of that vehicle is all metal, no carpeting so you can imagine how loud that was!!

Even though this worked well for us, my plan is to get a minivan for short trips instead of hauling our trailer. My reasoning is the windows in the van would be placed higher. In the event a horse decides to kick for whatever reason, they most likely would not break any glass. In an SUV, I would construct something to prevent that as even the most mild mannered horse may surprise you.

 

[wendi leigh]

I highly recommend a minivan. My minis can hop right in and out of my Chevy Venture without needing any type of ramp. If you don't have the seats that fold away, the car is lower to the ground. I've pulled all the seats out, put down a tarp, and then cut heavy duty rubber dog crate mats to fit edge to edge. Used more mats as a barrier behind the front seats for extra padding, and put in a think layer of hay. I've taken a 31" mare and foal, unfortunately, up to the hospital and back two times now in the minivan and they do fine for the 2 hour drive. Hopefully, I'm bringing the foal home in the next few days so I'll take some pictures for you. I also have a 4 horse living quarters trailer, but it is just too big for doing drives around the neighborhood and I'm still getting used to driving it on the interstate with all those big trucks!

 

[susanne]

Whether or not you use a car, van or truck for regular transport, EVERYONE with a horse needs emergency transportation, and those without a trailer need a contingency plan. Your regular vehicle is great for minis, but be sure to take a trial run to be ready in case you need to make a quick decision.

An additional note on the safety barrier: considering Laura of Ten L's rollover accident, be sure your barrier would protect you in that scenario as well as collisions and/or emergency braking. What is safe more most instances may not contain them in a rollover. Ideally you would also have mesh, cattle panels, or something preventing them from kicking a window or being thrown against one in an accident.

Also, beware that even a small horse standing in the back alters the center of gravity in your vehicle, so keep this in mind when braking or turning.

In the near future we hope to purchase a full sized van and install a permanent safety barrier and foldeing or removable dividers so that we can take more than one and to provide them with more with which to brace themselves.

We're off for the first LB Beach Drive NW in Long Beach, and will be taking Mingus in our Windstar. I look forward to hearing and seeing him in back of us, and knowing that he'll have a smooth ride with climate control and his own stereo speakers!