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Re: [RC] Rest stops - Joe LongHmmm ... in 25 years traveling to rides in over 30 States I've only been told once that I couldn't unload my horses at a rest area (in Indiana). I've never been "chased" from a truck stop. I would make a rough estimate that I've trailered about 200,000 miles in that time. Whether to unload or not is a decision for each horseman to make. As for me, I believe in getting my horses off the trailer every four hours or so. It accomplishes several good things: they get to stretch their legs, they get a chance to urinate off the trailer, and they get to lower their heads and blow out crud from their airways. It is also a pleasant break for them, and helps make the long trailer ride less onerous (would you like to ride all day and never get out of the truck?). Yes, they can be watered in the trailer and sometimes that is necessary, but I prefer watering off the trailer. I believe all these benefits outweigh the slight risk in unloading a horse. Of course, they should be taught to unload and load well. I do prefer truck stops to rest areas, as we can refuel the truck and give the horses their break at the same stop. I consider the risk of unloading at a truck stop to be about as small as anything with horses can be. Think about this: how many horses have died at endurance rides over the last ten years? How many have died or even been seriously injured at a rest stop going to or from a ride? On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 11:57:02 -0400, "Eric Rueter" <Eric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Looks like my wife is going to have to re-think her position on un-loading at rest-stops :-(From the Tennessee Department of Transportation:Dear Eric: The pet walk areas are set up for a small animal and not livestock. Horses get spooked and can run off into the people or traffic or parking area more so than a dog. The damage to them or what they hit or hurt is far greater than what small animals do. Therefore we do not allow the loading and unloading of large animals or livestock while at rest areas which is owned and operated by TDOT. We have had several accidents that happen in the rest area parking lots and we try to keep safety first. THank you., Sue Melton Rest ARea Manager Eric Rueter Rueter Consulting, Inc. Eric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 865.988.4134(W) 865.599.3594(C) 865.986.5966(H) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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