When horses are to be taken to a distant area, the train is considered to be the most effective mode of transportation. In Pakistan trains have special boxes or wagons reserved for horses. They can accommodate three to five horses and contain separate feeding and watering devices for each animal. There is a layer of bedding material on the floor for the animals' comfort.
The horse, wearing a head collar, should be led into the wagon from a platform. If the horse is overly excited, wait until it calms down, do not try to drag it. The horse can be tied to a ring attached to the manger. Talk to the horse and pet it. When the horse is tied, close the door or snap a chain across it quietly. Care must be taken with yearlings that have never been on a train. They can be a problem unless they have been handled constantly. If they have not yet learned to accept discipline readily, they can do a lot of damage. When it is time to release the horse, make sure that it has been untied before opening the door to the wagon. Unsnap the chain or open the door, walk away and let the horse come out at will.
It is best to start getting a horse used to a truck or trailer early in life and especially before a journey is planned. If a mare is an easy loader, the foal can be allowed to follow her on and off the vehicle, and young animals may be fed in and around it. Never allow the horse to come off the trailer or truck as soon as the ramp is down. Make it a habit to insist that the horse stand still for a few minutes. This will prevent it from rushing backwards to get off. This is a frequent cause of injury to horses and people, and can also damage equipment.
There are a number of useful techniques for loading difficult horses. The best method is to park the truck or trailer in an alleyway or up against a wall, so that there is no escape around one or both sides. One person should hold the head with the animal wearing a bridle. Place a new market loader, purchased or improvised, on the horse's quarters and have two reliable helpers each hold the handle of the loader. The two helpers should pull forward as evenly as possible and not give up. The person at the head should guide the animal in, but not pull too hard or the horse may be inclined to throw its head up. The pressure on the loins and buttocks appears to prevent the horse from both rearing and kicking, although it may produce a small buck on the first occasion it is used.
