COLUMN: On the Fence Line – Helping a friend: Transporting someone else’s horse

Horse owners are always willing to lend a hand. Whether it’s hauling a horse home from a clinic, helping after a vehicle breakdown or transporting a horse in an emergency, assisting a fellow horse owner is part of what makes the equine community so supportive. Before heading down the road, however, it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to ensure both the horse and trailer are ready for a safe trip.

Before transporting any horse:

 Inspect the trailer, hitch, tires, lights and safety chains.

 Check that dividers, doors and ramps are properly secured.

 Make sure the horse is safely loaded and has adequate room to balance.

 Carry emergency equipment and a charged cell phone.

 Drive smoothly, allowing extra time for stopping and turning.

 If you’re helping a friend, keep the arrangement incidental and non-commercial.

 Have a Manitoba Livestock Manifest in your vehicle – download from here: manitobahorsecouncil.ca/Recreation-RoadSafety.

A real-life scenario

Following a riding clinic, Erin offers to trailer a friend’s horse home after the friend’s truck won’t start. She’s simply helping out and receives no payment or other benefit. During the trip, a trailer divider that wasn’t fully secured comes loose, and the horse is injured.

The horse’s owner later alleges that the injury resulted from Erin’s negligence and seeks compensation for veterinary expenses and the horse’s reduced value. What began as a favour between friends quickly becomes a question of legal responsibility.

Member spotlight

Helping another horse owner is part of our equine community, but it can also carry responsibility. When a member is providing the incidental, non-commercial transport of a non-owned horse, the personal liability insurance included with a current Manitoba Horse Council membership may provide limited coverage, subject to the policy’s terms and conditions. If a claim is made, the insurer will investigate the circumstances and determine whether coverage applies.

This benefit is intended for occasional, personal assistance and is not a substitute for commercial horse transport insurance. Members who haul horses for payment or operate a horse-related business should ensure they have appropriate commercial coverage.

If an incident occurs, document the situation, gather witness information and report the claim promptly. Careful trailer maintenance, routine equipment inspections and thoughtful trip planning remain the best ways to protect both horses and the people who care for them.

Since 1974, the Manitoba Horse Council has been dedicated to supporting horse owners, riders and equestrian organizations across Manitoba. To learn more about membership, education and member benefits, visit www.manitobahorsecouncil.ca.