With Cavalia - Total Equine Veterinary Associates

Horse Show Times
Volume 5
On The Road (and In The Air)
With Cavalia
A Travel Diary for Taking 67 Horses Coast to Coast
By Jay Joyce, DVM
6:00 am: Where is everyone? The
horses were late coming from the
National Harbor in DC. I was
standing alone in a giant parking lot
next to the runway. I had horrible
feelings that I was in the wrong
place at the wrong time. But they
finally arrived in seven trailers
contracted from Brook Ledge Horse
Transport.
ting
Travel Fact: Seda
a horse with
Acepromazine at
ground level can
at
have lethal effects
en
altitude . The sudd
ascent from ground
d
level to a pressurize
e
8,000 feet can caus
n
a horse to fall dow
or even die , as the
e
medication is mor
potent at higher
elevations.
The ramps of the pallets were very
steep. Often the horses leapt in,
rather than walking up. Just like
every barn, we had a couple that
wouldn’t load easily. We knew who
they were beforehand, as they were
always troublesome.
Issue 9
I’ve had the privilege of
providing veterinary care to the
horses of Cavalia, the traveling
French Canadian troupe, for the
last few years. Cavalia spent about
six weeks at the National Harbor in
Maryland this past fall, performing
its uniquely amazing show.
When it was time for Cavalia to
move to its next venue, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, I was
asked to join them during the transit.
My veterinary task seemed simple
-- keep all the horses healthy, safe,
and uninjured during the 23-hour
journey. Little did I know what
logistical challenges an operation of
such magnitude would be!
Cavalia decided that it would be
less stressful on the 67 horses, and
cost effective, to fly them to their
next location in Vancouver rather
than to haul them in horse vans.
I was asked to escort the
horses from the beginning of their
long day’s journey until they were
bedded down in Canada. I eagerly
accepted and packed a bag of
emergency medicines and supplies,
completed all the necessary travel
paperwork, and met the horses at
Dulles Airport.
No TSA, no bag search, no
security, no problem. I had been
pre-approved for flight deck
access and walked right onto
the runway to meet my horses.
Controlled medications, scalpel
blades, needles...with the proper
identification and authorization, the
airport was mine for a day.
After heavy rains the night
before, all the pallets were soaked
8:30 am: We circled the trailers and positioned the pallets in a manner that created a small paddock so if one of the
horses escaped, it would be trapped and not run across the airport. Imagine the chaos if a horse escaped and ran
across Dulles Airport!!!
9:30 am: Here we are moving the pallets. We occasionally
needed to remind the helpful flight deck personnel that
there were horses aboard and not luggage -- no sudden
start, stops, or jerks. And definitely no dropping them.
24
Travel Fact: Colic
and
dehydration were
big concerns.
A full-sized horse
requires
1 liter of water pe
r hour for
normal resting bodi
ly functions.
Stress, sweating, ex
ercise ,
transport, and incr
eased
respiratory rate in
crease water
requirements even
more .
“Hey, where does this one go?”
Every horse had an assigned pallet
position and pallet mates. Travel
companions were usually horses
that performed together in the show
and got along well. Stallions and
geldings were grouped with friends
and work mates, not just by their
gender.
Volume 5
Horse Show Times
Issue 9
There was nothing fancy on this plane. It served one purpose -- moving
cargo. It had an intricate flooring system that allows for complete movement
of the pallets in any manner. As the cargo bay filled with horse pallets, there
was no extra room. See how tightly the 23 pallets of horses fit.
12:00 noon: The massive 747 jet had two levels of open space and four seats
for passengers in the bubble on top. Besides the two pilots, only me, the
Cavalia horse manager (Nic), and a crewman flew with the horses. The entire
loading process took about five hours.
and held pooled water. It took an
hour or so of hurried mopping and
scooping out water before heavy
bedding with shavings could be
done. Each pallet contained three
horses.
11:30 am: I fill water buckets
-- 67 of them. Everyone works. No
exceptions. Throughout the day,
I would fill the buckets four more
times, as each horse was offered
water multiple times throughout
the journey. Water. Water. Water.
An Eagle Scout, I was prepared.
We brought lots of extra water.
My worst fear was an emergency
landing in the remote Midwest, and
not having extra food and water
available.
Elevator Up! One at a time,
the 23 pallets were loaded. And of
course, the elevator broke during
the operation and it took an hour for
a second elevator to arrive. I was so
worried for the horses stuck in their
pallets.
9:00 pm EST:
Whew!
Vancouver! We were about three
s
Travel Fact: Horse
standing on soggy
shavings for many
hours will develop
e
thrush and are mor
and
prone to bruising
abscesses.
Travel Fact: These
planes
can carry as many
as 122
horses. We had ex
tra space
for all of the supp
lies needed
in Vancouver to su
pport 67
horses, things like
blankets,
buckets, halters, le
ad ropes,
grooming supplies
, etc.
hours behind schedule. An advance
team from Cavalia flew out the day
before and met us at the airport
to assist with the off-load, and
trailering to a local farm about 30
minutes away. It was dark, raining
and about 35 degrees. I am tired,
hungry, wet, and cold. Fortunately,
the horses are happy and healthy
and unbothered.
We safely moved all 67 to
trailers for the short drive. It took
about three hours to pass Customs
and offload.
12:00 midnight EST: Finally
departing the airport, Nic and I
crawled into a super small rental car
to follow the caravan of nine horse
vans. But then...Car accident! We
were rear-ended by a person who
admitted to being distracted by all
the horse trailers. Geeez!
4:00 am EST: I arrived at my
hotel room. Soaked, hungry, cold,
exhausted, yet content. It was a
Continued on p. 43
Not much room to move down the sides of the aircraft.
Twice during the flight, we offered water to each horse.
That meant carrying a full bucket of water down the
length of the aircraft, crawling through the small
access door into the pallet, then moving across the
inside of the pallet stalls, in the dark, to the horses. We
did this continuously for the six-hour flight.
Because we were offloading to wet cement, we placed mats at the bottom of
the ramp for each pallet. Of course, most of the horses leapt from the pallet,
over the mat, on to the concrete. In the dark, on a loud runway, in the rain,
on cement, after being stalled for 10 hours, and in a strange place, these
horses had reasons to panic, but didn’t. We fretted, but the horses did well.
25
A Premier Full-Service Equine Hospital
Volume 5
Horse Show Times
Cavalia.........continued from p.25
very long, hard day. But in the
end, we moved 67 horses across the
country safely and without incident.
Later I learned that no horse
was sick after the transport and they
all were turned out the next day,
happily free, kicking up their feet.
Looking back, it was rather
remarkable that we could wake up
in Virginia, and move an entire herd
of horses from DC to Vanvouver, in
one day.
9:00 am Next Day: A quick
breakfast with the team. They went
to the barn, and I went back to the
airport to go home.
Issue 9
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EPONIA ANIMAL THERAPIES
specializing in:
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Equine
& Canine
• Arthroscopy • Lameness Exams • Laser
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• Orthopedic/Soft
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Therapy
Laparoscopy • Gastroscopy • Cardiology • Scintigraphy
Animal
Reiki
• Respiratory Evaluation • Digital
Infectious
Diseases
Radiography • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Diagnostic Ultrasound • Clinical Diagnostic
Laboratory Services
Elizabeth Bava
Now offering specialized treatment for
Eponia@Rocketmail.com
lameness
problems with our Regenerative
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Appointments: (703) 771-6800
(Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm)
Emergency after hours and weekends:
1-800-436-2911
Experience:
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703-624-7286
A Premier Full-Service
Equine Hospital
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www.equinemedicalcenter.net
One of three campuses operated by the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
OFFICE: (540) 477-3121
HOME: (540) 955-3574
WInCHEstEr: (540) 662-8280
tOll FrEE: 1-800-571-3121
CEll: (540) 303-1826
The Valley Fertilizer
Saves Time & Money
& Chemical Co.,
Inc.
State Inspections
We carry “MAG”
Eliminates the need to water to
control dust. Tightens footing.
Maintenance
Hitchs
Wiring
Post&
Office
Box 816
Brake
Controllers
Mt. Jackson, VA 22842
Trailer Parts & Repairs
Custom Work
(540) 477-3121
TireOFFICE:
Repairs
& Sales
HOME: (540) 955-3574
Welding
WInCHEstEr: (540) 662-8280
tOll FrEE:
1-800-571-3121
Parts
GreatRonnie
for Indoor
Huff Arenas!
sales
Custom Pasture
Management:
We walked the horses from the plane to the trailers.
We apply Lime, Fertilizer
& Weed Control.
The Valley Fertilizer
& Chemical Co., Inc.
sales
CEll: (540) 303-1826
Over 20 years experience
Located in Western
The Valley Fertilizer
Loudoun County
3:00 am EST:
Luxurious
accomodations for
the horses and lots
of open pastures. It
took us about three
hours to get all the
stalls prepared and
horses blanketed. Not
until every horse was
watered, fed, and
comfortable did we
dare to slow down.
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*We take Soil Samples*
Ronnie
540-477-3121
& Chemical Co.,
Inc.
39150 Irene Rd
1-800-571-3121
Hamilton Va, 20158
P.O. Box 816
Huff
Mt.Ronnie
Jackson,
VA 22642
sales
Post Office Box 816
540-338-2123
Mt. Jackson, VA 22842
Ronnie
sales
OFFICE: (540) 477-3121
HOME: (540) 955-3574
Valentine’s
Day
WInCHEstEr: (540) 662-8280
tOll
FrEE: 1-800-571-3121
Party
CEll: (540) 303-1826
February 13, 6-8 pm
The Valley Fertilizer
Ladiesnightattheshopwithfriends
& Chemical Co., Inc.
Wine,chocolate,chatting-lovetoseeyou!
•
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703-759-3500
Ronnie Huff
sales
Cover Photo:
“Aisle, middle, or window
stall?” Cavalia horses travel
in three-horse pallets as they
fly from Washington D.C.
to Vancouver, British
Columbia.
CONGRATULATIONS!
to Sunset Farm
For an Outstanding
2013 Show Season!
Hg
Te
Ca
Co
K
W
Se
S
Cd
Mn
Mg
Na
F
Mo
Fe
P
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Ronnie
sales
Mt. Jackson, VA 22842
OFFICE: (540) 477-3121
HOME: (540) 955-3574
WInCHEstEr: (540) 662-8280
tOll FrEE: 1-800-571-3121
CEll: (540) 303-1826
The Sunset Ponies are All
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Quality Equine Nutrition
Cu
Al
I
Zn
www.thesaddleryinc.com
Post Office Box 816
Ph
Photos courtesy: Jay Joyce, DVM
The Valley Fertilizer
Join the Champions!
& Chemical Co., Inc.
4292 Belvoir Road, Marshall, VA
540-253-9987
VaEquineResearch.com
Ronnie Huff
sales
Carly Williams and Sunset’s Sleepin’ In
Champion in Sm/Med Green Ponies at
HITS Culpeper & 11th in the Nation!
Post Office Box 816
Mt. Jackson, VA 22842
43
Ronnie
sales