1,604 horses (97%) arrived at the destination with no evidence of pain, lameness, or other injury/disease process. | Photo: iStock

While today’s planes, trains, and automobiles make long-distance horse transport easier than ever , it’s important to remember that transport-related stress and illness can put horses in a precarious—and even deadly—scenario. Researchers in Australia recently took a closer look at the health risks related to long-distance horse movement.

“Equine transportation is associated with a variety of serious health disorders causing economic and emotional loses,” said researcher Barbara Padalino, DVM, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science