Emergency Roadside Backup Plan

Plan Before There Is a Problem

Roadside emergencies are stressful because decisions have to happen quickly. The goal of this guide is to move as many decisions as possible into the planning stage: who to call, where documents are, what equipment is available, and where horses could go if the rig cannot continue.

Backup Options to Identify Before Departure

• Horse motels or equine accommodations along your route.
• Local boarding facilities near planned travel corridors.
• Trailer repair facilities and truck repair options.
• Large animal veterinary hospitals along the route.
• Commercial horse transport providers who could help if your rig cannot continue.

Separate Human Safety From Horse Safety

In a roadside emergency, human safety comes first: traffic, visibility, weather, fire risk, and injuries. Once people are safe, the next priority is keeping horses contained, calm, and protected while help is arranged.

Roadside Response Steps

• Assess traffic and move off the roadway if possible.
• Turn on hazard lights, put on a reflective vest, and set out warning triangles when it is safe.
• Keep horses in the trailer unless the trailer is unsafe, fire risk exists, emergency personnel direct otherwise, or secure containment is available.
• Contact roadside assistance, law enforcement, veterinary support, or your backup contacts as needed.
• Assess horse condition, monitor trailer temperature, and offer water only when it is safe to do so.

Human and Horse Safety Priorities

• Call 911 first when there are injuries, traffic danger, fire risk, or an unsafe roadside situation.
• Move people to safety before trying to manage horses or equipment.
• Delay departure, extend a layover, change routes, or seek shelter when continuing would increase risk.
• Wait for help if unloading would create a greater danger than staying contained.

Make Information Easy for Someone Else to Use

If you are injured or unavailable, another person may need to identify your horse, contact your veterinarian, find feeding instructions, or reach your backup stops. A printed emergency folder can make that possible when phone access is limited.

Use the travel folder from the Pre-Trip Checklist as the foundation, then keep a simple emergency envelope in the truck or trailer where another responsible person can find it quickly.

Worst-Case Scenario Envelope

• Horse identification, current photo, and markings.
• Emergency contacts and veterinary authorization.
• Insurance information and travel itinerary.
• Human medical information that emergency responders may need.

Use the Checklists as Emergency Modules

The printable sections focus on the two pieces most useful to keep in the truck or trailer: who to call and what emergency gear is packed.