Everything you need to know
before you book.

Yes — we’re open and booking now. We’re a brand-new, owner-operated outfit with our truck, trailer, insurance, and USDOT #9630252 all in place. Indiana is our home base and we’re hauling here today; our interstate service (Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Illinois) starts the moment our operating authority is active, which is in the works. Submit a quote request and we’ll lock in your date.

Just request a quote — you can do it any time. We’ll confirm whether your preferred date works and get you a clear price. If we can’t do your date, we’ll tell you straight and won’t leave you guessing.

Our first weeks of hauling fill up first. Early customers get priority scheduling, our full attention, and the same careful handling every haul gets — we’re intentionally starting small.

A Shared Haul is one trip where nearby clients’ horses ride together in our three-horse trailer — up to three at once — because their pickups and drop-offs are along the same route on the same day. Each owner pays their own base fee plus their own loaded miles at a discounted rate.

About 20% off the mileage rate, which works out to roughly 15–20% off your total trip depending on distance. Longer trips save more in dollars because more of the total is mileage. Request a quote and we’ll give you your specific number.

We’ll quote you a private haul at our standard rate. You’re not obligated to accept it. We keep looking right up to the latest match date you give us — after that, we close the request and move on.

No. Each owner signs their own agreement with us and pays us directly. You and the other client never transact. We coordinate everything.

Mares with a foal at side, stallions traveling without a behavior-compatible companion, horses on stall rest or in active rehab, and any horse showing respiratory symptoms in the last 14 days. Those go on a Specialty Haul instead.

If cancellation happens less than 48 hours before pickup, you have three choices: (a) keep the trip at the private rate, (b) reschedule the shared haul at no penalty, or (c) cancel and get a full refund of any deposit paid.

Stall dividers stay in place, so the horses don’t physically contact each other. The trailer is cleaned and disinfected between every haul (not just shared). We verify Coggins and health certs before either horse loads and refuse bookings from properties with active disease events.

For local and regional hauls, 48–72 hours notice is ideal. For race day hauls, at least a week in advance is strongly preferred — timing coordination takes more planning. For specialty hauls involving vet coordination, more lead time is better. Same-day requests are sometimes possible — reach out and ask, and we’ll give you an honest answer.

Fill out the quote request form. We respond within 24 hours with pricing. Once you accept, we confirm the booking and send a service agreement. We work by appointment only — no walk-ups.

Sometimes. It depends on our schedule. For genuine emergencies, email rdheartlandhauling@gmail.com directly rather than the quote form — we check email more frequently than the form queue. We’ll do what we can.

We understand plans change, especially around animals. Our cancellation policy is outlined in the service agreement you receive at booking. The short version: more notice is always better. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice on a confirmed haul may be subject to a cancellation fee to cover the reserved time slot. We’ll work with you if something unexpected comes up.

Simple: your whole trip is billed at one per-mile rate based on its distance zone — the longer the trip, the lower the rate per mile. Short local runs are one flat price. Each extra horse on the same trip adds a flat $50, no matter the distance. Special handling and race-day service are quoted up front. Request a quote and we’ll respond within 24 hours with one clear number and no surprises — the number we say is the number you pay.

We accept cash, check, Cash App, Venmo, credit or debit card, and wire/ACH transfer. Card payments may include a small processing surcharge.

We typically ask for a 20% deposit to confirm your booking, with the balance due within 14 days of delivery. For repeat customers and by mutual agreement, we’re happy to waive the deposit and let you pay in full at pickup — just talk to us when you book.

For private farm-to-farm hauls within Indiana, a Coggins isn’t legally required — but we strongly recommend a current one. It is required if your horse is headed to a sale, show, fairgrounds, auction, or any facility where horses mix. For interstate hauls to OH, KY, or MI: current Coggins (within 12 months) plus a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate, typically within 30 days). We verify required paperwork at pickup. See our full Coggins and health cert guide for details by state.

Health certificates require a vet visit and are typically issued within 24–48 hours of the appointment. Some vets can do same-day, others need notice. Book your vet appointment as soon as you confirm your haul date — don’t leave it until the day before.

When a Coggins is required for your haul — any interstate move, or any trip to a sale, show, fairgrounds, or facility where horses mix — yes, we physically verify it before loading. The test date, horse description, and owner information all need to match the animal we’re loading. For private farm-to-farm moves within Indiana where it isn’t legally required, we still recommend you have one.

Horse in a halter with lead rope, Coggins and health certificate (if required), any grain or supplements for the trip, and contact information for the person receiving the horse at the destination. If the horse needs medications during transit, have them labeled with instructions.

Yes. You get a confirmation when we load, updates on the road for longer hauls, and a heads-up call or text when we’re approximately 30 minutes from delivery. You won’t be left wondering where your horse is.

Diego has worked with difficult loaders and will work through the process calmly. We won’t force an unsafe situation. If a horse truly can’t be loaded safely, we’ll discuss options — which may include rescheduling with a vet or trainer involved for loading prep beforehand. Tell us about any loading history in the quote form so we come prepared.

We are putting full commercial coverage in place before our first commercial haul — commercial auto liability, motor-truck cargo with a live-animal endorsement, and care, custody & control (CCC) coverage. Proof of insurance will be available on request once policies are bound. We recommend high-value horses also carry their owner’s mortality and major-medical coverage.

Our USDOT number and MC (motor carrier) authority are currently pending. We are in the process of obtaining interstate operating authority. We will update this page and our site as soon as authority is granted.

Our CCC coverage applies while your horse is in our care. However, for high-value horses, your own equine mortality or major medical policy may have transport provisions worth reviewing. Confirm with your insurer that your coverage applies during transport. We recommend it as an additional layer of protection, not a substitute for ours.