A horse is a horse, of course, when on the road

Horses need food.

And water.

And room to stretch.

And a place to potty.

All the time.

So, as you can imagine, getting one across the continental United States can be something of a chore.

And if your horse is a competitor, like the 500-plus led into Wayne this week for the Wellpride American Eventing Championships, keeping it in tip-top shape is even more important while crossing state lines.

"These guys are athletes," says veterinarian Jon McCormick of Jerseyville, Ill., who is on duty at this weekend's championships. "They don't get pulled out once a year to do this. It's their job."

So, how do the professionals do it?

McCormick says some high-ranking competitors use specialized cargo vehicles -- like tour buses for horses -- that can cost more than $100,000.

Others get their own space on airlines that are specifically accommodating to equestrians, with onboard stalls for grooming and feeding.

These high-cost examples aside, bumper-trailers continue to be a popular form of hauling horses. Depending on their size, trailers usually can carry between one and eight horses.

And once they get here?

At Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, large tents are erected and segregated in stalls for the increased housing need.

The stalls typically measure 12 by 12 feet, McCormick says.

Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their horses, as well as feeding and caring for them.

Some travel in groups, often with designated responsibilities for each individual.

What do they eat?

Horses are creatures of habit, so owners often bring their own food -- usually a mix of corn, oats, grain and hay.

In some cases, they use supplements to boost energy and to bolster the horse's immunity and fend off common colds and flu bugs, known as "skipping fever," that can be brought about by climate changes.

"Every rider's got their own idea of what's good for their horse," McCormick says.

Horses typically eat twice a day -- sometimes three if they're taking part in a competition -- although they also need to graze constantly in order to keep their digestive systems functioning properly.

McCormick estimated that most competing horses eat between 10 and 20 pounds of food a day.