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Selecting the Right Horse TrailerBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 28, 2011
Car shoppers search for a comfortable ride and a vehicle that will perform its intended purpose best. Why should buying a horse trailer be any different? Searching for the right trailer can be frustrating but it is important to not stray from priorities.
“So many people choose the wrong trailers,” Tom Scheve writes in The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer. “The horse should always come first, the trailer second, and the tow vehicle third. You have to look at the horses you have and determine what kind of trailer will fit the horses comfortably.”
Safety and comfort are key concepts in transporting a horse. Horses must have room to move and adjust positions throughout a trip, especially over extended periods of time.
Scheve counsels, "The horse should have enough room to use his head and neck for balance and to lower his head to cough out dust and debris he may have inhaled in the trailer. He should also be able to spread his legs forward and backward to stand easily without having to lean or scramble to find his balance."
Other important factors to consider when selecting a trailer include size, lighting, and loading styles. Trailers range in size and shape, from one to eight or more stalls. Having only as much room as you need for the number of horses you will be hauling makes transportation more cost-effective and convenient.
Windows and lights allow horses to gain awareness of their surroundings. Ramps can help horses that have a problem with stepping up into a trailer or backing off. A ramp provides a solid route up into or out of the trailer, especially in high-floored trailers.
Considering the purpose of the trailer as well as the horse's safety and comfort will help in finding the perfect ride.
