2H trailers: Any benefit to removing partition?

[Lusoluv]

I have a 2H BP lightweight Euro trailer. My horse loads happily in the L stall. The slightly flexible partition doesn’t go all the way to the floor, so she can spread her legs to balance, etc.

Barn owner (not a horse owner) asked why I didn’t remove or tie off the partition to give her the whole trailer vs. single stall. My first answer:

1. The chest & butt bars rely on the divider for securing. I don’t think it’s safe to just tie the end of partition to the right and remove the butt bars and close the rear doors. I wouldn’t do this without getting a long, custom bar made. Would have also to do this in front if I removed the partition. Not sure how much that would be ???

2. My horse doesn’t fuss being in a single stall. I picture her with more room and moving her hind end side-to-side more, perhaps causing more motion of the trailer? Maybe not, but I don’t see giving her more room to swing her rear back and forth as a good thing. I certainly wouldn’t want to leave her untied since the compartment is not as wide as a stock-type trailer.

When I stated my reasons, the BO did what he normally does; shrugged his shoulders and ambled off…

Am I missing anything here?

[Simkie]

Your point #1 is all you need to say no. Just keep doin what you’re doin

I did have a horse that never traveled well in a single stall in any trailer. If you had a horse like that, it might be reasonable to figure out how to turn your trailer into a box on wheels, but for a horse that hauls fine? Why go to that effort?

[poltroon]

I think as long as the stall is roomy enough, it’s good to have them secured and to give them the bars to lean on. The butt bar is essential to keep the horse secured (not leaning on the door, which could break in transit) and the chest bar has the advantage of giving the horse something to lean against if you have unexpected braking.

It’s not like a regular stall where giving them room to move about is an advantage.

[JeanM]

In my case, with just one rather long-backed horse, she has enjoyed going from “Coach” to “First Class” by removal of the partition. I have a Brenderup Baron, and before they “left Dodge” and stopped doing business in the USA, I was able to order a single long butt bar. The chest bar was already trailer-width.

[GoodTimes]

My parents did some remodeling of their 2h BP so that it could also be used to transport a couple cows and motorcycles. The partition is now separate from the rear post, so you can leave the post in and attach the butt bars while swinging the back of the partition over.
The rear post and partition and both come out for transporting motorcycles.

[goodhors]

You gave good reasons, perhaps gave him something to think about too.

Sometimes you don’t need to change things “just because you can” or other folks have done so with their outfit. Horse is having no issues, so leave things alone.

[Guilherme]

A large, roomy stall in a barn is a Good Thing. In a vehicle moving at 65mph? Maybe not so much.

Remember Newton’s First Law of Motion: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. This we recognize as essentially Galileo’s concept of inertia, and this is often termed simply the “Law of Inertia”.

You horse is traveling at the same speed as the trailer. If you suddenly reduce the trailer speed via the braking system (or a solid object) the horse will continue to move at the prior speed until something stops it. With a partition and bars properly in place they will do the stopping before the horse has build up any momentum. Without them it will be wall of trailer. Maybe not so good for horse or trailer.

To paraphrase the Immortal Bugs Bunny: The Laws of Physics govern us all, whether or not we’ve ever studied Law or Physics.

G.

[Lusoluv]

Thanks everyone! You’ve put my mind back at ease

[2tempe]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;8767579]
A large, roomy stall in a barn is a Good Thing. In a vehicle moving at 65mph? Maybe not so much.

Remember Newton’s First Law of Motion: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. This we recognize as essentially Galileo’s concept of inertia, and this is often termed simply the “Law of Inertia”.

You horse is traveling at the same speed as the trailer. If you suddenly reduce the trailer speed via the braking system (or a solid object) the horse will continue to move at the prior speed until something stops it. With a partition and bars properly in place they will do the stopping before the horse has build up any momentum. Without them it will be wall of trailer. Maybe not so good for horse or trailer.

To paraphrase the Immortal Bugs Bunny: The Laws of Physics govern us all, whether or not we’ve ever studied Law or Physics.

G.[/QUOTE]

This makes me feel better. I’ve never felt right about too much moving room, then occasionally had a guilt twinge when seeing people w/horses in open stock type trailers.

[2tempe]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;8767579]
A large, roomy stall in a barn is a Good Thing. In a vehicle moving at 65mph? Maybe not so much.

Remember Newton’s First Law of Motion: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. This we recognize as essentially Galileo’s concept of inertia, and this is often termed simply the “Law of Inertia”.

You horse is traveling at the same speed as the trailer. If you suddenly reduce the trailer speed via the braking system (or a solid object) the horse will continue to move at the prior speed until something stops it. With a partition and bars properly in place they will do the stopping before the horse has build up any momentum. Without them it will be wall of trailer. Maybe not so good for horse or trailer.

To paraphrase the Immortal Bugs Bunny: The Laws of Physics govern us all, whether or not we’ve ever studied Law or Physics.

G.[/QUOTE]

This makes me feel better. I’ve never felt right about too much moving room, then occasionally had a guilt twinge when seeing people w/horses in open stock type trailers.

[Texarkana]

[QUOTE=2tempe;8767683]
This makes me feel better. I’ve never felt right about too much moving room, then occasionally had a guilt twinge when seeing people w/horses in open stock type trailers.[/QUOTE]

Conversely, a lot of horses load more willingly and trailer with less incident when riding in open stock type trailers. Some horses are claustrophobic and don’t like being confined so snugly, others may have had a negative experience with a malfunctioning or otherwise uncomfortable divider that inhibits their balance.

Although I totally agree that the OP has no reason pull out her divider given the situation.

[GoForAGallop]

A friend shared this video on Facebook the other day: https://www.facebook.com/chevalservices59/videos/1236741573037982/

I share it here NOT to start any sort of argument, but to simply say that what works for one horse will not work for another, and it’s important to find a setup that works for your particular beasty.

I have a very good hauler, loads onto anything in any position. I recently upgraded from a 2-horse straight to a 3-horse slant, and I pull the first divider out so that he has a double stall and leave him loose. Sometimes I find him with his head in the tight corner, eating hay, sometimes I open up the door to this: https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13178046_10156926534895215_7353914107066473445_n.jpg?oh=24c08fed43e986136281902382c0c7d6&oe=582AB46E He is always a good hauler, but comes off the trailer particularly calm and collected in this new setup.

I have a not-so-great hauler as well. (Good loader, bad hauler.) He HATED my straight-load. He, too, rides much better in this configuration, although I tie him at the top left to keep him out of trouble. Something about the butt bar in the straightload really bothered him when the ramp was down, he’s much happier turning and walking off the trailer, with the solid wall at his butt.

Doesn’t mean that I won’t ever buy a 2-horse straight load again, or that a slant is the only correct option. Just that it works nicely for one of my current guys, and REALLY nicely for the other, so it’s what we have for right now.

In short, if the current setup is working for your horse, great! No need to listen to anyone who wants to change it.