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About to buy a horse trailer...ADVICE NEEDED

Off Course
#1

Hi everyone!

I’m about to buy a horse trailer and after looking and researching and seeing some in person, I feel pretty good about my decision… (I really like the 12ft Maverick stock trailer, it’s small, affordable brand new, and I am hoping it will work well for my beloved boy)

I woke up with a host of what-ifs and doubt on if I’m making the right choice.

Here is a little background:

I got my boy (he’s my heart horse for sure) in January.
He has only trailer about 3 times. To get him to me, it was a long distance haul of close to 900 miles. I had a roomy box stall for him, and he came off the trailer calm and relaxed. I heard he had a little bit of a rough time not wanting to get on the trailer but once on he was fine. He was trailered loose in the box stall.
He then trailered again to a barn I was at for a very short time. I helped load him, he got on after about 20 min of not wanting to get on, BO hard tied him in a slant load for the 20 minute ride. They unloaded him before I even got there and told me had broken out of/pulled out of his rope halter (which was easily slippery if pulled hard enough due to the soft stretchy nylon rope), and told me he had knocked out a screen on their window. Due to many reasons I’ll not get into here I left that facility and walked my boy to my house. The 5 mile walk was long and rather uneventful. I know he will be a perfect trail horse because nothing fazed him at all.

On talking to his previous owner, I was told he trailered fine in a stock type trailer.

Okay so fast forward to now, I’m buying a trailer. I really like the 12ft Maverick stock trailer. It is light, airy, and provides plenty of room and ventilation. I’d like to load him and use it like a box stall. He is a WIDE and chonky boi. And to be honest all the slant loads I looked at make ME feel claustrophobic. They look tiny and I just don’t see him being happy in anything but a box stall type situation. (Am I anthropomorphizing this situation?? Be honest)

Is it okay to use these trailers like a box stall? It is a 6x12 ft trailer, and it looks like he would fit just fine loose. I’m not a fan of hard tying either, as the experience he had in the slant load of the BO I think scared him a little bit.

I’d just like some opinions, anecdotal experiences, thoughts, advice…anything you got.

My boy is a calm easy going type, not hyper or crazy, but when he wants to be, can be stubborn. I obviously want what is safest and best for us.

Thank you for reading!

#2

My main bit of advice would be, before you even get a trailer, get in touch with horsemanship groundwork type trainer and review basic loading and unloading skills for you and your horse in several different trailer types if possible.

Trailer anxiety can be exacerbated by a bad fit trailer, but a horse that is truly settled to trailering won’t go off trailering from one experience. And not having been present for the unloading with the slipped halter, and knowing that barn was unsatisfactory overall, I wouldn’t put too much credence in the idea he is “ruined for life” because he slipped out of his rope halter.

First, you do not tie a horse in a rope halter especially not in a trailer. Second, a rope halter does not break, so I expect it was tied too loosely and he slipped out, since the knots will work looser and looser with pressure. Third, do you even know what happened? My guess is they left him tied up, opened the trailer, and he started to self unload and slipped out of the halter. You never ever have the horse tied and the back of the trailer open, period.

In other words, you are brand new to trailering and have had exposure to bad horsemanship here. Your horse has had minimal exposure to trailering, and is in general calm on the ground. Don’t mess this up by trying to go solo or making up reasons why he can or can’t go in this or that style rig. Get some training (maybe a pro hauler will do this for you) and make sure you understand how you load, how you school to load, and how various trailers work and the safety protocol.

Money well spent. I didn’t even think of buying my own truck and trailer until I had helped my own coach/mentor trailer multiple times, including long distance trips. My own horse was good to load, and I learned how to load and unload, and the safety protocol.

6 Likes
#3

I agree with Scribbler - make sure whatever trailer you get, you are able to learn to load your horse onto it safely and calmly.

In regards to your other ask about hauling in a slant as a box stall… I have a small two horse slant load that I keep the divider open since I only really ever haul my horse single. He loads into it, I tie him, and he stands but he has the entire space of the trailer. He likes it that way and it’s much more inviting as it’s open. He’s also just a good boy though, so he just stands there. I had a friend who would use my trailer and use it as a loose box stall - I never liked hauling like that because there was just too much movement for a bumper pull for my taste/comfort while hauling. Goosenecks are better for feeling less movement, but alas, I have a bumper pull.

I did have a previous mare who sounds like your horse. I did a lot of ground work with a trainer with her, and then did the self-loading training myself using those groundwork skills. She learned quickly and easily that the trailer meant rest and balking meant work, and she self loaded and stood like a pro after a few sessions of training. Then, I just would load her up then take her off so she never knew or cared if we were just “practicing” or actually going somewhere.

I highly recommend (if you like that trailer and end up getting it) to just work with a trainer to get your horse to the point where he self loads and stands. It is possible. I do like using mine as more of a box stall type, but I do tie my gelding while he’s in there.

#4

Is the trailer you are considering buying a bumper pull? I know many people do it, but I really do not like hauling animals loose in a bumper pull. Even with a hefty 3/4 ton truck, I don’t like how I feel the trailer sway if the horse starts moving a lot. Maybe this is less of a problem with a WD hitch.

I have no regrets buying my stock trailer. I use it like a box 95% of the time, but I do always tie the horses. Another thing with stock trailers is to make sure the height is appropriate, which I’m sure you already know, but is worth repeating. A 6.5’ height is standard in many brands, which can be too low for larger horses to use safely.

The good thing about having your own trailer is that you have the freedom to school your horse to load as much as necessary.

#5

I have a 16 ft stock trailer. My 2 haul very comfortably in the front portion. I wouldn’t leave him loose but rather tie him to the side ( a tie ring will be there) and he can position himself the way he wants.

My 2 always stand with their heads facing the back of the trailer looking out at the road .

1 Like
#6

I have a 16’ stock trailer, as well as a 3 horse slant load. I use the slant load for long hauls as I feel my horses are safer on it due to the slants holding them in place.

That being said, on the occasion I have to haul a horse that might be questionable with any part of the hauling process, I use the stock trailer. It is a step up with a full rear swing gate that makes loading very easy, and I have never had a horse refuse to get on it. The interior is wide open and roomy, and I can close a horse into what is basically a 7’ X 8’ box stall. I do, however, tie their head on the driver’s side.

I would never be without the stock trailer if at all possible. It may be our most versatile piece of equipment on the farm.

1 Like
#7

When I bought my trailer, I thought letting them loose in the back was “ideal.” Let them find their best position, etc. Then I saw a video of how a horse used dividers to help balance in a straight load and realized that made for an easier ride for them – they can lean instead of always having to balance.

So, my two cents that dividers are actually comfortable!

1 Like
#8

I like stock trailers. Similar to a previous poster, our ranch horses loaded 5 or 6 together in the stock trailer with the center divider locked out of the way ended up all facing backwards by the time we reached our destination.

When I purchased a new trailer for my new, taller than the average QH hanoverian, I bought a rear-facing two-horse Hawk with plenty of space in it. Horses haul like champs in it. I’d have loved a stock,but few are made tall enough for my boy – or at least back then there weren’t extra tall choices…

#9

Agree with everything Scribbler said.

I’d just like to add that I used to haul my gelding in my 2h BP stock trailer without the divider. I would have him self-load, then I’d shut the door, and go around front to tie his head before hauling him. I’d untie him when we arrived, whereupon he’d meet me at the back door so I could attach his lead rope and then open the door. I wouldn’t haul loose for the reasons stated above.

I thought I was doing my guy a favor, allowing him to walk off frontways (he’s older and it seemed to me backing off the trailer was hard for him). I’d also always read that horses do better in open stock type trailers.

Apparently my horse has not read the same articles.:rolleyes:

I also have a slant-load LQ trailer. I don’t use it during our summers because it’s just too hot. I’ts only a two-horse, so the stalls are small, and it’s completely enclosed. But guess which trailer Solano prefers? Go figure. Maybe it rides smoother because it’s bigger and a gooseneck. Or maybe he really does like having something to lean against while he rides. Anyway, I put the divider back in his stock trailer and he actually seems to like it better.

#10

Another :encouragement: for @Scribbler 's excellent advice.
Before jumping to buy a trailer you think will solve your loading problem, better to get some experience both with different types of trailers & more importantly, with the process of loading & unloading a variety of horses besides your own.
Is there anyone - maybe someone you would like to trailride with - who might be willing to help you learn these skills?

I have owned:
2H BP straightload w/ramp
2H GN slantload w/LQ, fixed rear tack & 1/2 ramp
2H GN slantload stepup
16’ stock w/center gate, BP, stepup

As I get older, climbing in & out of the truck bed to hitch a GN was becoming a royal PITA < really PITKnees :frowning:

Last one is my current trailer & the one that suits my needs best.

I do not like ramps.
IME, the hydraulics do not make lifting the damn thing that much easier.

I prefer a stepup as when a horse loads, they naturally lower their head, less chance of bonking themselves on the poll.

If I couldn’t have a stock, I’d take straight over slant.
I have owned a couple 17H+, & even the roomiest slant space was a tight fit.
If I was hauling just the Big Guy, I’d tie back the slant divider, giving them maximum space.
If I had to haul 2, largest horse just fit in the back slot.

I always tie them on driver’s side. Loose enough so they can at least partly lower their heads to clear airways.
In a slant, this means facing forward.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹Most often I am hauling my mini & his cart.
Cart goes in front, center gate closed, mini in the back. Giving him a huge boxstall space for his 34" self.
If I am hauling my 16H horse alone, he goes in the front, center gate closed.
Both are tied loosely on driver’s side.
If I had to add my 3rd - 13H Hackney Pony - horse in front, gate shut, pony & mini in back.

#11

Hauling a horse loose is dangerous for the horse, the humans hauling, and potentially the public.

I don’t say this; Newton does. The First Law: A body at rest tends to remain at rest and a body in motion tends to remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.

So you’re cruising along and a conservative, lawful 60 mph and some moron texting on their cell phone pulls in front of you. You hit the brakes. The trailer slows dramatically; the horse doesn’t. It hits the front wall at less than 60 mph but way more than zero. This will not be a positive experience for either horse or trailer.

I prefer the slant load as the horse can use the structure of the trailer to balance themselves, particularly against sudden motions like swerves, potholes, and in-attentive drivers. I’ve often had loose horses choose to ride backwards. Some folks say this is a good reason to use a reverse slant load. If you have stout center divider it may make the whole issue a “wash.” It also means that the horse will still move faster than the decelerating trailer but will have very little distance to travel. You wont have 1000 pounds of horse building up a bunch of kinetic energy.

Yes, teach loading. The secret to loading is to train the horse to walk with you ANYWHERE you decide to walk. If want to walk through a forest of “pool noodles” your horse should go with you. Ditto into a dark trailer. Or anywhere else. This takes TIME. And a quiet but firm hand. Firm in the sense that you communicate to the horse via your body language, speech, etc. that you’re going there and the horse is, too. Start small and work up to it. It might take a month or two to build the horse’s confidence in YOU (especially if some “ham fist” has been working with the horse).

Oh, and remember that ALL horses were perfect all the time for the previous owner!!! :slight_smile:

Good luck in your selection.

G.

1 Like
#12

I agree with Scribbler’s post with one exception - a properly educated horse can be tied in a rope halter anywhere, including a trailer, and be perfectly fine. The key is the “properly trained” part - the horse MUST understand that at any pressure on his face can be released by him giving in to that pressure. I’ve had a group of dogs run right under a horse, have him set back and release himself because he knew he was not to pull. He danced around, for sure, but on a totally slack tie. Tying a horse in something that breaks is teaching him that he can release himself if he pulls hard enough - you are quite literally teaching a horse to break free.

That said - agreed, loose trailering is really only appropriate for wild/untamed horses. It’s what you do when you need to move some colts from point A to point B but don’t have them broke in the halter yet. It’s not ideal, for all the reasons of physics that Guilherme mentioned. Trailering is just like anything else we do with the horse - we need to teach him how to be confined in a space and how he can safely “release” himself from pressure he might feel.

#13

i have a 2 horse straight haul bumper pull (a second hand “Trail-et”) with a front dressing room, and chest and butt bars, rather than mangers, with human escape doors on both sides. And a ramp. Ramp/step up I was ambivalent about, but everything else was non-negotiable in design. The ramp is a bit clunky but it turns out I can in fact shut it myself if I get the right heave-ho going.

The trailer feels bright and airy inside, and the horses I haul regularly have become good travellers. My own mare self loads. I send her on, do up the butt bar, and then go around and tie her up at the front.

The chest and butt bars keep the horse from slamming into the front wall, and they have the option of leaning against the sidewall if they want (no idea if they do).

I always tie horses in the trailer. Once my mare was shipped a short distance in a similar trailer, untied. She got her neck stuck under the chest bar (probably trying to eat hay off the ground rather than the net), and arrived at the barn dripping sweat and with nervous poop all down her legs, though no harm done. Since then I have decided I don’t trust her untied.

As far as horses should stand tied, I agree absolutely and teaching or confirming that is a big part of teaching a horse to load and ship well.

But it is also an important safety precaution to always untie the horse before opening up the back door/ramp/ butt bars.

If you forget, the horse might think it is being cued to unload (or you might actually cue it to unload), and pull on the halter (the shipping halter should always be leather) and snap the halter. If the halter is a cheap $25 thing the horse will go through it like butter and no harm done. If the halter is a $150 Walsh halter, the horse will take a little more force to snap the halter, and once the halter does snap, will go down the ramp with scary momentum and possibly slip (or, I’ve heard, somersault and injure itself badly). Yes, I speak from experience, but with no harm done to horse, fortunately.

So the point about not opening the butt bars until the horse is untied is a general safety check thing that I run myself, and verbalize aloud when I am trailering other people and horses.

Horses should never be “seriously” tied in rope halters/ cotton rope horsemanship lead lines. Just general tugging on this combo will (1) make the halter knot slip over time and the halter get looser and (2) make the knot so tight it’s impossible to undo easily or quickly. And tying with cotton rope lead lines: first, gentle tugging can easily undo the safety knot, and second, if you tie it to a “breakaway” bailing twine loop, the twine can get so embedded in the rope that you can’t undo the safety knot without cutting the twine.

When I load, I put on a rope halter and cotton line, with the leather halter over top. I load the horse using the rope halter, throw the lead rope over her back, do up the butt bar, then go around, take off the lead rope and fasten the trailer tie to the leather halter. In reverse to unload.

I am on my third summer of having a trailer, and 4th summer of having a pickup truck. I don’t think I’d even ridden passenger in a full size pickup truck before I bought one! I did trailer with my coach a lot for over 5 years (heavy duty jeep and special fibreglass BP straightload) including several road trips before I decided to get my own rig.

I say all this because it was all new to me when I got my rig, and I spent a lot of time thinking about safety protocol, how to load and unload, and also learning how to back up and park the thing. So far I have logged a far amount of safe miles, freeway, country roads, suburban sidestreets, and the horses I haul regularly have become happy to travel with me. So I feel qualified to speak as a neophyte trailer driver that has learned a lot in the last 3 years.

One thing stock trucks usually lack is a dedicated dressing room/tack room. For me this was necessary as you do end up with a fair amount of gear if you take two horses to a show, a clinic, camping, or even on a trail ride. And it is very useful to keep duplicates of gear in the trailer (longe whip, first aid kit, extra leather halters, leads, brushes, towels, etc etc).

#14

My vet suggested Not tying horses in the trailer. If you get in a minor accident, the horses can end up with head and neck trauma. I haul my horses loose, whenever possible. My pony always gets tied- he tries to turn in the slant load, even though there isn’t enough room to turn around…He’s sort of an airhead - the others are more sensible. My trailer divider makes it impossible to tie a horse- not without walking outside, standing on the fender, and tying from the outside. It’s totally a pain. I lead one in, unclip the leadrope, shut the divider, and then repeat for the next horse. If I’m only hauling one horse, i give her a box stall.

But my horses are all good loaders.

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