Yes and no - there is a tack storage up front but there is space between the where the chest bar is and the tack area starts (so not like a manager where the chest bar/ stop is where the tack goes). They can lower their heads and have space to move their legs up as much as the chest bar will allow.
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Definitely making sure whichever trailer is next that I can remove the divider/ all the innards! The balanced ride trailers are so beautiful but impossible to find used and unfortunately I’m not made of money (and pony doesn’t poop golden apples 
). I am looking at two used Equitreks (they ride backwards in those) but need to read up on them more. I really do love the Euro style (fiberglass roof so it’s cooler, the surge brakes are light years better than electric IMO, the suspensions are better, and they are light enough that tow vehicle options are pretty much endless) so maybe one of those will work out. I briefly considered a stock trailer so she has all the space but realized I’d be SOL if she’s worse without a divider.
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You really can’t do this without trying some stuff
I would not be selling your existing trailer just yet. It’s your ticket to being able to try other trailers, even if it’s just a short haul to where your friend with the monster slant can safely meet you.
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I must be underselling it - I cannot/ will not trailer her even a short distance away because she does not remain upright. There is a video in the other thread that shows what she does. She does it going 10mph and I have not found a way to make it safe for her in that trailer. She has fallen, gotten injured AND stuck in this trailer once before and it was the second most traumatizing thing ever, second only to my young horse’s death. I don’t know what other options there would be to try even if I could get her to a meeting place safely.
We took her out last weekend as a test and made it less than a half a mile before returning home for her safety. Thus, this thread. It’s a $hit position to be in, I know.
ETA I also have two interested parties in the trailer, one of which wants to look at it this weekend.
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I don’t know that shooting in the dark to the tune of 10-20k for a new trailer assists you or her at all.
If you’ve got the money and the patience to make that mistake (maybe multiple times!), then carry on!
Edit: what if she does it in every trailer, and you just sold a trailer you like for no reason??
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Is this the video you want people to watch?
On the topic of stock combo trailers, I have a three horse stock combo slant load w dressing room (bumper pull). Every divider is removable. I use mine exclusively as a two horse trailer by removing one of the dividers. I don’t know if such a set up would help your horse but wanted to throw it out that the dividers are usually easy to remove in the stock combos.
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That is the video I was referencing, yes. I don’t particularly care if people watch it or not. What I “want” is to get answers to the questions in the OP vs rehashing that same thread in a new place.
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Thank you!
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Then what is the other option?
Take the risk on hauling her somewhere where you can meet your friend, in your existing trailer. Go slow, obviously.
A new trailer may pose the exact same risk to your horse, and you’re selling a trailer you like and want to keep. If a new trailer (that you don’t like as much) has the same problem, you took a loss for nothing.
If you live in suburbia, there’s a walmart/target/meijer [large parking lot] somewhere nearby that you could meet your friend. If not a store, try a church parking lot.
What you’re doing is throwing stuff at a wall and hoping something sticks. You’re selling a trailer you like (and that don’t come on the market very often, because everyone likes them), for [right now] no reason.
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a balance problem may be solved by allowing the horse to be transported backwards
if allowed, when horses are in open type trailers they will by themselves end up facing backwards
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One reason is that open trailer tend to have closed fronts.
To see horses have too turn around and ride backwards.
When we haul horses free in stock trailers thru pastures, where is rough, our horses learn is best to ride standing over the axles and facing forward at a bit of a slant to the left, all of them do.
Standing over the axles puts them back enough we think that they can see well around them and don’t have to turn around to see better.
In Europe we used to haul in a real box, some horses facing back and others forward, tied to each other and the sides, no partitions.
All of them, placed either way, seemed to haul fine?
What horses really seem to prefer is goosenecks, they do ride best in them, but not every driver’s situation requires a GN, depends on their hauling and vehicle needs what is best to pull trailers.
I think we need more specific studies to determine how and why horses ride best and under which trailers and conditions.
The decades old Australian study that determined they rode better backwards may not be relevant any more twith today’s trailer and hauling needs.
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This was my thought too.
I would hate for you to sell this trailer and find whatever you bought had the same problem.
I asked about the video because I watched that video and though your mare does seem to use the walls to balance I did not find her actions to be totally scary.
This is the time to call in favors.
Call up your friends and ask for them to ask their friends with different types of trailers.
Most horse people would be willing to give up a few hours to help you see if the problem is your trailer or just how your horse rides.
On the Gooseneck or bumper pull question - I have had both. I think if your bumper pull trailer pulls fine (is not swinging around back there), the ride in the trailer is dependent more on the brand/style/individual trailer than if it is gooseneck or bumper pull.
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One of the easiest ways to make a scrambler is with a narrow stall and/or a floor length divider so in the short term I’d get rid of that plastic extension stat!
And because trailers are really expensive right now, I’d try out that slant load even it you have to meet somewhere to do it. I would recommend a double stall or even all positions tied open so it’s a box stall.
The biggest advantage to a GN is it’s a lot safer to ship them in a full box set up, so in case she still scrambles in a bigger stall that may be your best bet.
If you do get a bumper pull, probably using an equalizer hitch will give more stability while hauling. Other things you can do is to get a custom butt bar built that is most of the width of the trailer, then swing the partition wider in the back when hauling so it’s not as free as a box, but there’s plenty of room for her to shift around. (On my old trailer I had a butt rope with a pool noodle for extra width/cushion). Another idea, albeit more expensive (but VERY useful) is to put the divider on a sliding track. Mine has this (it’s a driving thing) and I have 2 sets of butt bars. One set splits the trailer 50/50 the other is 65/35. My guy is still tied, but he can move around quite a bit in his semi box. Here’s a pic, although it made me laugh, it was from the first time he was in it and clearly he was confused about the extra room. These days he stands in the middle!!
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This is very cool. Do you have a 4 Star??? I think I want that and I’m wondering how to add it…or if it’s even possible after the trailer is built.
You’d also have to mess about with a compressor and air lines. The better ride comes about with the gooseneck because it is hitched(weight carried) to the tow vehicle in front of the rear axle. You are NEVER going to have a comparable ride with a bumper pull because it swings about behind the axle.
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Can you call a local hauler, with a stock trailer or whatever confirmation you want to try, and pay for a short ride? You may think this is expensive but it’s one way to test the trailer confirmation before you buy. I love my B’rup, too.
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It’s a trailers USA. He closed the business a few years ago, but they were mostly custom trailers, 4 star quality but a lot of extras for the price.
It can probably be done after market but it wouldn’t be easy. But I suspect 4 Star has done it before for some driving clients if you go the build on demand route. If they haven’t, I believe Shadow has.
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It’s genius…I’ve never seen it before and would never have thought of it on my own.
