Hauling horses for others

[Jim_s_friend]

Hi All,

I have hauled for people I know for years for very little if no money. I guess I am getting a bit tired of adding an expense to my self to go to shows by doing this “favor”. Usually it is at least 100 miles plus tolls for this favor. I know the people I haul for do not have a trailer and a rig because it is expensive. I maintain a rig and trailer because I feel it is important to be able to care for my horses 24/7 should they need vet care that requires hauling. It is expensive to do this, yet I find from what I have read it is very risky to accept money for hauling another person’s horse if there were to be a problem. So should I not do this anymore as it just adds a lot of cost to me? Then leave people stranded and not able to attend events? Is it really risky to take money?

[Scribbler]

You should talk to your insurance company about what you need to be insured to do this.

[OverandOnward]

You probably need to look into all the ramifications of hauling for others if you do it so frequently. Sounds like you could have some liability exposure if there is ever an accident - not sure about the details, though.

You should not only be compensated for their fair portion of the hauling expense, they should be contributing something over toward the maintenance on the trailer, license fee, etc. Trailers aren’t exactly free to keep in good working order.

Then leave people stranded and not able to attend events?

“Stranded”? They aren’t stranded. They chose not to have their own trailer transportation. Hauling to & from is a big part of showing for everyone who shows, unless they do only in-barn shows.

Why is it your responsibility to provide hauling for these friends - whether you do it free or paid? Do you expect someone will start hauling your horse to shows at no cost to you? Doesn’t sound like you do. Then why should your friends expect you to do that for them? The ones who have not volunteered to share the cost should be dropped from your A list of friends, because they are just taking advantage of you. Don’t worry about their reaction when they hear from you that from now on they will be sharing in the cost - if it’s negative, it will be easier not to have their horse riding along in your trailer any more.

[poltroon]

To occasionally take a friend’s horse somewhere that I’m going anyway is one thing; to haul explicitly for them is quite another. If you are taking money you do need insurance that covers you. But, it’s really fine to just say, “No thanks.” I mean, it sucks to have to hire a professional hauler but that’s what I did when I had no trailer. And it’s why I eventually just bought a trailer.

[DancingArabian]

You should talk to your insurance company.

Ultimately, you’re not under any obligation to provide rides, nevermind for free. People that are planning on attending shows should also budget for transportation. That’s not your responsibility.

[Mango20]

I’m kind of stuck in this situation right now after assuring a new Pony club member that rides could usually be found. It’s turning out to be all on me, and I’m tired of going out of my way, and having to leave behind another horse that my kid could ride in a second lesson. I keep mentioning them buying a trailer (they already have a truck that can pull a small one) but they keep passing the blame to the father, who thinks they don’t need one (but as far as I can tell has zero involvement in the whole horse thing).

[BeeHoney]

Realistically, you put yourself in a very bad position by hauling for others whether you charge money or not.

If you don’t charge money, you can still be left holding the bag if someone’s horse damages or makes a mess of your trailer. If that person’s horse get’s injured while hauling or you are in an accident where the horse gets injured, you could be held responsible for vet bills if the owner perceived that the accident was somehow your fault. Loading and unloading horses is a common situation in which people get injured and you are assuming at least some personal risk by transporting an unfamiliar horse. If you get in an accident or have a breakdown, that is one more horse that you have to worry about being responsible for. When you trailer for other people, there is also an element of chaos as your usual loading/unloading routine may be disrupted and an unfamiliar horse can behave unpredictably and those things can have safety repercussions.

If you charge money, there are some serious insurance implications. For example, regular car insurance does not include coverage for commercial hauling. This means that if you were in an accident, your insurance could say, sorry, we aren’t covering any damages to your vehicle or the damages/hospital bills of the other party. You also technically may need a CDL–something to check on. If you charge money, you also are clearly open to liability for anything that should happen to the horses in your care during the transportation process.

Also, if you add up what it costs you to own, maintain, insure, and fuel up your rig, and calculate out a per-trip or per-mile hauling cost, a number that fairly reimburses you for your time, inconvenience, AND the aforementioned expenses–it’s a pretty big number. In fact, it’s about what the commercial haulers charge.

Considering that there are many commercial haulers out there, and that the cost for commercial hauling is pretty much what it actually costs to provide the service, and the enormous responsibility/liability of transporting someone else’s valuable 1200 lb. animal, no one should ever feel guilty for refusing to trailer someone else’s horse.

[phoenixrises]

you technically need a DOT if you accept ANY money for hauling. Even if it just covers expense. Actually if you do things like rodeo where you’d haul other people’s horses where you expect you’d make $ you’d technically need a DOT.

So yeah. I NEVER haul anyone for anything and frankly I try not to haul people at all. Sounds selfish but I don’t want the liability or the fine.

[Heinz_57]

It is risky to take payment for hauling if you do not have the proper insurance and licensing to haul commercially. Depending on your state, this may require a special drivers license, special registration requirements through the DMV for your truck and trailer, and a much bigger and more expensive insurance policy.

We’ve had many threads on this before, but if I recall correctly (do not take this as gospel - consult your insurance company and the DMV if necessary!) the only way to haul someone’s horse without being considered a commercial shipper would be if they buy/chip in for fuel. So no, you probably can’t legally “charge” somebody above and beyond that.

I’m sorry you feel taken advantage of, but the onus is kind of on you to set the price. Clearly you’ve not been setting it high enough.

[TullyMars]

After a while people begin to take advantage of you! I know the story! I even had one lady hook up to my trailer and use it, because she thought that I would not mind! Ummmm…I DO mind. Because gave you a few rides does not mean that rig is there now at your disposal. This was an odd case for sure though. Big case of entitlement.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

Suggestion. They can pay for the gas, tolls, for the ride in your trailer. Then you are not making any money. They could even buy you lunch, since they are “using” your equipment.

That said, anyone can sue you for anything, so be careful who…

[TheHotSensitiveType]

OP it sure sounds like you feel taken advantage of and based on what you wrote… you are being taken advantage of. You are having to pay the tolls too?!? WTF?

So should I not do this anymore as it just adds a lot of cost to me? Are you getting anything out of it? A friend used to haul me around occasionally, but I always paid for gas and snacks and cleaned the trailer. One year I washed and vacuumed her truck as a thank you… I knew how lucky I was to be able to use her rig. It was also really fun to hang out with a friend!

Then leave people stranded and not able to attend events? They are choosing to be ‘stranded.’ They can enjoy their horses just fine without attending events, and if they really want to go, they can either pay a professional hauler or buy their own rig. It is not your job to make them happy. Rigs are not cheap, one of the reason I pay now when I want to go to a show/lesson… It is a lot cheaper than buying/maintaining!

Is it really risky to take money? Yes. IMHO you have too much to lose for the potential benefit. Your time isn’t exactly free either.

Best of luck OP! I am sorry you have had people take advantage of you…

[merrygoround]

Very quietly and politely explain that your insurance company will not cover you if you haul OP horse’s

And no, sorry, you are not comfortable allowing others to use your trailer.

[Lusoluv]

FYI: If someone “offers gas money”, buys you lunch or gives you ANYTHING in exchange for hauling…that is considered payment. Just like if you ride/train someone’s horse in exchange for discounted board, a tack item, or any type of ‘payment in kind’, you are still considered a paid professional (not an amateur) at competitions. Same goes for liability if disaster strikes.

[Foxglove]

Hi Jim’s Friend! You have clearly missed my ranting and raving about hauling friends and others down in Off Course --after beating the topic to death --pretty much COTH peeps came to the conclusion that if you WANT to take someone with you because YOU enjoy their company, then do so. Charge nothing. Otherwise, it isn’t worth the headache and no amount of money is going to make that better. I didn’t have a trailer as a kid (50 years ago) and thought when I get a trailer, I’m going to haul all those people who don’t have trailers --well --I have learned the hard way that isn’t as satisfying as one might think. People don’t love their trailers like I do (when you work hard to get something it means a lot more than if someone just hands it to you, duh!). People let their horses rub their heads on the paint and scratch it (“It’s just a trailer!”) they put their hay in the dressing room instead of the back of the truck (“What difference does it make?”) They leave their poop for you to clean out (Really?), no one has EVER offered to wash the trailer out at any time regardless of how many times I’ve hauled them, and (worst) expect me to load, unload horses–drive with their kids in my truck --and the final straw, blamed me when their (unwrapped) horse was injured getting out of my trailer when he fell off the ramp and scraped his leg (They said it was my fault for having a ramp). Sooooo --unless I really want the company, I do NOT haul for ANY ONE. OH, and FYI my husband keeps track of the horse expenses --to OWN a trailer and keep it insured and maintained on a yearly basis is $500-1000 (depending on how often you change tires and have brakes and bearings done). My feeling is if someone owns a horse, they can have a lot of fun with it WITHOUT a trailer --and if they can’t, then work an extra job (I did) and save for two years and buy a trailer.

[Magicboy]

Trailers can also be rented by the folks that are imposing on you. When I’m asked, I just say that my insurance doesn’t cover it so sorry, no can do.

[Bogie]

Don’t haul for $.

Don’t haul because you feel guilty.

No is a complete sentence.

When a friend of mine at the same barn and I were both hunting with the same club, we would alternate driving. That’s the only way I would do it and even then, I don’t particularly like trailering someone else’s horse. Too many things can go wrong.

[enjoytheride]

If other people hadn’t hauled me for the first ummm 10 years of horse ownership I wouldn’t have gone anywhere. Ever. Period. I didn’t board at any barns where there was a trainer who hauled to shows.

I am forever grateful to all of those people, I bought lunches, split gas, cleaned out trailers, fed horses while they were out of town.

I had horses that loaded well, and I was always waiting outside my barn horse in hand if they came from elsewhere to pick me up. I never ever expected someone to haul me.

Now I own my own trailer and the freedom is magnificent but it was years before I was able to do so.

Continue to haul for people as you wish, ask for gas money/toll/lunch and expect them to be on time, polite, and thankful.

[North_Dakota]

I used to not mind trailer people, but after a few not so good experiences with bad shippers (that were suppose to be good), people trying to take advantage of me, and leaving my trailer a mess(!) I don’t trailer horses for people anymore. It’s not worth the hassle. I’ve had people talk about wanting to go to this show or that clinic, that I think wanted me to offer to take them. I pretend like it went right over my head, and just say there are a few professional shippers in the area, you could contact them about hiring them for the day! Then change the conversation.

[Gestalt]

I generally only hauled my sisters horse or my best friends. I knew their horses and they were always on time and helped with cleaning, fuel, food, etc. A few times I hauled my neighbors horse so we could go on some trail rides, but the last time her horse kicked the inside and dented the hell out of it. She didn’t offer to fix it, so no more trailering.