Hauling in stock trailer

[Mcl1]

I have my first trailering trip coming up with my 6 yr old TB. It will be a ~2 hour trip (one way) to a vet and back. His most recent trailer trip was when he was dropped off here about 8 months ago which was about a 6 hour trip with no issues in a slant load.

I have a 16 ft, 6 ft wide bumper pull stock trailer w/7 ft ceilings. It did not come with a divider, the previous owners made a divider to make a tack room in the front - I removed it but could put it back in if needed.

He loads and unloads from it without an issue - but I have seen him get a little worked up when practicing in it when he tries to turn around (which he can do) and feels claustrophobic.

I don’t hard tie him in general, apparently he had no issues before I got him but I think he was mostly, if not exclusively on crossties. He pulled back once when I first got him here (spooked, felt the pressure and panicked). I just wrap his lead rope and tug on the end when he tries to leave. He is generally an active, impatient horse, but he does settle down once he realizes he can’t go anywhere.

I am not surprised that he did fine in a slant load since he was closed in. But I am not sure the best way to go about hauling him in such an open trailer.

Currently, my trailer is wide open inside (see pic, note that we have removed the saddle racks and other brackets). My options are:

• Leave trailer open as it is now, leave him loose. - Leave it open, tie him.
• Reinstall tack room wall to give him a little more of a closed in area and tie him.
• Reinstall wall and leave him loose.

I do also have time to do a shorter practice trip or two with him. I’m not sure if having more room and freedom will make him more comfortable, or if he will settle down faster being more contained.

Also, and hopefully this is a ridiculous question - has anyone had a horse try to roll in the trailer? He is not the most…intelligent animal, and I swear he has a reflex to roll when he encounters “new” fun surfaces (fresh shavings, sand, etc.), and he has absolutely no concerns about rolling as close as possible to fences, walls, etc. I was planning on putting shavings in because the mats get slick but I am a little worried he might try to roll.

Here are the pictures of the trailer with and without the wall (featuring his much better behaved brother):

[Belmont]

Have you tried tying & hauling him facing backwards?

[hillary_again]

Put the wall back in. That escape door in the tack area is not secure: you don’t want your horse pushing on it and having it fly open.

Don’t tie your horse. Put him in, close the door, and let him be loose. He will position himself and be fine. Way too risky to tie.

Yes, your trailer is a little narrow, but they do find a way to turn around. Don’t react to that.

As far as rolling: he won’t. Get him in and go. Don’t wait around to see what might happen.

Everyone seems to have good experiences with this kind of trailer. Horses like the openness and their options for front facing, rear facing, etc. Safe travels!

[Christa_P]

If that trailer is like most stock trailers, the front door will have a secure latch on the outside.

If that is the case, I agree - add some bedding and a haynet, load and go.

[Mcl1]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Yes, the escape door is pretty secure, it is a true stock trailer - the previous people just built their own tack room area. My thinking with the wall was that he might like having something slanted to lean on.

As far as him riding backwards - I haven’t hauled him yet personally. But, my mustang rode home from his adoption event in an open stock trailer and positioned himself facing backwards the whole ride and seemed content, so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they like to ride that way.

I will definitely try to load and go - I suspect that the initial leaving his brother and getting ready will be the most stressful part for him, and I think he will settle once we are on the road.

[beau159]

@Mcl1

I have my first trailering trip coming up with my 6 yr old TB. It will be a ~2 hour trip (one way) to a vet and back. His most recent trailer trip was when he was dropped off here about 8 months ago which was about a 6 hour trip with no issues in a slant load.

He will be fine.

Load him up, leave him loose (untied) and don’t worry about him. Skip the shavings if you are worried about it - they’re going to BLOW AROUND back there anyway. If your mat gets slick then I would get a different mat.

Growing up, stock trailers were the only thing we had. Back in the day, it was pretty small too. And dark. My 16.1 hand APHA would have to scrape his shoulder and his butt along the walls, in order to get himself turned around, it was so narrow. If we loaded with saddles, there probably was only 4-6 inches clearance above my saddle horse to the roof.

…the things we did back in the day. And the horses were just fine.

Our horses have always chosen to ride backwards. We’d load them however and they would position themselves how they felt comfortable.

[Mallard]

Agree… leave him loose. He will figure it out My guys always face backwards.
Shavings blow around a lot in open trailer like that. I put down some shavings and the top them with a thick layer of straw.

[Mcl1]

Thank you for the reassurance!

I wanted a stock trailer because I figured it would be the easiest way to get the mustang comfortable with trailering and I was able to sell my husband on the idea of a “multi purpose” item since it means we don’t need a separate utility trailer. I had to search for a while to find a 7 ft tall one used, so I was pretty excited when I found this. So far it has come in handy multiple times to haul hay and equipment.

[Aussie_2020]

Stock trailers are so handy. Most horses ride better in them than a closed in trailer. The only thing I don’t like about them is the height. My horses were tall and they’d have to ride with their head lowered. Nobody got hurt but I did switch to a tall combo/slant load and removed the dividers.

I never tied in mine and I did put shavings in. We tested the shavings with a camera back there and they don’t really blow around. Be sure to put a fly mask on your horses eyes, even if you don’t use shavings other stuff can blow in.

All mats will get slick when poop is on them. And so many horses have watery poop in a trailer because they’re anxious.

I’d put that wall back in just to limit the space your horse has to get into trouble.

[chestnutmarebeware]

The only thing I’d add is to suggest putting a fly mask on while traveling. My vet suggested that years ago—it gives some added protection to the eyes against flying particles from the wind.

[Mcl1]

@Aussie_2020 @chestnutmarebeware Thank you, I will definitely put his fly mask on.

My local feed store has large flake shavings so I will give those a try. The previous owners of the trailer did cut plexiglass panels to fit over the openings for winter trailering so I can always play around with those if the shavings flying around becomes a problem.

[Aussie_2020]

I used the pellets that you get wet and they fluff. I never had a problem with them blowing out or around. I can guarantee your horse will not come out of the trailer covered in sawdust. The only time I had shavings move is with the big flakes, they all migrated to the front.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://surechamp.com/tips-for-bedding-your-stock-trailer/%23:~:text%3DStraw%20will%20get%20dirty%20more,are%20easier%20to%20keep%20clean.%E2%80%9D&ved=2ahUKEwi47sf1voyMAxV3FDQIHXdjK5IQFnoECCAQBQ&usg=AOvVaw1YF-K72-hFYV3GHc8vsYuP

(this link takes you to a stock trailer with shavings site)

[Shelbytwohorse]

I use sand for both cattle and horses in the stock trailer, it adds traction but doesn’t blow around.

[sherian]

my stock trailer was the compromise between me having a horse trailer and hubby having a utility trailer when we had a very small budget. Mine has a center gate so I can use it as 2 box stalls so if I have one horse on the weight stays at the front but they can travel backwards or whatever they like and I did end up having it raised to extra tall. I did paint mine white inside - makes it look much opener. I do teach all of mine to back out but the big draft crosses can turn in mine to walk out - they learn to pivot instead of turn. I did have an old campaigner pony who would lie down and sleep while we were driving but no one has tried to roll

[Another_Poster]

I have this same dimension trailer minus the actual tack room. I have a small area at front that can be closed leaving 12ish feet at the back. I haul my 1900 lb (on a scale) 17.3 hand draft horse. I tried tying him facing forward with a hay net. HATED IT. Untied. He easily turns around when wanted. Mostly rides backwards. I vote loose with or without wall depending on what tack, other equipment you are needing to haul.

To note, this gelding has zero issues tying to anything but still MUCH prefers the freedom to turn around as needed. Hard tie, cross tie, tie to neck collar, tie with baling string. It doesn’t take much to hold him. He is MUCH MUCH happier hauling loose. Finds his balance and settles right down.

[2DogsFarm]

I had the exact opposite happen hauling with pellets. Only did it once.
I misted them with the hose, enough so they’d started to break down.
But after a 4h haul, mostly on highway, arrived to find my mini covered in dust. Even the cart & stuff that was loaded in the front, behind the mostly solid center gate, were covered in dust.
I never had that problem using fine shavings & went back to those for hauling, even when I was using pellets in stalls at home.

OP:
I love my stock trailer. Like yours it’s 16’, 7’W & 7’ tall & a step-up. All 3 of my horses - 16h horse, 13h pony & 34" mini ride fine in it.
In a pinch, all 3 could go in with the gate tied back.
I’ve had all types of trailers: BP, GN, straight & slant. If I needed a new trailer, I’d go with stock.