If You have a trailer with 4 horses going to the same show, do you charge the total trip mileage per horse or split the total trip between the 4 horses?
$1/mile
600 miles R/T
$600 for total trip
$600/ horse or $150/ horse (600/4)
Many users have broken down the costs for you, so I wonât get in to that. But to echo the point, Iâm assuming by âa haulerâ youâre referring to a professional. This is their job, and theyâve either purchased their own rig for a pretty penny or theyâre working for a company who sets the rate. Thereâs a lot more that goes into it than a mere 16 miles.
Now, if you donât feel like shelling out for the professional, there are often people whoâll do a local haul for a smaller dollar amount. You can find these folks on Craigslist or plenty of FB horse groups. Keep in mind, though, that these people could be just about anyone, and theyâre probably not insured for business. You could find someone online, things could go fine, and Bobâs your uncle. Things could go sideways, however, and youâd be dealing with a far larger headache than youâd have ever had with the pro. Things to consider.
Most people I know have a $50 fee to hook up the trailer. Op, redo the numbers with that in mind
Local hauls are pricey. I lent my truck and trailer to a couple of friends in the last year who were quoted $500+ for about 80 mile trips to the regional vet school. There is a price premium for the time and inconvenience of the shipper for a local haul. We live in a pretty reasonable cost of horse living area, typically.
Split. Although I think you can add on a bit extra for the wear and tear and gas from the three extra horses, plus the extra trunks/tack/hay/shavings, etc.
$600/1 horse
$325/2 horses
$175/4 horses
Itâs really up to you.
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Iâve just started trailering in my own rig this summer and my costs, mileage, and time are very similar to this, so glad to know I am in the normal range. I really had sticker shock when I finally calculated my mileage with a loaded trailer! When I go for a trail ride with a friend, I get them to pay gas. Well, I havenât been too insistent on collecting that yet :). But really even if I had the right insurance and felt confident in my skills with strange horses, I canât see doing this for pay if I wasnât going for a ride myself. Take of $40 for gas (Canadian prices), and you would hardly be making anything.
Local hauls are always more expensive than long distance. It wouldnât be worth coming on a property for less than that.
I rarely see local haulers advertised, typically hauling is provided to boarders by BOs to events theyâre already going to. Usually thatâs in the range of $2-3/loaded mile/horse, or $1-2/mile round trip/horse.
ONE place recently I saw someone advertise they provide local hauling services. They were in those ranges, but with a $30 hook up fee. Perfectly reasonable to me, itâs not a place they were already going with their rig.
So, with those rates, youâre looking at $94-158 for the trip.
As others have said, itâs not worth hooking up for less. Just like tattoo parlors have a minimum charge just for use and set up of equipment, even for the worldâs smallest tattoo.
I wanna know where @Halt Near X lives. Iâm dying to find a trailer to rent for $50/day, so far Iâve only found $100+tax/day.
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@mmeqcenter Iâm in Houston.
The original post was in April, though, so Iâm guessing the OP figured something out.
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Iâm changing to a hobby farm policy in order to be covered. Anyone haul another horse to where theyâre going? How do you charge a friend?
The times I have hauled a friend I donât charge. They usually split the gas and their horses hauled fine, so I didnât mind.
