I can't figure out why I wanted a slant load trailer!

[JoZ]

This is going to sound silly I suppose. I have had my horse trailer for maybe 12 years now. I’m not in a position now to get a new one, but I always have that at the back of my mind. When I bought mine, I had no doubt whatsoever that I wanted a slant load. In retrospect, I have found it a pain in the butt.

Luckily, quite a bit of my hauling has been just one horse. That isn’t too bad. I often don’t close the divider, but even if I do, I can unload the horse by turning around. The ability to turn and walk off is one of the few advantages I can think of. I also think that I believed at the time that horses were more comfortable at a slant, and that may be true.

Now I only have two horses and they are buddies but I haven’t hauled them together since they were yearlings. I can’t imagine it’s going to be comfortable. But anyway, for those of you that have and love your slant load trailer, can you remind me of what I may be forgetting? What are the big reasons to have a slant? Thanks.

[stb]

I, too, bought a slant but I sold it and went to a straight load. I love the straight load and my horses ride better in it.

[BroncoMo]

I haven’t hauled in a straight load in many years but I can’t stand the thought of them. I would hate for my horses to be in a straight load and have to stop hard for some reason. There’s too much room for a horse to get thrown forward and I don’t think they can brace themselves as well. At least in a slant they have a wall or divider to lean on. I’ve seen videos of horses in straight loads who are constantly scrambling to keep their feet in a decent enough stance to stay stable. While I’ve spent enough time in the back of a slant to know that a lot of them will lean on the forward wall or divider. They have more stability sideways than they do forwards.

I guess it’s all personal preference and what the horses are used to. But I can’t even imagine trying a straight load (and seems there’s some hate for slants, which I’ll never understand). I had been contemplating a 2 + 1, but doesn’t seem that they make them in a slant version, so those have been checked off the “want” list.

[Bluey]

We have an open 16’ stock trailer and our horses choose to ride at a slant, always, even if just one horse in there and loose and no partitions to lean into.

I think that, with roads crowned to the left, horses may feel better balanced standing at a slant, with their front on the slightly higher, left side?

They also choose to stand with their hind end more or less over the axle/s, not clear up in front or in the back end.

You see many of those cowboy rigs around here and practically ever loose and saddled horse in there not tied stands like that.

Also could be because when tied, they are tied to the left side, handier for the driver to get to to tie them and so they get used to that.

Horses are not telling, but if they were not comfortable, they could easily take a step sideways and ride standing forward, or slanted to the right.

[BroncoMo]

Bluey I always noticed loose ranch horses on a stock trailer stand either left or backwards. The backward slants are actually genius. It truly is easier to stand facing aft. (Tried it)

[clanter]

Along with doing Class A shows, eventing and some other stuff we also did competitive trail riding, a horse had better know how to freely back on command.

Straight load vs Slant has been discussed for decades normally it falls into if you live East of the Mississippi preference is Straight Load, the farther east you go add a ramp to the straight load as horses back east do not know how to step up into a trailer.

West of the Mississippi it is either Slant or Stock (or make the horse stand on a flat bed).

[js]

A couple of trailer manufacturers make a rear facing slant load, you don’t see them very often, I think I’ve only seen one that was for sale when I was looking to buy a trailer. Pretty sure they were quite a bit higher priced (don’t quote me on that, its been awhile since I looked at trailers). If I remember correctly, they have a side load ramp and rear unload ramp. Though I’m not sure how that works with the dividers unless both ends can swing away; as they would need to swing out of the way in both directions depending on loading and unloading. Would be a nice feature and much easier to load and unload horses.

[enjoytheride]

Slant loads are more space efficient.

You can have a shorter trailer with the same number of horses which makes it easier to get in and out of small places

Slant loads are great for people who sleep in their dressing room because you can keep all the smelly tack in the rear tack

You can pull out the rear tack and dividers and haul loose

You can put a stud wall up in the front stall and use that space to store hay and more equipment or you can use the walk through door in your dressing room and convert that stall to a mud room and even a shower on demand

You can self load horses onto a slant just like a straight load.

[moving_to_dc]

@clanter

Along with doing Class A shows, eventing and some other stuff we also did competitive trail riding, a horse had better know how to freely back on command.

Straight load vs Slant has been discussed for decades normally it falls into if you live East of the Mississippi preference is Straight Load, the farther east you go add a ramp to the straight load as horses back east do not know how to step up into a trailer.

West of the Mississippi it is either Slant or Stock (or make the horse stand on a flat bed).

So true…

After living in OKC for 9+ years, and attending the QH World and all other shows held at the OKC Fairgrounds for the last 20 years, I can tell you with absolute certainty that 98% of the trailers on site are slant loads. I know some of them had to come from east of the Mississippi!

[FatCatFarm]

Love my slant load but my horses are 16.3 and 17hds and even with the stalls angled to be longer and wider, it’s become obvious that they don’t fit comfortably on it. I think 16.1 and under, it’s grand. It’s a Merhow and a fantastic trailer. No rear tack so very open and inviting. Even the big guys can turn around and walk off. For sale if anyone’s looking. :winkgrin:

[GotMyPony]

I agree with the horse comfort and horse safety in sudden stop comments. Also, the slant configuration tends to give you more space in the dressing room area and the option of a dedicated tack area in the very back. It helps keep you from just tossing stuff into one space and then having to plow through everything to find that one item you need. I love camping with horse and the ability to organize in those spaces makes a trip more enjoyable.

[WNT]

I find if you take multiple horses to a one-day show that you are working out of the trailer, and keeping the horses on the trailer while not working, a straight load beats a slant all day. When I was working for an event barn and we had 4-6 horses, it was really easy to stick them back in their slot between divisions to chill instead of leaving them tied outside. It’s not as big an issue if you stable for an overnight show.

In my dreams, I’d have a 2+1 with a front ramp and space to use the +1 for tacking up in inclement weather.

[OTTBs]

@BroncoMo

I haven’t hauled in a straight load in many years but I can’t stand the thought of them. I would hate for my horses to be in a straight load and have to stop hard for some reason. There’s too much room for a horse to get thrown forward and I don’t think they can brace themselves as well.They have more stability sideways than they do forwards.

Obviously the stalls in those straight loads were too long for the horses. I liked the Brenderup literature talking about their adjustable butt bars to keep the horses close to the chest bar. They noted how most trailer manufacturers made the stalls too long (84-90") and the head area too short (36") while Brenderup stalls were 78" long. My long bodied 16.1 and 16.2 horses fit in there with length to spare.

I have always heard horses can brace better front to back than sideways, that just makes sense to me. Not sure how you believe the opposite. Picture a force coming sideways at a horse vs. from the front or back. Seems a heck of a lot easier to throw a horse off balance from the side.

@BroncoMo

I had been contemplating a 2 + 1, but doesn’t seem that they make them in a slant version, so those have been checked off the “want” list.

A 2+1 in slant version is a 3 horse slant. Maybe a 4 horse slant.

[stargazer08]

I like mine because I can haul a crap ton of non-horse stuff in it. Such as ATVs, furniture etc.

I don’t have a rear tack because I don’t like them. They create a squeeze chute when hauling horses. I like a full unencumbered opening.

My horses haul wonderfully in a slant. I had a gelding who scrambled terribly in a straight load. I also have a gelding who is claustrophobic who loads and rides like a charm in the slant but not in a straight load.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

What do you think? Straight, or slant? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210271273111640&set=a.1039627784349.2007657.1035171568&type=3&theater

[JoZ]

Well this has been helpful. I had forgotten about the tack room issue. Mine does not have rear tack, I do not like that. But it has a nice front tack room with the slanted wall. Before I got my trailer, I briefly had a straight load trailer that I got very cheaply, and ended up deciding I wasn’t comfortable using it. It had those funny compartments on the front for storage under the head area, no tack room at all! I suppose a straight load could get very long if you wanted decent storage.
My horses don’t seem to have trouble riding in the slant load. I have never gotten them to nicely load themselves though. They will go on but they won’t situate themselves appropriately. And if I want to hang a hay bag, it seems very poorly laid out. I picture a straight load with plenty of room for neck stretching and reaching for hay, and it just seems more natural to me. I will have to take a look at one before I decide anything. Thanks again!

[Texarkana]

A straight load with mangers or that is poorly laid out is a different animal than a straight load with a roomy, open front.

Just like an xtra wide slant is a different animal than a tight 6’6" slant.

I think both have their pluses and minuses. But a good design is imperative in both!

[tabula_rashah]

I have a 3 horse slant (no rear tack) that I took one divider out of, essentially making 2 box stalls. I find loading in and out a slant so much easier than a straight load since 99% of the time I’m by myself- just point the horse in and close the divider and done. All of my horses will turn and walk off or back out as I tell them to but I feel it’s a big safety advantage for them to walk off forward. I’ve hauled in both straight loads and slant loads all over the country- up to 24 hours in one shot. Being able to watch the stall cameras and see the horses as well as observing them post-trailer trip, I think they are more comfortable in the slant but most comfortable in boxes.

[BroncoMo]

@OTTBs

I have always heard horses can brace better front to back than sideways, that just makes sense to me. Not sure how you believe the opposite.

Well I will assume we will probably agree to disagree, because I’m not sure how you could believe that they can brace better forwards I’ve spent some time in the back of a trailer with horses before and know that they splay their feet out to a wide base, and they are very stable side to side.

Imagine standing on a subway or the train at the airport. If you stand forwards in the direction of travel, you will get tossed forwards and backwards during acceleration and decal. If you stand sideways with a wide base, you can brace for the inertia.

[BroncoMo]

Double post. My bad.