Just wondering if anyone does this for long days and only one horse on the trailer? I hate to pay for a stall for one day just so my horse will pee
[QUOTE=bluedapple;7569650]
Just wondering if anyone does this for long days and only one horse on the trailer? I hate to pay for a stall for one day just so my horse will pee[/QUOTE]
I think you’ll find eventers do this all the time. As long as you have a full width butt bar to keep the horse from leaning on the ramp/doors there isn’t really an issue with this.
One note-- if you leave the horse on the trailer you CANNOT unhitch your truck. I see people unhitch sometimes to go park the truck somewhere else or drive around, and the trailer MUST be attached to a vehicle when a horse is loaded.
I’ve done it many times with my 3 horse slant with the dividers all open for one horse to use as a box stall. I only have one horse that’s okay with it (the others would try to tear the trailer apart in boredom), but my one has been perfectly happy to hang out for the day in lieu of a stall.
Agree that I wouldn’t do it with the truck unhitched!
I have done it and agree about the butt bar…I fashioned a 2x4 to go all the way across. I bed, when I get to the show, heavily with straw, hang a hay bag with the yummiest hay I have, hang a bucket with water,and let him/her loose. I also do this when I take my mare and foal for inspections…it works great and saves money.
okay, so I need a 2x4 across the back. some shows now are requiring you to pay for a stall for the whole week and forgoing day stalls
I cut the 2x4 so it fits across, then I put a screw eye in each end and and hang it from the attachments for the butt bars…in a pinch I have also used a thick rope. I have never had any problems, but did learn that a really deep bedding of straw seemed to make it an inviting place for the horse. I have always done this for Devon…for two reasons…it seems there is always a virus that follows some horses home…and staying in our trailer prevents us from exposure. I think this is more prevalent at Devon because of the preponderance of horses that are “on the move” being shipped from place to place.
[QUOTE=Claudius;7569758]
I cut the 2x4 so it fits across, then I put a screw eye in each end and and hang it from the attachments for the butt bars…in a pinch I have also used a thick rope. I have never had any problems, but did learn that a really deep bedding of straw seemed to make it an inviting place for the horse. I have always done this for Devon…for two reasons…it seems there is always a virus that follows some horses home…and staying in our trailer prevents us from exposure. I think this is more prevalent at Devon because of the preponderance of horses that are “on the move” being shipped from place to place.[/QUOTE]
wow, Claudius that is really clever. Thanks so much for sharing that! Yeah, Brandywine at Devon does not have day stalls either and I live so close to it
We used to do this with my pony all the time when I was a kid. We had a stock trailer so it was super easy.
what do you do about the center partition?
[QUOTE=bluedapple;7569715]
okay, so I need a 2x4 across the back. some shows now are requiring you to pay for a stall for the whole week and forgoing day stalls[/QUOTE]
What day stalls? There may be some but never been to any show that priced by day- you get the whole show price which us not so bad for a 1-3 day show but sucks if you have to get the whole week.
Think you’ll find many, many breed show folk and Eventers showing day shows out of the trailer in lieu of a stall.
When I showed QH/Paint I had the solid center divider taken out of a BP 2 horse with manger and just used a pole that could swing over in back making a sort of triangle. Not a box but plenty of room to spread behind while munching or napping. Had a chain across the back instead of a 2x4. Hauled that thing 10k miles a year for about 4 or 5 years. No problems.
What about multi day shows? Would be acceptable to let the horse spend the night in the trailer?
[QUOTE=KSquared;7570230]
What about multi day shows? Would be acceptable to let the horse spend the night in the trailer?[/QUOTE]
that is a really small space. Most straight loads are 6’ wide by 8’ in the horse area. I would plan for a stall if you need to stay overnight.
[QUOTE=KSquared;7570230]
What about multi day shows? Would be acceptable to let the horse spend the night in the trailer?[/QUOTE]
I personally wouldn’t leave my horse in a trailer overnight. I hate to think what would happen if the horse decided to lay down or roll in that small of a space, and I do want my horse to be able to lay down after a long day of showing. Also, it may seem silly since it doesn’t seem like it would be that hard to gain access to a horse in the stables at night, but I would hate to feel like my horse was packaged up and ready to go if someone wanted to steal my truck and trailer (because, again, I wouldn’t leave a horse in an unhitched trailer).
Most show grounds prohibit horses staying in trailers overnight
Not at H/J shows, but quite often Dressage shows offer a day stall rate. I think because a lot of the upper level riders just do one test, but like having a stall to work out of. I was actually considering it for a show next month, but decided I’d rather spend the difference in cost between grounds fee and a day stall on another test.
I do a mix of eventing, dressage, and h/j shows. I know some dressage people who get stalls for a day, but I don’t know any eventers who get them for one day HTs unless they’re hauling in from a very long distance and stabling overnight the night before. I’ve never seen a one-day hunter show offer stalls, and the multiday shows I’ve seen all charge for the week.
My horse shows off the trailer fine. I pretty regularly just put her back on the trailer to nap/snack, and even with the divider, she’s fine in there. It’s not ideal for long periods, but it’s no different than a standing stall. Considering that she’s moving around and working when she’s off the trailer, I don’t feel badly for leaving her on there for an hour or two. Not all horses are like that, but I’m thankful mine is!
I had a six horse Imperatore and box stalled both ends and kept two horses in it over night…I parked it at the motel. I used the stall partitions on the front of each stall. It worked but I didn’t like it…only did it once. Like a lot of us, I had trouble accepting what Icould not do…and I could not afford to show two green horses and pay for stalls. So the answer I had to accept was I could not afford to show two horses!!! disappointing, but reality!!!
Those of you who have one long butt bar how do you manage loading and unloading? I have that set up but makes me nervous to have to deal with by myself.
As an eventer, I’ve never been concerned with giving my horse a box stall on the trailer. There have been events where we’ve had a full trailer and just no option but for everyone to stand in their straight stalls. They always do just fine (once they learn how to!).
Yellow Britches…you are so right! So much of what we do for horses is for US!!WE would be more comfortable with the space and bedding, so surely THEY are!!! Guilty as charged!!!
[QUOTE=otisrider;7571567]
Those of you who have one long butt bar how do you manage loading and unloading? I have that set up but makes me nervous to have to deal with by myself.[/QUOTE]
I swung the dividing pole back to center, anchored it and used the standard butt bars (actually I had chains with padded garden hose sleeves instead of solid bars) when I hauled. Swapped it for the single long one only when parked with divider swung over and anchored to the side.
I hauled myself, had numerous quick release fasteners and practiced quite a bit with any new horse, nothing like specific trailer training on top of consistently practiced ground manners to solve most hauling problems and keep you both safe.
