Nope, 100% nope
Why does the BO not have their own trailer? If they can’t afford their own, they can’t afford to replace yours when they damage it
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This is an excellent point.
Also, if they use your gear in the course of running their business is it commercial use?
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Bumpy bad gravel roads can be horrible on axels, especially if you’re going too fast. And hoof kicks, strikes WILL show up on the outside, even on a heavy steel clad. I don’t think money-off board would be worth it. If there there are bad feelings that maybe even cause you to move, you’re banged-up trailer will go with you. Firm no would be my answer.
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Thanks everyone for all the replies. It’s been very helpful hearing about different experiences and all the things that can go wrong.
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I was one who was generously offered a ride when I was trailer less. I saved up for one of my own and I took along another horse/ rider when going out on trail rides, occasionally.
I made sure that I knew the horse / rider and also was aware of the riders skill and the horses hauling history and it was always someone I knew very well ( of course).
No way would I let someone borrow my truck or trailer. Not then or now.
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I never lend my trailer to anyone. I will take friends with me when trailering if I know their horse is well behaved and they are generally helpful. I never charge anyone and will not even accept gas money as I don’t want to ever compromise my insurance.
Most of the people I’ve trailered have been great. One woman had a horse that would fly off the trailer. On the way to the trail ride, he broke the trailer tie by dropping the butt bar before unfastening him. On the way back, she tied with one of mine. Dropped the butt bar before she untied (again!!! even though I asked her if he was unhooked), the leadrope didn’t break, the halter didn’t break and the horse went into a full panic. Ended up with some bent metal and dents that weren’t there when we started. She never offered me any compensation for the damage and I started to get a lot pickier about trailering othe people’s horses.
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Yup. I micromanage other people loading and unloading and ask them to double check.
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After first checking with my insurance as to coverage, I have lent the trailer out to a friend on two occasions. Each time, it was returned in good shape and it got a thorough washout (as in dragging out the mats and polishing the aluminum). Once she sampled “wings”, she went and got her own rig and now you can’t keep her from the shows. That’s want you want to happen. I have also trailered persons and had (1) a halter broken and never replaced, (2) a chunk taken out of my chest bar by a known (to own) chewer) and never replaced and (3) a horse that kicked the entire trip unless every window and door that could be open was open. So, now I ask them to sign a waiver and I micromanage all loading and unloading. I also carry care and custody insurance. I don’t take money so there is no commercial aspect. But, I am very picky these days and would only loan out the rig to my trainer unsupervised.
I think the only circumstance where I would allow use of a trailer by/for someone else is the emergency dash to the vet hospital.
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Outside of an emergency…no way no how. Insurance, liability, who’s going to pay if someone else’s horse trashes your trailer, is the person driving actually experienced and safe towing…so many reasons not to. Even just are they going to return it clean!
I have a tiny handful of people I WOULD lend to, but I know them well and I know their horses well.
In fact, when my parents bought our first trailer when I was a teen, the trailer manufacturer gave us the choice of the electric brake controller being on the drawbar, or us getting the controller in the car. We opted for in the car, as that was a good excuse to not lend it. Oh you don’t have a controller in your car? No sorry can’t do that (here is it a legal requirement to have brakes and a controller).
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No, I’d never lend out my trailer.
I have given a lot of people rides, especially through Pony Club. I did it for years and eventually got burnt out.
Now my neighbor and I occasionally take turns doing the trailering when we go on trail rides. We both have easy loaders who haul well and it works out just fine. We each clean our own trailer for both horses after our turn. I would probably lend her my trailer in an emergency but she’d be the only exception.
Why do you folks wait to be compensated for trailer damages, after lending or hauling someone’s horse? Are they supposed to guess how much the repair cost? If they do give compensation and it does not fully cover the repair cost, do you ask for more money? You should ask for the full amount, not have to pay damages yourself! Quit being shy about it, that is money you could have used for something you wanted, not needed repairs!!
Most folks will not persist in hounding you for a repair amount. If you don’t ask for the money, they figure you don’t need the money! They might flat out refuse to pay so much since, “It could not have cost THAT much!!” This is when you whip out the receipt to show them. If they still refuse to pay or try to put you off with “I don’t have the money, now” then just won’t pay, you can say you will share your experience with other trailer owners. Then do spread the word about them to save other kindly people from being treated like you were.
I have not loaned out my trailers. I have hauled a couple horses for others in certain situations, suffered no damage to my equipment. One 4H horse refused to load in the family cow trailer to go home. We worked with him 2 hours! I felt bad for the horse, he WANTED to go in, but trailer had no mats, was only 6 1/2ft high for this 16.2 horse. His feet slid forward every time he tried to step in the HIGH step. I did not let anyone thump on him, finally volunteered to take him home as it was now getting towards dark, in our 4 horse stock trailer with only our one horse in it. I just felt so bad for the horse, and he WAS NOT going in that little cow trailer. Horse followed my DD right up the ramp, stood to tie, rode quietly as we followed angry dad. Dad took off like a rocket! We lost him in the first block thru town, but he stopped further out for us to catch up, then took off again! Did that for a few miles, I did not speed up. He turned off on a dirt road, very bumpy but he did not slow up, I was only going 15mph! Finally got to their house with the kid out front waving. We unloaded horse, quietly, she thanked us! I did get a call to haul horse to the Fair but refused. Trailer was already full with DD’s show calves, two lambs and her horse, all going to Fair. Some other Club mom hauled him for them.
I am with the others, don’t loan out your nice, new trailer or haul other folks horses. Not worth it.h
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actually my thoughts are the reverse, their horse is injured because of a fixture failure in the trailer… then who is the responsible party?
Did the horse do the damage or did the trailer cause the injury?
My problem over the years I have spend tens of thousands of dollars defending me and my companies from wrongful legation… none were successful and all were frivolous but the defense was costly
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@clanter That is a thought that never crossed my mind! Thanks for adding another reason to the NO list I have. Yep, the “No good deed goes unpunished” is way too evident these days. Not the “Wow! Thanks for doing me such a big favor by hauling my horse for me!!” that you used to hear.
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I only began hauling this year and you can add be to the NOPE group. It’s not worth everything has mentioned above.
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Is there a reason your mare goes on first and comes off last? Is it a slant or straight load?
It’s a straight load. When she loads and unloads I swing the divider back to give her more space. Also she doesn’t need to think about the butt end of the other horse. She loads really well, basically self loads. Her presence on the trailer helps other horses load. But mostly it’s because my trailer my rules and if I can make the experience any easier for her, I will. If I needed to load her 2nd I could but why?
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You put your own horse on first because usually you leave from home, proceed to next location to get 2nd horse. So your own horse is almost always “first on, last off”, coming and going home.
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Yes that’s true. Though I go out with folks from my barn and still do this. Maresy rides in the solo position drivers side too.
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I have a gelding and a mare. He is a hesitant loader, she is a dream loader. She ignores him unless he’s out and she isn’t then she’ll call to him. Turn them out next to each other and he’ll groom her over the fence, she might return the favor occasionally. Basically, she’s the princess and he isn’t.
He goes in first and comes out last because he will never kick at her. She has kicked at him, not loading but I don’t want to risk it.
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