Slant vs Straight load on 2 horse BP

[Foxtrot_s]

When I’ve had occasion to haul horses loose, they have always ended up on an angle, and the younger one even turned to face backwards, on a slant.

The RCMP did a study with their big rigs, used heart rate monitors, and found that horses actually prefer to travel backwards given a choice. Wish I knew where that study was now.

I also think that a horse can lean on his butt when the trailer slows down, instead of lurching forward on his forehand. Seems would be less taxing.

My own custom made trailer is a slant and have no troubles putting in my large
17+ hand horses in there. It is overheight, too, giving the feeling of space. I think my horses travel better in it than the straight. In the past I’ve found that some horses cannot travel in the r.h.s. without scrambling, and this has not happened in the slant.

In the three, four, and longer horse trailers, there is no way to get the horses out in the case of an accident, but in a two horse, you can have an exit door put in (about a $1,000.00 option)

Overall, I vote for slant.

[clanter]

[QUOTE=BBowen;7752511]
I am really paranoid, so I prefer straight load. God forbid something happens, I can get to both horses.[/QUOTE]

Our two horse bumper pull slant load has a front escape door for the first horse … we can unload either without unloading both

As for the us we often are hauling one horse, the slant distributes the weight better

[doublesstable]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;7753119]
When I’ve had occasion to haul horses loose, they have always ended up on an angle, and the younger one even turned to face backwards, on a slant.

The RCMP did a study with their big rigs, used heart rate monitors, and found that horses actually prefer to travel backwards given a choice. Wish I knew where that study was now.

I also think that a horse can lean on his butt when the trailer slows down, instead of lurching forward on his forehand. Seems would be less taxing.

My own custom made trailer is a slant and have no troubles putting in my large
17+ hand horses in there. It is overheight, too, giving the feeling of space. I think my horses travel better in it than the straight. In the past I’ve found that some horses cannot travel in the r.h.s. without scrambling, and this has not happened in the slant.

In the three, four, and longer horse trailers, there is no way to get the horses out in the case of an accident, but in a two horse, you can have an exit door put in (about a $1,000.00 option)

Overall, I vote for slant.[/QUOTE]

I found that same to be true too. When panels out of the slant horses were ALWAYS facing with heads backwards.

[clanter]

[QUOTE=AKB;7753076]
We have removed the divider easily in my 2h Sundowner straight load when we were using it to move my daughter’s furniture out of her college apartment. My Irish Draughts fit in my trailer easily. I can’t imagine shoving them into a slant load or smaller straight load.[/QUOTE]

I have to say the only Irish Drafts our daughter had in college were at a bar so the trailer wasn’t needed

[Scarlet_Gilia]

FWIW, an article by EquiSpirit on Slant vs. Straight Load

It concludes with

"Minimum requirements for a horse trailer to be safe and stress free from the horses’ point of view are room, light, ventilation, and safety in design. Access to each horse individually can be included in the ‘safety in design’ category. Most slant load trailers do not provide this feature. If one horse is in trouble, all the others must be unloaded to reach that one horse. A front unload ramp can improve that situation.

“In conclusion, most horses will be less stressed in a trailer that has more room and light, not necessarily whether it’s a slant or straight load.”

[Foxtrot_s]

I think it is also a die-hard thing - those who like slants like them, those who like straight hauls like them. More to the point is how considerately they are driven.
Ramp or step-up, both work. We have step-up but also have ramps for the p/u if we need to load a lawnmower or something.

[katarine]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;7755081]
I think it is also a die-hard thing - those who like slants like them, those who like straight hauls like them. More to the point is how considerately they are driven.
Ramp or step-up, both work. We have step-up but also have ramps for the p/u if we need to load a lawnmower or something.[/QUOTE]

Not always, but often true. I have a 3H slant you couldn’t pry away from me. But a 2H for WBs? I suggested a straight load Some of us actually think

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=katarine;7755118]
Not always, but often true. I have a 3H slant you couldn’t pry away from me. But a 2H for WBs? I suggested a straight load Some of us actually think :)[/QUOTE]

I didn’t realize slants were made for less than 3 horses.
Makes sense two horses are fine in a straight trailer.

Now, we use a 16’ GN stock trailer and any one or more horses either go untied or tied to the left, so they end really riding on a slant position, which many prefer even when loose, if one or four in there.

In a way, those stock trailers work either way as a slant or straight, depending on how you tied the horses in there.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

For me the deciding factor is towing capacity. I tow with a large SUV. So I have to watch size and weight.

I currently have a two horse straight with mangers (hate mangers), but will be getting a stock/slant for two reasons. First, I can have a floor to ceiling dressing room with a smaller footprint to keep the trailer size down and second, because I need the ability to haul a mare and foal.

I only haul one horse 99.9% of the time, so I will probably just take the divider out so she has more room.

If I had a 3/4 ton truck then my answer would probably change.

[Jealoushe]

I find bigger horses don’t fit as well on the slants, I just really hate the two horse slants compared to straight loads. My horse had her nose hair rubbed off from being squished into one.

[Crockpot]

[QUOTE=doublesstable;7752638]
I have a three horse slant and it has no escape doors. I had a friend trailer my horses a few times and she had a two horse straight (NO MANGERS) and it is sooo nice. When and if I ever sell my older trailer I want a two horse straight with no mangers. I had a horse go into a manger many many years ago and it was terrible!!!

The only benefit I can think of with a slant is they are big and you can remove panels when hauling a baby so you can open it up like a giant box stall.[/QUOTE]

There are straight loads that allow for this as well.
I prefer straight load xtall xwide with ramp but I have large horses.

Agree with this earlier article posted above:

"Minimum requirements for a horse trailer to be safe and stress free from the horses’ point of view are room, light, ventilation, and safety in design. Access to each horse individually can be included in the ‘safety in design’ category. Most slant load trailers do not provide this feature. If one horse is in trouble, all the others must be unloaded to reach that one horse. A front unload ramp can improve that situation. "

[Mukluk]

I think my dream trailer for my 2 TBs would be a big straight load with NO MANGER- need to be able to get feet out in front. I’m in the west and western riders seem to strongly prefer slant loads (also tend to have smaller horses). The one thing I have heard which could be true is that a slant load is preferable for windy roads (which you will definitely encounter if going horse camping in the mountains around here)- because the configuration of a slant makes it easier for the horse to lean on the divider around turns. I suppose the only sure way to know is to have a video camera and test your horse out loose in a stock trailer (to see how horse likes to ride). Then video and hrm horse in straight vs slant loads to see which they prefer. My mares favorite trailer ever is a big old stock trailer so she can have a “box” stall. I think my horses would probably haul fine in either a straight or a slant so long as it is BIG enough for their fat butts. In my opinion, a straight load gives you a nicer tack room.

[BBowen]

[QUOTE=clanter;7753959]
Our two horse bumper pull slant load has a front escape door for the first horse … we can unload either without unloading both

As for the us we often are hauling one horse, the slant distributes the weight better[/QUOTE]

For a slant load, that is a good set up. Hate the thought of having to unload one horse to get the front horse out. Ideally, I like a ramp in the back and front/side; however, I owned a two horse with living quarters and the straight worked best for that.

[Thoroughbred_in_Colo]

I have a 2H slant BP with tack room. My very large (16.2) paint mare fit in it no problem, as does my sorta large (16H)TB. Would it fit a draft or warmblood? Probably not. It does do a great job with the horses I do haul though.

When I bought it I wanted a 2H straight load with tack room and no mangers, but good luck finding one out here that doesn’t cost 3-4 times the price of a comparable slant.

I could care less about a ramp, I think horses should be trained to both if possible, but it doesn’t factor into a buying decision for me.

I think this is key:

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;7755081]
More to the point is how considerately they are driven.[/QUOTE]

My paint mare had MAJOR loading issues with a particular trailer (6H slant GN)because the person hauling was a “slam on the brakes/floor it” kind of a driver (as soon as I found out she never rode with that person again). She never had any problems with my trainer in her large trailer or me with my small trailer, but we are both careful to not accelerate or brake too hard.

[soloudinhere]

I just bought a new, expensive straight load, and I wish I had gone for a 2h slant stock combo instead. I could have had the same size dressing room, on a shorter trailer, and my horse is small and he could have walked on/walked off and I could have had the space to tack up in the trailer in the rain.

Lessons learned. I’m going to pay it down to par on the loan and trade it in on a basic steel model and be happy. I didn’t do it because everyone told me I’d regret it and nobody in new england has a slant. Now I regret not just getting what I wanted…

So if you’re looking for a 2h XL size aluminum bumper pull with a nice dressing room…call me

[khall]

I disagree about turning straight load into box stall. I have a straight load 2H and quite regularly turn it into box stall for mares and foals to haul. No issue. I prefer a straight load to haul the bigger horses, it is hard (though easier than when I bought my trailer) to find a slant big enough for some of the larger horses. I did have a 3H slant prior to this straight load and while the stalls were big enough it was only 7’ tall and my 17 hh mare’s ears would more than touch the roof when she lifted her head. Thankfully she was easy going and did not care.

[judybigredpony]

Proven that horses tire quickly and suffer fatigue and stress more in a slant.
Study done years ago …some where on the Webb…
Hate slants and shudder in horror at step up/downs.
Have 2 straight loads one has a front side ramp.
I load and inload horses by myself all the time, once you get the hang of it and learn each horses presences it goes smoothly just need patience and zero tolerance.

[tbchick84]

I can’t imagine how wide/load a 2 horse slant would have to be to fit a large horse. My friend has a normal size 2 horse slant and it’s a good 1’ wider than mine. No room for error on windy roads or tight spots.

[arlosmine]

I have a very big three horse slant that I have only used as a two horse for many years. It’s the only way I’d be OK with a slant. As it is, the stalls are enormous.

[inca]

[QUOTE=tbchick84;7766995]
I can’t imagine how wide/load a 2 horse slant would have to be to fit a large horse. My friend has a normal size 2 horse slant and it’s a good 1’ wider than mine. No room for error on windy roads or tight spots.[/QUOTE]

My 17hh 1,400 pound mare fits in my 2H gooseneck slant load just fine. I usually put her in the back stall which is huge since I don’t have a rear tack compartment. But, she fits in the first stall also. Mine is 7’6" tall and I think the stalls are 42" wide. But, the trailer itself is not extra wide - it is whatever the standard 4Star width is.