I’m interested in more information on this topic, as I have a younger gelding that has had issues in the past due to one bad trailer loading incident.
If you have a two horse BP with dressing room, and take out ALL the dividers, and leave them loose, how do you raise the ramp? Do you let the horse face the ramp as you raise it? Or is it possible to get some sort of gate installed that the ramp would close over, meaing close the gate first, then raise the ramp?
[QUOTE=MunchkinsMom;4515027]
I’m interested in more information on this topic, as I have a younger gelding that has had issues in the past due to one bad trailer loading incident.
If you have a two horse BP with dressing room, and take out ALL the dividers, and leave them loose, how do you raise the ramp? Do you let the horse face the ramp as you raise it? Or is it possible to get some sort of gate installed that the ramp would close over, meaing close the gate first, then raise the ramp?[/QUOTE]
When I did this, I had 1 butt bar that went the width of the trailer.
I would only modify a two horse straight load IF the manufacturer says that it is a safe and viable option. I would think the manufacturer would have a good idea for the ramp question too?
I know Brenderups, for example, need the center divider. The center divider may be important for the integrity of the structure. Also, the doors may not be designed for a horse leaning on them (as stated above), etc.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;4504697]
What are the downsides to horses riding in regular trailers in box stall configuration? If one never hauls more than one horse at a time, are there any real downsides to letting them have the freedom of the full trailer width?
And if one is using a trailer box stall, would the horse be tied or free? I’ve noticed that mine always seem to prefer riding with their heads away from the truck.[/QUOTE]
Hello Vineyridge
I am glad you started this thread as I was wondering the same thing that you mention here. When one says box stall loose transport that may be a relative term. My horses do not mind being tied while in the box stall traveling.
I want to ask a related question- what if the horse in the box stall is so large that it seems he could get “stuck” while attempting to turn around to face backwards? I am torn between the possibility of him getting stuck while turning around vs. the danger of him being tied. In my current opinion, the injury risk of tying him with a quick release/breakaway trailer tie is less than him getting wedged from from his trying to turn around at 65 mph on I-75. I have been hauling him loose in a larger trailer of my friend and he turns around to face back each time. He goes right in his new smaller trailer but when he is not tied he tries to turn and has never gotten wedged but we are yet to travel in this new trailer. I plan to tie him quick release style while we are moving. My big horse is a Selle Francais, 17 hands and big boned and he is not a panicky guy at all. All the rest of my horses are 16.1 hands and smaller. Great thread.
Horses are pretty flexible. They can turn themselves into a pretzel to scratch the back of their hock with their teeth. I used to have a 17.3h horse who could easily turn around in an 8’ long by 7’ wide box in my box stall trailer. I have a Custom Fab that I designed myself. It is a step-up in the back with a ramp on the side. The center door has a walk through door. I can have access to each horse (or multiples - which I have done) and I can load or unload each horse independently. I’m a breeder and it’s the ONLY way to haul mares and foals. I ALWAYS haul them loose. They all hop right on by themselves. If I haul 2, I put the hay nets in the middle and they usually ride nose to nose - one facing front and one facing back - usually on a slight diagonal. I don’t think an elephant could get out of my trailer. Very strongly built with pins and latches - depending on the door. There’s also a people slider in the back door. I love, love, love this trailer - a GN. I used to have a BP stock trailer and hauled one of my horses loose in it one day. I got up to an absolute max of 40 mph and it was swaying and fishtailing all over the road. Found a safe place to stop to see what was going on. The horse was crosswise against the back door dozing away. That weight distribution in a BP was a disaster. Had to go in and tie him up front. Never, ever had that happen with a GN. Would NEVER have another BP.
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;4516342]
I would only modify a two horse straight load IF the manufacturer says that it is a safe and viable option. I would think the manufacturer would have a good idea for the ramp question too?
I know Brenderups, for example, need the center divider. The center divider may be important for the integrity of the structure. Also, the doors may not be designed for a horse leaning on them (as stated above), etc.[/QUOTE]
This is VERY important! Horse trailers were designed to be used THE WAY THEY WERE DESIGNED TO BE USED. The design distributes weight correctly over the axle so the trailer will haul safely. If a trailer was not designed with hauling loose horses in mind, then you should not modify it to do so and expect engineering magic to occur – it could get ugly in a hurry!
I have a BP stock trailer with a divider in the center that I use as 2 box stalls. I usually tie them but have also hauled them loose without any problems. I do think if you put one loose at the back, with no weight in front, you could end up with the problem mentioned above. GN would be better, but I haven’t had problems with my BP in this way. They love to big open design.
Good point, although one of the features of my trailer is that all the dividers are easily removed, so I don’t think that it is part of the structural integrity of the trailer. I currently have them all out and sitting in an empty stall in the barn.
And lucky for me, the factory is one town over, so I can call and get information, and see if they can come up with a way to rig a single butt bar.
Adding it to my list of things to do while on vacation.
Wanted to add, I would not haul him loose, he will be tied facing front. I’m just trying to get him over his fear of the tight space. The end goal is to get him back to loading and traveling fine with the dividers in place.
Love this thread
I have a GN custom-made Turnbow 2.5 horse stock/slant combo with large dressing room and sleeping quarters.
Was made to haul 17+ hand Hannovarians 
Specifically, broodmares - so the “.5” was for a mare with a foal together.
We removed the second divider, as we don’t need 3 ‘stalls’. I’ve always considered just opening the one divider to let a horse ride loose, but it has a ramp and without a very hefty “butt bar” type of thing…it’s dangerous to open the ramp up for unloading.
So I’ve only tied in ours. I love love love my trailer, but if I had to do it over, I’d get a 2+1
I have a 2013 Extra Tall Extra Wide Homesteader BP… What would need to be done to safely convert it into one box stall? If its even possible…
I love my 2 horse Custom Fab. I am gonna hate to sell it, but no more need of it.
Reviving an old thread – does anyone have thoughts on 4 horse vs 6 horse options here? If you have WBs, were they too cramped in the four horse when you converted it to box stalls?
I just got a 7’6" wide 2+2 (4 horse without the center space). So when I make boxes they’re 7’6" x 10’ and 7’6" x 11’. Just hauled for the first time with the horses in box stalls and there seemed to be plenty of room.
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