What are everyone’s thoughts on having a butt bar in a straight load trailer made out of nylon or a chain (with a protective covering), as opposed to a solid metal bar? Pros/ cons?
Very long ago, in straight trailers, we never had one with a bar.
All ours were a plastic covered, stiffer chain, that still bent enough to be comfortable for a horse’s behind.
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A friend’s trailer has a strap that is made of something similar to seat belt material. It appears to work great. They think it is better because in an emergency situation it can be cut if necessary.
Edit to add: My trailer has solid butt bars.
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I have just got my “new to me” trailer home from the shop from having the butt rope design removed and having a solid bar installed. Apparently, my horse backed into the flexible rope while shipping and BROKE the do up for the ramp on that side as we were traveling. It was loose enough to NOT hold his butt OFF the ramp. Fortunately, the other side held the ramp in place until we got home. I felt nothing… Discovered the broken ramp do up when we got home, and shuddered. The bar we installed is very easy and quick to do up and remove, and very strong. The trailer guy who did the work uses this design on everything he builds, and highly recommended it.
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My trailer has shortened stall guards instead of solid butt bars.
I think they can be done up faster, which is convenient when you’re loading a horse who starts to back up once they’re on. I do find they’re not as visually obvious to the horse, though, and some horses will back up into it a few times and act surprised to find it there, which hasn’t been my experience using other trailers with solid bars.
Whatever is used, it should be set forward enough a horse’s behind would not touch the tailgate doors or ramps?
I wonder about some of those little two horse light straight trailers where horse’s tails hang clear out of the back doors, horses obviously leaning into them, chain or bar notwithstanding.
Those could possibly spring open and cause a terrible wreck.
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@Bluey, we see the same thing on little trailers. Horses leaning back on the doors.
When I was a kid, it seemed like all small trailers had butt ropes or chains. The problem was they shaped around the leaning horse, so butt could put pressure on the doors. This was true even with adjustable settings for long or short horses. Doors got pushed on during the entire trip. Fixing door hinges was common, they got broken loose from welds, bolts.
Once I discovered GOOD butt bars, I got them in my trailer. Horse just HAS TO stand there while we do it up. We train for this, going in and getting off the bar to be unloaded. Our bars are 2" metal with big links (for strength) holding it in place.
I would NEVER go back to chains, they let horse sit back too much. I would say the same about straps, shaping around the rump, gets horse too close to putting pressure on the door itself.
Get the good bars and train your horse to get off the bar when needed. Even really sitting on the (strong enough) bars, the bulge is better contained away from the door. Skinny, light weight tubing is NOT a good choice for butt bar metal.
My critters tend to “sit” on the butt-bar. (And lean against the side pads FWIW.)(And disassemble the padding if they are bored.) The ones in my trailer are covered with vinyl over a dense foam tube, and strong enough that this has never been an issue. My trailer doesn’t have a manger, just another set of padded butt bars at chest level, and “escape” doors on either side.
The only down side I can see is that you have to convince them to move their butt before you can release the bar. Mine all learn “Move yer butt.” on the ground, under saddle, and in the trailer; it has never been a problem.
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My 2021 Merhow has “soft” butt bars. Heavily padded seatbelt type material. I like it because it folds up to fasten on the side.
As long as they can do the job I don’t think one is better than the other? My trailer had the solid ones.
Nope. My horse loves to sit on that butt bar and use it for balance. I tried him in a trailer with a chain once and he would not got back in after the initial ride.
My horse rubs his tail raw when trailering with webbing or rope instead of a butt bar. Butt bars all the way imo.
I know its a bit long but I DO get to the point after a bit… My guy is not a good traveler. Last week a truck pulled up beside me and asked if he was all right, since he was doing the two step quite vigorously. So, trying to figure out WHY, I made some changes. Fuller hay net so it doesnt run out. Battery fan. But, to the point of this thread, I also thought maybe he is used to slant loads and I have a Straight load. So I moved the divider over and tied it to the butt bar attachment on the corner. I used a heavy lead rope as a butt rope since my butt bars are short, and usually attach to the divider on each side.
Today, he was quieter in the trailer, but frankly now I am worried he might sit on the rope and push on the ramp.
Does anyone know if there are “full width” butt bars available? (And no I cannot attach them to each other there is about a 4 inch gap… Maybe someone can suggest how to bridge that gap safely and securely? )
Does he have a chest bar in front and open space in front of him or those solid hay mangers? Some horses get nervous when they can’t reach their front legs out a little in front of them for balance. I made the mistake of buyer a trailer with those solid hay mangers and quickly had to sell it for one that was open up front.
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I had a very old 2 horse straight load with an interesting 3 door set up on both sides. The way it closed was the bottom 1/2 half was solid, than a mini 6-8 inch door that was at the height of the butt bar had to be closed before the top 1/3 door. Both sides were independent of each other so I could open the right side or left side. I had a somewhat flexible butt bar but never used them. They were far harder to put up rather than just closing the 2 lower doors.
Now that I use a bunch of different styles of straight loads…butt bars are the worst. I hate them.
What I use is a rope threaded through a “pool noodle”. I had a mare years ago that hated the butt bar, I think it was the clanking sound it would make. So I devised the pool noodle contraption and she had respect for it but no fear. It “looks” substantial but is soft when bumped. I still use this on the minis and my big pony and they all are happy. YMMV on this.
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I have a Bockmann straight load, and they have a full width butt bar as an extra if you are planning to take out the partition. I’m sure you could have one made for your trailer.
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Yes very open in front. Escape doors on both sides in front of chest bar.
And @cayuse I love that idea.
@lorilu Find a local welding shop, have them make you a full width butt bar out of 2" pipe. Husband cut a piece of wood to push inside, make bar more rigid, less able to be bent, before welding on the end pin holders. We have some big horses who have big rumps, and they do sit on the butt bar during travel. Shop will probably look at it as a challenge, making a bar for you! Should not be terribly expensive, but do ask for an estimate.
Question, is your divider solid to the floor? Horse may be used to spreading legs further apart than is possible with a full divider, not feeling in balance during travel. Just an idea. Ours like their half dividers that allow spreading out for better travel comfort.
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Thanks. My butt bars attach at the divider but I’m sure we can design something. And yes the divider is to the floor and I understand your comment. Thanks for the reminder
