Trailer Stall Dividers don’t stay open

[PsyPsy]

I have a very simple, no-frills 2HBP slant/stock-style Featherlite trailer. This is my very first trailer, so I could be missing something very obvious.

Here’s the issue: my swinging stall divider has no way of staying open. So when I need to load a horse, I tie it back with some twine (picture below of my setup, circled in red), but it still kind of flaps around a little bit and freaks the horses out. Do stall dividers usually have some kind of mechanism to hold them “open” while you’re loading, then you disengage that mechanism when the horse is loaded/secured and you want to swing it shut?? Should I look into some kind of aftermarket latch? I want it to be relatively easy to disengage of course, but secure enough that the divider doesn’t get in my way when loading.

[Equibrit]

Check this out;

https://www.horsetraileraccessorystore.com/Door-Holdbacks-_c_254.html

Whatever you install must not be a danger to a horse.

[xQHDQ]

I use a bungie cord with hooks (not snaps or anything I need to manually open) to hold it open when I load. I attach it to the window bar. Very easy to remove from the divider when closing the horse in.

[avjudge]

@xQHDQ

I use a bungie cord with hooks (not snaps or anything I need to manually open) to hold it open when I load. I attach it to the window bar. Very easy to remove from the divider when closing the horse in.

Ditto. Our trailer is a very similar barebones slant/stock to the OP’s (but from Frontier) and we keep a bungee hanging there & hook it around the end of the of the divider when needed - actually much of the time, as when my husband takes his horse on his own he gives him the whole trailer. The bungee hooks are easy on-off plus the elastic pulls out the slack so the divider is held against the wall pretty well.

(But I feel like he doesn’t have to go up so much to the slat - now I’m curious and will take a look.)

[endlessclimb]

Screw a D ring into one of the frame bars, screw another one onto the divider, and use a double ended snap (with a length of string if needed). Done. You can haul like that too, if you’re using the trailer for something else.

[PsyPsy]

These are all great ideas for solutions, thank you. Is anyone as perplexed as me, as to why this isn’t a standard feature on all slant loads?? Like, you can’t have a bouncing/swinging divider getting in your way when trying to load a horse. It’s not gonna happen!

[Mallard]

I also have a pretty basic 2H slant but my divider has a clip and on the wall at the rear is a ring to clip it to.
As mentioned above you could screw a D ring into the frame and use a double ended clip to secure.

[mmeqcenter]

I’ve never seen a slant come with some kind of built in latch to hold dividers. The dividers not staying open has only ever really been a problem for me if the trailer is situated slightly downhill when loading. But I use a bungee as well, to be safe.

[endlessclimb]

Depending on the trailer, you may be able to adjust the divider by the hinges to make it “want” to stay open. You’ll have to make sure it still meets the latch appropriately though.

Edit: is your divider spring loaded? You can add a spring easily if not.

[wsmoak]

My old Logan had some rings welded to the divider and the rear tack such that you could clip a double ended snap to the rings to hold it open.

In yours, I’d add a strap eye if you need somewhere to hook to. I’d probably use paracord and a snap, and put another strap eye on the divider itself to have somewhere to clip that to when not in use (when the divider is closed.) I don’t really like bungee cords around horses.

These come in all sizes and are rounded:
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/ronstan--1-1-4-l-x-5-32-dia-stainless-steel-eye-strap--120667?recordNum=22

[OTTBs]

@endlessclimb

Edit: is your divider spring loaded? You can add a spring easily if not.

Exactly. I thought all trailers had springs? My Shadow does, certainly not top-of-the-line. I remembered that it sounded like a PITA 2-person job to reinstall a divider, someone has to hold the spring in the right alignment.

[Spudsmyguy]

I do the same. Mine is a three horse and only the rear divider has a hold back hook. I use a bungie to attach the middle divider to the rear divider. If I’m only hauling one horse I don’t close the divider as he’s so long he’s cramped up. I keep the hooks on the bungie on opposite side of the divider in case he accidently hits it while traveling. It’s a shorter bungie so it keeps things snug and tight.