Trailering Only One Horse- Is Back Stall of Stock Trailer OK?

[ytr45]

Hi again with another trailering question:

We have a GN 16’ stock trailer with two 8’ stalls and a slam gate between them.

I know there is a guideline about trailering only one horse - he has to go in the front stall. Something about weight and stability, etc.

My long-ish (nose to tail) gelding can not stand straight on the diagonal facing backward. He stands backward on the diagonal with his neck cranked.

We measured the stalls, and the rear stall is 6" longer than the front stall.

The guy at the trailer shop says its not unusual for the 2 stalls to unequal in size. He said it was ok for my horse to be trailered in the back stall, when he’s trailered alone. Something about the center of gravity would still be over the hitch, or truck, or something like that.

My husband has ridden in the back of the trailer for observational purposes, and says the extra 6" would make a big difference for my horse… (he’s only 15.2 hands, but conformationally he’s long on short legs. I have no idea whatsoever how folks trailer a big warmblood in a 8’ stall, but i know it works- somehow).

So, is it really ok?
thanks.

[GotMyPony]

If he’s traveling alone can you leave the gate open and just let him pick where he wants to stand? Worst case he might still pick the back stall area, which is what was worrying you, but he might pick the front or somewhere in between and the load might be more stable as per the original guidelines you mentioned.

[CrowneDragon]

[QUOTE=GotMyPony;7855424]
If he’s traveling alone can you leave the gate open and just let him pick where he wants to stand? Worst case he might still pick the back stall area, which is what was worrying you, but he might pick the front or somewhere in between and the load might be more stable as per the original guidelines you mentioned.[/QUOTE]

If he starts marching around or has a fit back there I wouldn’t want him to have enough room to really start rocking the trailer. And if you leave it open and tie him so he can’t walk around, he loses stuff to lean on without the gate there.
Regarding the original question, I don’t know the answer. I don’t know how much it compromises the handling of the rig to have the horse at the back. It may depend on the overall weight of the load. If it is a big heavy steel trailer then the added weight of the horse may not matter much.

[Equibrit]

You do not want that much weight traveling behind the axles. If the trailer gets to swaying, you won’t be able to stop it, and could have a big mess on your hands. He needs to travel forward of the axles.

[ytr45]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;7855453]
You do not want that much weight traveling behind the axles. If the trailer gets to swaying, you won’t be able to stop it, and could have a big mess on your hands. He needs to travel forward of the axles.[/QUOTE]

It is a steel stock trailer pulled by a 2500 silverado. I recall the trailer shop person saying that I could counter-balance by placing hay or something in the front. I really don’t know anything at all about this.

But if its a sway/ safety no-no, then i won’t do it. period.

(didn’t know a GN could have sway).

Thanks

[goodhors]

Can you just tie him to one side in front, tie the center gate open? He would have all the length he needs, can stand straight or slant himself if he likes to ride better that way. Any special reason he “needs” to be loose in the trailer?

I would definitely have horse ahead of the axles for the better ride, kind of like a hammock between truck axle and trailer axles. Riding over the axles in back is harder, he will arrive more tired. And without anyone in front, his weight could affect control of the trailer with hard wind, semi trucks passing your outfit.

I would never leave a horse loose to roam the whole length of trailer, moving weight can throw off your steering, control of the truck and trailer.

I don’t haul loose horses unless they would be foals, yearling not trained yet to tie. I want my load in the trailer to stay put in moving down the roadway. As a Commercial truck driver, having a loose load moving in the trailer is a HUGE issue that will get you hurt. Horses on their tall legs make for a load behind that you need to keep controlled as much as possible. High weight that can move about much is going to create problems.

And yes, a gooseneck stock trailer can sway with even a little horse back over the axles! I thought I would be “kind” the my horse, leave her loose back there. “Everyone” at the Trail Ride hauled that way, so they said. She may have been tap dancing or racing in circles, or just shifting from one leg to another, but that trailer was moving my truck!! I couldn’t take that, so stopped on the highway, moved her from back to front and tied her up. No issues with truck, trailer, having horse STAY PUT in the front, all the 4 hours home, going at 60mph on the highway. Learned my lesson, NEVER listened to others about hauling after that. Horse weighed about 950#, really fit, not tall at 14.2H in 7ft high, steel trailer. So size doesn’t really matter if the leverage factor comes into play during hauling.

[ytr45]

Very good info!

FYI -

I would never ever haul him loose in the whole trailer. I do know that much

The horse doesn’t need to be in a box stall for any specific reason, thats just the configuration of the trailer.

He will stand tied, no problem whatsoever.

The trailer axles are centered over the back 8’ stall (can post a pic of the trailer if anyone wants)

This may be completely erroneous, but I thought that mainly western people trailered their horses tied to the wall of the trailer, not english people.
(sorry if thats idiotic).

So I could tie him 9 feet from the front of the trailer, and then he can backwards or backwards diagonally? (and have slam gate pinned open). Something like that?

Thanks.

[arlosmine]

I have a very large three horse slant load that I only use as a two horse because of the reason you mentioned : they squish the horses into too small a space. The first stall in mine is now the size of two.

I routinely tie to the wall, and close the gate, though the horse is nowhere near reaching the divider with their hindquarters. I would NOT do this with a horse who did not tie well, or a horse who has a history if pulling back: they need to hit something stable with their bum before hitting the end of the rope.
So: you may be just fine to remove the divider from the trailer, or tie it back…then tie the horse to the first tie ring.

[cutter99]

I have a 16’ gooseneck stock trailer and haul my horses on the trailer alone all the time in the rear box. The tongue weight of the trailer will compensate for the horse. My trailer sits level and I have never had a problem and have traveled a couple hundred miles in one trip this way. I use my front box for tack and throw the horse in the back.

[merrygoround]

I have trailer with one horse loose in the entire trailer. I’ve found that they park themselves on a diagonal, nose to the rear, and seldom move.

[Doctracy]

[QUOTE=ytr45;7855314]
Hi again with another trailering question:

We have a GN 16’ stock trailer with two 8’ stalls and a slam gate between them.

I know there is a guideline about trailering only one horse - he has to go in the front stall. Something about weight and stability, etc.

My long-ish (nose to tail) gelding can not stand straight on the diagonal facing backward. He stands backward on the diagonal with his neck cranked.

We measured the stalls, and the rear stall is 6" longer than the front stall.

The guy at the trailer shop says its not unusual for the 2 stalls to unequal in size. He said it was ok for my horse to be trailered in the back stall, when he’s trailered alone. Something about the center of gravity would still be over the hitch, or truck, or something like that.

My husband has ridden in the back of the trailer for observational purposes, and says the extra 6" would make a big difference for my horse… (he’s only 15.2 hands, but conformationally he’s long on short legs. I have no idea whatsoever how folks trailer a big warmblood in a 8’ stall, but i know it works- somehow).

So, is it really ok?
thanks.[/QUOTE]
I’d just give him the whole trailer. I don’t like hauling big horses untied but I sometimes do with my three horse slant on really long trips. I always give my large horses two stalls unless I have a full load.

[workin_onit]

I’ve hauled my horse loose in the back of a stock trailer and never experienced any issues with sway or movement. I haul with an F-250. Stock trailers are balanced different than horse trailers.

[gypsymare]

It depends on the tongue weight and location of the axles and inherent stability if the rig. I have an RV with a rear water tank that is extrmemy unsafe to drive with the rear tank full and it will sway my 3/4 ton right off the road. The more weight to the rear the more propensity to sway. It’s simple pendulum physics.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Like it has been said, it totally depends on the location of the axles. You simply don’t want more weight behind the axles.

The “Western people” I know tie their horses in the stock trailer for mainly two reasons. 1) they are already tacked up–protect the tack and/or 2) they have more than one horse in that stock trailer, so it’s best to tie them next to each other so everyone just stands there nicely.

[ytr45]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;7855453]
You do not want that much weight traveling behind the axles. If the trailer gets to swaying, you won’t be able to stop it, and could have a big mess on your hands. He needs to travel forward of the axles.[/QUOTE]

Equibrit,

If the trailer axles are centered under the back stall, does this still count as not “forward of the axles” ?
thanks.

[ytr45]

[QUOTE=workin’onit;7856334]
I’ve hauled my horse loose in the back of a stock trailer and never experienced any issues with sway or movement. I haul with an F-250. Stock trailers are balanced different than horse trailers.[/QUOTE]

Hi Workin’onit,
What do you mean about stock trailers are balance different? thanks.

[workin_onit]

Mine was a 20’ GN stock trailer and it put more weight onto the truck instead of the trailer axles.

[crosscreeksh]

DD and SIL had a bad wreck many years ago when bringing a brand new stock trailer cross country for the dealer/friend who had ordered it. They put their furniture and tools in the front compartment and two smallish QH’s in the rear section. In a bad rain storm, on a bumpy turnpike…the trailer jumped OFF the bumper hitch ball (big heavy 1 ton flatbed truck) and while the safety chains held…the rig pinwheeled down the highway and threw the truck up on top of the concrete barrier wall. The trailer slammed into the wall, but didn’t tip over. The horses sustained small cuts and abrasions…Both the truck and trailer we totally destroyed!! Moral of the story…put your weight forward!!

[Equibrit]

You need the weight ahead of the axles. Rule of thumb if you are using all the space is 60% ahead of the axles and 40% behind.

U haul video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ek4Nb_CVI8

[cutter99]

“DD and SIL had a bad wreck many years ago when bringing a brand new stock trailer cross country for the dealer/friend who had ordered it. They put their furniture and tools in the front compartment and two smallish QH’s in the rear section. In a bad rain storm, on a bumpy turnpike…the trailer jumped OFF the bumper hitch ball (big heavy 1 ton flatbed truck) and while the safety chains held…the rig pinwheeled down the highway and threw the truck up on top of the concrete barrier wall. The trailer slammed into the wall, but didn’t tip over. The horses sustained small cuts and abrasions…Both the truck and trailer we totally destroyed!! Moral of the story…put your weight forward!!”

[QUOTE]
[/QUOTE]

Umm, no, I think the moral of the story would be to make sure the receiver is secured to the ball, maybe take it easy in less than ideal towing conditions, or just plain pull off and let the weather pass. And the tongue weight of a gooseneck is different than the tongue weight of a bumper pull as well as other significant differences in towing.