[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8210039]
Windows down with jailbars up only for me and mine. Vet says allowing horses to hang their heads out the windows while moving is a major no, no for the eyes and not to do it.[/QUOTE]
Not only the eyes–projecting objects on passing vehicles, etc. etc.
I always travel with the windows open, but only if there is a screen. Years ago a friend of mine had a fire start in the trailer after another driver flicked a cigarette butt and it flew in through an open window.
I have a straight load w/ windows that slide open on all sides but have screens, and front windows that either slide open or drop down to reveal jail bars, then even the jail bars drop down. I slide them all open, but don’t drop the front ones down to the jail bars. I’m just too concerned about debris. I would NEVER drop the jail bars down and let them hang their head out, that’s just crazy.
[QUOTE=DressageLin;8212477]
I regularly trailer with the top of my dutch door straight load open. I honestly never gave it a second thought. Hearing that a horse flipped over the half door is certainly making me re-think this. Do others just leave these closed? I hate the thought of it being so stuffy while trailering in the summer heat.[/QUOTE]
I have been hauling horses in a straight load for 25+ years. Most of the time I leave the top doors over the ramp open. I tie my horses and my horses are big enough to hit their heads on the roof long before they could flip out.
When I trailered a weanling for a friend, top doors were closed. I trailered another horse that due to a long story we changed the trailer to a box stall and the pony was loose. The top doors were closed.
I do think with any set up a horse or pony can find a way to hurt themselves if they try hard enough.
My horse went over the breast bar and got stuck. Had a pony rear up as the owner was loading and he hooked a leg over the center divider when he came down. There is a video of a horse that went out the front window of a slant load and got stuck half way out.
I have horses that generally haul well. I would prefer the extra ventilation of the back doors being open. Like another poster said I had a Cotner that had a back tarp instead of doors. Back in the day 60’s, 70’s and 80’s many trailers didn’t have top doors, just the roll down tarp.
[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8212766]
I have been hauling horses in a straight load for 25+ years. Most of the time I leave the top doors over the ramp open. I tie my horses and my horses are big enough to hit their heads on the roof long before they could flip out.
When I trailered a weanling for a friend, top doors were closed. I trailered another horse that due to a long story we changed the trailer to a box stall and the pony was loose. The top doors were closed.
I do think with any set up a horse or pony can find a way to hurt themselves if they try hard enough.
My horse went over the breast bar and got stuck. Had a pony rear up as the owner was loading and he hooked a leg over the center divider when he came down. There is a video of a horse that went out the front window of a slant load and got stuck half way out.
I have horses that generally haul well. I would prefer the extra ventilation of the back doors being open. Like another poster said I had a Cotner that had a back tarp instead of doors. Back in the day 60’s, 70’s and 80’s many trailers didn’t have top doors, just the roll down tarp.[/QUOTE]
A horse can and will be able to flip over the back partition with the back windows open, regardless if their head hits the top of the trailer… imagine what would happen to the horse if this happened on the highway - he would honestly likely be dead from impact alone, flipping out the back of a trailer going 60-70 MPH… not worth it, for me. I won’t trailer with the back open, and I don’t even think it gives that much more ventilation given that it’s the back that is open and not the sides or the front.
[QUOTE=beowulf;8211297]
I agree, any time you trailer, I’d put a fly mask on. In addition to road detritus, if you have hay in the trailer or shavings, the sawdust and hay flies around and can get quite irritating.
As everyone else says, any time you are moving, everything should be shut to keep the horse in - jailbars especially. Window screens open but never leave the actual window itself open!
Also, I’m seeing a lot of people who trailer straight loads with the top windows (that overlap the ramp) open. DON’T DO THAT! I have witnessed to my absolute HORROR a horse that flipped back over the closed ramp (but open window) while the driver was leaving the show ground. It was absolutely horrifying. I don’t know if the horse was okay, he was very banged up.[/QUOTE]
Exactly this.
We had a Shetland pony back in the 70’s that we sold to some family friends who lived in the same town. My father was shipping her to them when something went horribly wrong. She flipped out the back and instantly broke her neck and died. Absolutely horrifying. This was back when the top above the ramp was those nylon pieces that were held with grommets above the ramp - you rolled it up when you loaded/unloaded. I have never and will never leave the top doors open while shipping a horse - just a recipe for disaster.
For the OP…windows open, bars up (preferably with screens) and fly masks on! I get so many looks from people when my horse comes off the trailer with a mask on - they just don’t get it.
Same as pretty much everyone else: windows open, bars up (with screen) and fly mask on. My trailer also has vents in the roof to allow for air flow so those are open as well.
I’m surprised people still drive around with trailer windows wide open with no bars. IIRC, in some states/provinces, it is illegal for you to do so.
[QUOTE=Heart’s Journey;8211395]
Fans that are on the butt side, so they blow air across the horse’s rump, back, etc even when the trailer isn’t moving. Fans really make quite a difference as well as the open windows w/bars, fly masks, and ceiling vents[/QUOTE]
I have butt fans and they are great.
Besides all the air flow people suggest, look at your trailer roof. I have an aluminum trailer with an aluminum roof, and it’s insulated. The temperature difference is incredible. It’s COOL in the trailer. Step into an identical trailer without the insulated roof and it’s like being in a hot cracker box.
I would never own a trailer with a metal roof without it being insulated.
Fiberglass roofs are of course much cooler!
[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8210039]
Windows down with jailbars up only for me and mine. Vet says allowing horses to hang their heads out the windows while moving is a major no, no for the eyes and not to do it.[/QUOTE]
Eyes and I’ve heard of some getting decapitated
[QUOTE=Appsolute;8210525]
But for hot weather? YES windows DOWN, bars UP, and fly masks ON.[/QUOTE]
Can you imagine how hot an all black trailer would be in the summer? Why would anyone design or buy that?
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