Hey I’ve been looking through other forums with this topic but thought I’d voice my own questions. I’m going to look at a trailer this weekend that I need to be big enough for my Warmblood and my other horse. It’s a 2 horse straight load, simple but cute and affordable. I know standard “Warmblood” size is 7’6” height, but is there a general “minimum”? My coach told me (she hasn’t seen my horse though) a minimum of 7’3” but is that too short? I will measuring it when I see it so want to know in advance. She has trailered before in a 7’4” (or so the owner told me) and was still brushing her ears/almost her poll on the ceiling when she lifted her head up. She’s 16.2hh with narrow frame but has a long neck. I do have a head bumper that she can wear if she continues to keep her head up there when traveling for whatever reason. I’m also curious to know what size stall dimensions are comfortable for warmbloods. Such as width and length from chestbar to butt bar. I can attach pictures of the trailer as well if anyone needs an idea. The lady selling the trailer told me it is Warmblood size and that she has had her 17hh and her 16hh horses in it and they “weren’t cramped in it”. But without having the horse with me to put in and try out I just kind of want to know what dimensions I should say yes/no to. I’ve had people be wrong about labeling their trailer has Warmblood size before so I’m just wary. Can anyone help me out?
I think it is horse dependent. For a horse that tall, I would lean towards a higher trailer if your horse is sensitive about getting on a trailer or may become so. Having a horse who will not load is a pain.
Having said that, I had a 16 hand horse who loaded on a stock trailer with no issues for years. I don’t remember the height of the trailer, but his withers we’re only a few inches from the ceiling. He would duck his head to load. He was a quarter horse so his natural neck position was flat. He was the same horse who if the trailer door got opened while he was near it, he would make a beeline to it to load because he liked to go places.
I had a 2H BP that I had ordered that was a little longer ( can’t remember specifics now) and 7’ tall and it hauled my 17.1 big bodied gelding just fine.
I upgraded to a 16 foot stock trailer that was also 7’ tall and that gelding ( my biggest) had plenty of head room and hauled comfortably in it as well.
I would go minimum 7’6, but 7’8 would be better - you will never regret having too much head room for the horses. They can probably do just fine in shorter if everything is good, but if you have to slam on the brakes or they slip getting in or out and they have to raise their head suddenly to balance themselves they’ll need the extra clearance. Far easier to prevent a horse with a trailer issue than fix one once the horse has scared himself. If you find a trailer you like other than the height you can always have the roof raised for a reasonable cost - had my stock trailer done for my high headed spheshul snowflake sport horse and it was worth the peace of mind.
7’4” is my minimum, but I prefer 7’6”+. Honestly though, I find it’s the width and length that makes a trailer horses will just hop on vs one that causes problems. I’ve seen plenty of horses that are confirmed bad loaders on a slant or straight but are happy to get on an extra wide stock trailer with 7’ ceilings (I guess it feels super airy and they’re not crammed into a slot with a divider). I think they’re used to navigating under low ceiling barns/low hanging branches and can tolerate that as long as they don’t feel squished in something too narrow. This is my main concern with the trailer pictured, but it’s hard to tell without a measurement.
