So I might be getting a trailer in the next few months and I was wondering what are your necessities? like on the tack room area a second set of grooming stuff? saddle racks? anything out of the ordinary?
Everything! My dressing room in my trailer is literally a storage room for all my horse stuff. I have mounting block, saddle racks, pads, bridles, halters, lung lines, whips, crops, bandages, wraps, blankets/sheets, first aid kit, grooming supplies, boots, medical supplies, hay bags, girths, ribbons, show trunk, spare tire, flat tire lift/jack… Yes it’s kind of a disaster right now but I probably won’t be showing for a year or two so that’s okay.
Some dressing rooms have built in saddle racks (mine does under the mangers). It’s amazing what you can fit inside the dressing room…
Make sure you get a water tank! (some people I know got those blue plastic diesel or gas tanks and use those for water for their horses) Also, make sure you have a solid first aid kit and some sedation drugs. God forbid, if you get a wreck, those drugs will be helpful in keeping the horses calm.
I always have on board: First aid kits for horses and humans, a good quality light blanket or cooler, a rain jacket, at least one extra halter and lead, a stud chain, a heavy duty jack and 4 way (for tire changing), an extra pair of shoes or boots (for human), and a notebook with a pen. I’m a bit of a neat freak, so I keep all of these things packed in a medium size tack trunk. It doesn’t take up much space and it is also used as a step up into the gooseneck, as well as a seat from time to time.
For horses I haul around regularly I keep a copy of their coggins in the trailer, you can never have too many of those.
[QUOTE=Equitational;8022847]
Everything! My dressing room in my trailer is literally a storage room for all my horse stuff. I have mounting block, saddle racks, pads, bridles, halters, lung lines, whips, crops, bandages, wraps, blankets/sheets, first aid kit, grooming supplies, boots, medical supplies, hay bags, girths, ribbons, show trunk, spare tire, flat tire lift/jack… Yes it’s kind of a disaster right now but I probably won’t be showing for a year or two so that’s okay.
Some dressing rooms have built in saddle racks (mine does under the mangers). It’s amazing what you can fit inside the dressing room…[/QUOTE]
What kind of trailer do you have? Im hoping to get a featherlite 9407 anyone have one or have any opinions?
[QUOTE=Equitational;8022847]
Everything! My dressing room in my trailer is literally a storage room for all my horse stuff. I have mounting block, saddle racks, pads, bridles, halters, lung lines, whips, crops, bandages, wraps, blankets/sheets, first aid kit, grooming supplies, boots, medical supplies, hay bags, girths, ribbons, show trunk, spare tire, flat tire lift/jack… Yes it’s kind of a disaster right now but I probably won’t be showing for a year or two so that’s okay.
Some dressing rooms have built in saddle racks (mine does under the mangers). It’s amazing what you can fit inside the dressing room…[/QUOTE]
How sturdy have you found the built in saddle racks to be? Im getting another saddle and my parents would kill me if something happened to it
All the others gave good suggestions, but here are a few to add:
Muck fork, muck bucket, and broom
I have some stackable drawers to hold all my stuff that can’t hang up like wraps, polos, etc.
Clean towels and rags
Trailer Aid
Portable saddle rack
Extra grooming supplies, including hoof picks
Ear muffs for shows
Buckets
Hose
Bathing supplies
I think it depends a lot on how much you use it for and what kind of hauling and showing you are doing. If you haul out several days a week for lessons or to an indoor or some sort of regular schooling situation, you’ll probably find you need a lot more of the daily basics. If you are showing regularly and stabling, you’ll need a lot more and a lot different things than if most or all of your showing is local and you work out of your trailer.
For me, no matter what kind of trailering I’m doing, my essentials are:
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a folding wooden step ladder. So terribly useful for a number of things. A seat, a stool for braiding, a mounting block. I’ve worked out of a few trailers with either nothing to mount with or tiny stools. Which is fine if you are agile and/or your horse stands quietly…but there is nothing you miss more than something you can easily climb on and get high enough up for the horses that need a bit of a running start! My trailer ALWAYS has a stool.
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a spare halter and lead plus a chain. You never ever know when someone is going to bust a halter. Or, worse case scenario, if you need to offload in a sketchy spot (because of a break down or emergency), having a second halter and lead on Your horse can be a big peace of mind. And you never know when you’ll need extra control and a chain would come in handy!
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a well stocked first aid kit. Needs no explanation.
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proper road side emergency gear. A trailer aid, a proper jack, some warning markers. All good stuff. And knowing how to use them. Hell, we used to keep bolt cutters in our big head to head trailer after an idiot horse of mine stood up and got his legs over the chest chain!
Other good things like a decently stocked tool box, some farrier tools (that you know how to use. Should have those in the barn, too), will ever go unused. The rest just depends on how you use it!
All the above plus a fire extinguisher big enough to do the job if needed.
I agree that the gear you keep in your trailer will vary depending on how you plan to use it. You’ve gotten good ideas so far.
In mine, I put a rug down in the dressing room to help keep things tidy. I also put a small tack trunk under the saddle racks to store the usual stuff - extra tack, scrim sheets, bathing supplies, grooming box and so forth. Rider stuff (hair nets, gloves, etc) goes in the top tray of the trunk. I also put an extra battery pack/cell phone charger in there, along with a small first aid kit, extra sun glasses, sunscreen and spare truck keys.
I have a gooseneck, so I have a fair amount of room up in the peak. I have a couple of rubbermaid tubs that store extra saddle pads, polos, and wraps. I also keep a set of horse clothes (blanket, sheet, cooler, irish knit) in there so I always have them if needed. Another tub holds “show set up” stuff - bucket hangers, tack hooks, feed scoop, SilverClene, and so forth. That way, when I get to a show, I can just pull out that one tub and have everything I need to set up my stalls. I also have my director’s chairs, some basics like a table cloth, banner, etc plus a hanging mirror, a step stool/braiding bench and a cooler up in the peak.
For myself, I keep a clothes bag that hangs in the DR with a spare show coat, shirt, breeches, jeans, polo, sweater, rain coat and jacket. That way, even if I forget to pack something - I have a spare and don’t have to go buy something at the $$$ mobile shop. I also keep a spare pair of tall boots in the dressing room for the same reason.
[QUOTE=SweetIndulgence;8022910]
What kind of trailer do you have? Im hoping to get a featherlite 9407 anyone have one or have any opinions?[/QUOTE]
I have a Featherlite, not sure on the model number but it looks like those 9407 pictures I saw on Google (its a two horse bumper pull with a ramp, extra tall heigh, mangers and dressing room). I’ve had one horse panic, rear and she got on top of the mangers in a freak accident (we hadn’t left the barn yet). She tore up her head (flap of skin needed many many stitches) but my nothing happened to the trailer! The horse made a full recovery and hauls fine now in a big stock trailer. Since then I’ve been more careful and only hauled horses who have had a lot of trailering experience (I’ve heard of other similar freak accidents with the mangers like that).
Also, make sure you get a good vehicle meant for towing (3/4 ton truck/SUV).
Oh also, if you get a trailer with “butt bars”, get tail wraps. First time hauling without them, horse rubbed a ton of his tail out (they lean on the butt bar for balance). I always put a velcro tail wrap and don’t have a problem now.
[QUOTE=Equitational;8023089]
Oh also, if you get a trailer with “butt bars”, get tail wraps. First time hauling without them, horse rubbed a ton of his tail out (they lean on the butt bar for balance). I always put a velcro tail wrap and don’t have a problem now.[/QUOTE]
Im actually hoping to get the featherlite 9407 and my mare has always hauled in one as both of my trainers have one! I think I’m going to have to find a warmblood sized one though. how sturdy are saddles on the saddle rack? My dad has a 2014 pick up truck and my mom has a 2015 GMC SUV so both can pull a two horse trailer
I want to get the butt bars in mine since ill be the only horsey person (ill have someone else manning the door while i walk her in and out) loading and unloading my young big mare so i think it would be a lot of help. do you have to buy them separately? it seems like everyone I’ve looked at is different!
The butt bars are equipped with the trailer. Attaching the butt bar is the first thing I do after the horse is fully inside the trailer (before tying) and I undo the butt bar before I untie the horse when unloading. It’s really safest and easiest to have two people when loading a horse, one to lead the horse in (and hold horse and tie it) and have someone else outside the trailer to attach the butt bar (and vice versa for unloading). Especially since your mare is young and probably hasn’t been hauled a bunch…
I’ve never had a problem with the saddle racks. I’ve even crammed two saddles on one rack and pads too.
[QUOTE=Equitational;8023153]
The butt bars are equipped with the trailer. Attaching the butt bar is the first thing I do after the horse is fully inside the trailer (before tying) and I undo the butt bar before I untie the horse when unloading. It’s really safest and easiest to have two people when loading a horse, one to lead the horse in (and hold horse and tie it) and have someone else outside the trailer to attach the butt bar (and vice versa for unloading). Especially since your mare is young and probably hasn’t been hauled a bunch…
I’ve never had a problem with the saddle racks. I’ve even crammed two saddles on one rack and pads too.[/QUOTE]
ok let me change that last post. I meant ill be the only horsey person loading and unloading my horse. Ive already taught my parents how to handle the door
For things I require in a tackroom when buying a trailer I would definitely have to say lots of bridlehooks! I think my trailer has at least 15? and I use every single one of those. My tack room also came with 3 saddle racks which I also fill up, I find them to be very stable. The wall of my tack room that is on the side of the trailer where the horses are is carpeted which is great so bits and other things don’t bank on the wall. I have a water tank I never use, I’ve been trying to think of way to take it out and build some shelves there? Haven’t come up with anything yet. My tack room also have 2 very long bars to hang blankets on which is also great. I also really like the light that’s in there. If you want to know what equine related items I pack into my trailer on a regular basis let me know.
[QUOTE=AdrenalineJunky;8023200]
For things I require in a tackroom when buying a trailer I would definitely have to say lots of bridlehooks! I think my trailer has at least 15? and I use every single one of those. My tack room also came with 3 saddle racks which I also fill up, I find them to be very stable. The wall of my tack room that is on the side of the trailer where the horses are is carpeted which is great so bits and other things don’t bank on the wall. I have a water tank I never use, I’ve been trying to think of way to take it out and build some shelves there? Haven’t come up with anything yet. My tack room also have 2 very long bars to hang blankets on which is also great. I also really like the light that’s in there. If you want to know what equine related items I pack into my trailer on a regular basis let me know.[/QUOTE]
What equine items?
Not sure if anyone else said it…flashlight
I always have a spare of everything in my trailer. That includes stirrup leathers, girth, bridle, helmet, breeches etc. I’ve witnessed all of these being broken at shows so I just add them to my “just in case” area.
I have a three horse slant gooseneck and have attached a mirror to the door leading into the stall area. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve had other riders use it to double check their hair.
Couple folding chairs, a weber bbq, extra blankets, wraps, rain coats, sunscreen and basically everything that was already mentioned.
