I had a 16 foot Ponderosa stock trailer and routinely hauled 4 horses here and there, never more than a couple hours. I bought it new when I needed a four horse cheap, and it was cheap in many senses of the word. 
I’m pretty sure mine was only 5’ wide, but I don’t have it any more to measure. The front compartment fit two small horses, 15 hand types, I did try a couple times to bring my 16H horse in it but he had trouble turning around and his head almost touched the top. The back compartment would fit two large ponies or one horse. I agree with those that say get at least a 6’ wide,
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8794938]
If you’re going to “straight load” horses you’ll want a 24’ x 7’ (deck measurement) to allow for average sized horses. I’d want two cut gates. If you’re going to “slant load” then I think the standard stall size is 42". That puts the short wall at 252" or 21’. But you also have to account for the slant. A narrow width trailer (5’ or 6’) will mean a more acute angle than a 7’ or 8’ width. That means more length. So there’s going to be some trade off in the design. But, when it’s all done, you’re still likely looking at 24’ deck length, more or less.
In a 24’ box you can haul more than six horses, slant tied. How many more? Depends on the horses and how much risk of injury you’re willing to accept.
Cost? Depends on what you want to spend. An AL trailer will be more than a steel to buy but will hold it’s value MUCH better. Go someplace like Horsetrailers.com and search for AL stock trailers. You’ll be unpleasantly surprised, as a buyer, by how well these things hold their value. IMO they hold value well enough that it makes economic sense to buy new, even if you have to finance it, than buy used.
You’ll want at least a 3/4 ton with a big engine (gas or diesel) to pull one of these trailers.
Good luck in your search.
G.[/QUOTE]
My plan is to slant load so sounds like I might be a little undersized at 20’ if I want at least 5 (would probably be hauling 4 regularly). Can’t imagine I would ever haul more than 6 so it sounds like 24’ would be as long as I need.
I’ve been pricing out on horsetrailerworld.com but I’ll definitely check out horsetrailers.com too
I have a 2012 F350 gas long bed so I’m hoping that’s plenty of truck especially since I do fairly short trips
Thanks for the information!!
