What Do I Need To Know Before Buying A Horse Trailer?

Make sure you do a thorough inspection of your trailer, checking the tires, hitch connection, inside of horse trailer, tack room, and living quarters area. Make sure everything works like it should and looks sturdy and durable. You’ll even want to get down underneath the trailer to check out the floors.

What type of horse trailer is best?

When transporting more than three horses, traveling with lots of tack, and making extended trips, a gooseneck horse trailer may be the best choice. A gooseneck trailer includes a main trailer body and an overhang that slides over the bed of the towing vehicle where the coupler connects to the truck.

What should I look for in a stock trailer?

A Stock Trailer Buyer’s Guide

• The Size. Before you can look at trailers, you need to know what tow vehicle you will be using.
• The Hitch. Bumper-pull trailers and gooseneck trailers are the two typical hitch options.
• The Frame.
• The Sides.
• The Roof.
• The Floor.
• The Entry.
• The Doors.

Can horses stay in a trailer overnight?

Horses are fine for up to 9 hours in a trailer as long as they have food and water, and unloading during the trip just adds to your end time considerably.

How long do horse trailers last?

A well-built trailer should last over 20 years before metal fatigue and deterioration becomes a factor, but I shouldn’t have to recruit an army of assistants every time I want to do routine trailer maintenance. Make sure wiring, hinges, moving parts, suspension, spare tires, and such are all easy to get at.

What is the difference between a stock trailer and a horse trailer?

Horse Trailers — Drop down ramp or Dutch doors above the ramp on the rear and side. The side ramp is important so transporters do not have to unload horses to get to a horse that is at the front. Stock Trailers — Full rear swing gate with no ramp or double back doors with no ramps.

Do horses prefer stock trailers?

I can say both myself and especially my horses prefer the stock trailer. More room, better ventilation, brighter inside etc. Even when hauling in cold or wet weather the horses are dry and draft free. Mine have never been bothered by things happening outside the trailer.

Should you tie a horse in a stock trailer?

Whether you’re trailering for a short distance or long haul (pun intended), it’s important to keep safety top-of-mind. Tying your horse safely in the trailer is one critical component to keeping them safe on your journey.

How fast should you drive with a horse trailer?

Don’t exceed 65 mph when towing a horse trailer.
A proper rig should travel no more than 65 mph on the interstates and not more than 55 mph on highways. Horse trailers have special trailer tires. These tires are rated for a maximum speed of 65 mph.

What to do with a horse that paws at the trailer?

If your horse paws when you stop, you can lightly bump your brakes to get him standing on all four feet. But remember, if you tap your brakes to jar one horse, it jars any other horses in the trailer, too. Groundwork outside the trailer might also help a pawing horse get over his frustration and develop more patience.

How often should you stop when hauling horses?

every four to six hours
How often should I stop? Your horse should have a 15- to 20-minute rest period every four to six hours during a long haul when the trailer is stopped and parked, ideally in a shaded area if it’s hot. During this rest period, offer water, replenish food supplies, and do a general safety check.

Is it better to buy a new or used horse trailer?

It’s always necessary that the trailer is structurally sound and that brakes and lights are working, but a nice used trailer can do the job. If you use the trailer regularly, then you should buy the best and toughest trailer you can afford. How many horses will you be hauling?

Do horse trailers hold their value?

Horse trailers generally depreciate by 25% every three years.

Do horse trailers need service?

Trailer Servicing – Is a MUST not a luxury, it’s a necessity – keep your trailer in tip-top condition, increase its lifespan and residual value, as well as safety for your, your horse and other road users.

Which is better a slant or straight horse trailer?

A Horse Trailer Is a Personal Preference
Overall, slant loads are slightly better unless you have a limited budget or are hauling very large horses. Generally, it is down to personal preference and your needs.

Is it better to have a trailer nose up or down?

If a trailer is nose up too much, the tongue weight is low enough that the trailer may begin to sway. So in short, level is best. If level is not possible, then try to go slightly nose down. Slightly nose up can be fine, but keep an eye out for trailer sway.

Is a steel or aluminum horse trailer better?

The advantage to an all-steel trailer is it is constructed out the strongest material being used in the industry and holds up well, though it will be somewhat heavier to tow. An all aluminum trailer won’t rust but it is not as sturdy as an all-steel trailer.

Do black horse trailers get hotter?

while the interior of the black trailer may or may not be appreciably hotter than the interior of a white trailer (especially if insulated), the surface temp of a black surface will be way hotter than the surface temp of a black surface.

Is trailering stressful for horses?

Even though horses may seem content in a trailer, many experience stress during transport. According to a recent study on equine behavior during transport*, several behaviors can be used to assess stress. Examples include pulling back, licking the trailer, turning their head, flank-watching, and pawing.

How do you keep a horse from running out of a trailer?

Get your horse to walk forward into your trailer, stand still in the trailer and then back out of your trailer on command. It may take multiple attempts before you can get him to stand successfully without trying to bolt backward out of the trailer, but when he does you need to reward him with praise or a treat.

Should I tarp my horse trailer for the winter?

Preserve tires and prevent dry rot on the sidewalls by covering them with tire covers or a tarp. ArmorAll anything that’s vinyl or rubber on your trailer. This means your tires, window and door seals, and padding on walls and stall partitions. Do not apply ArmorAll to mats as it will make them slippery.