Readers Respond: Trailer Safety Tips from Readers

Responses: 10

How do you keep your horse happy, safe and comfortable while trailering. Share your trailering tips. Share Your Tips

We have a great New product that every horse person should have by the dozen. It's called the Cowboy Tie Ring. It looks like a metal ring and comes in all sizes and strengths ranging from 1" to 6" in diameter and is about 1/4" thick. Instead of being made of metal, it is made of our Cowboy Tape, a self fusing silicone tape we sell by the roll for $7.50. Simply wrap about 12" to 16" of Cowboy Tape around a 5" to 6" coffee can, stretching it as you go, Roll it off evenly and there you have it. A strong elastomeric Tie Ring that holds about 200 lbs. If your horse starts playing with it or nibbles on it, no worries. It's made of organic, self fusing silicone that's non toxic and won't hurt him. Most horses won't pull on anything connected to their halter that will hold 200 lbs. and it can't break unless they do. But if they should slip and fall or panic, the ring will finally break before they get hurt. Why pay close to $50 for those heavy metal, over sized cinch buckles that won't hold
—Dr.HorseScience

The following is from a vet. Great horse vet. The night before departure and the night during the trip I fed Sunny Bill as much hay as he wanted, soaked in water. Hay (grass is better than alfalfa in this regard) acts a sponge in the horse's colon, providing a source of water which the horse slowly absorbs during the long ride, thereby helping to prevent dehydration 1. Don't unload your horse frequently. 2. Allow your horse to rest, eat hay, and put his head down for 15 minutes every 3 hours. 3. Feed wet hay before and during long trips. 4. For hauls over 12 hours, a loose box stall setting in the trailer is recommended whenever possible. The entire article can be found at: HighDesertEquine.com. News and Notes Fall 2010
—steammachinist

always check the trailer hitch before going home after a show or trail ride. I know of one time when some boys unlocked the hitch at a show. I always check the trailer set up before reloading to go home from any event
—Guest guest

If you share your trailer hitch between the camper trailer, fishing boat trailer and horse trailer always check that you haven't changed the ball. Running a trailer, especially a horse trailer with the wrong ball size can be very dangerous.
—Sandra R.

I know a lot of places say give your horse hay in the trailer. but if your horse is nervous or bolts its hay it can choke. I've heard of this happening twice now and won't give my horse hay on the trailer.
—AmyC

I like the pelleted wood bedding on the floor of my trailer. They are super absorbant and not dusty. One bag lasts me all summer.
—elkhazar

Always double-check vents are open. I've seen horses coming off trailers soaking wet. In hot weather make sure there is good ventilation.
—myhorsegoldie

You suggested giving your horse a break after 2 hours in a green space or picnic area. This is extremely dangerous and you should never take your horse off the trailer unless in an enclosed area; the best situation would be a farm with horse savvy people (you can call ahead to many farms on your trip and get hooked up with a place to take a break). Many horses become nervous when unloaded and have the potential to freak out, not want to get back on the trailer or get away; running into traffic is the last thing anyone wants. Also, many horses are shipped up and down the east coast in only one trailer ride, it is tough on them but if you have provided them water and give them plenty of rest on their arrival they will be fine.
—Guest Concerned

Last year I needed to buy a trailer to haul my 3 year old gelding, just cut three weeks before the trip, our 4 year old mare and ten day old foal from Texas to Tn, a trip that would take 28 hours. After checking to see what commercial horse haulers would charge and what they used, the one common thing that kept comming up was they used box stalls and didn't tie the horses. I bought a 20' stock/horse trailer and put the mare and foal in the front and the gelding in the rear and left all three loose. I used over the rail hanging feeders and filled them half full with water each time we stopped which was every 2 1/2 hours for 30 minutes. I put plenty of hay on the floor and kept hanging hay bags full of hay and DID NOT feed any feed during the trip. All three made the trip with no roblem and momma managed to keep her hooves away from the baby, which layed down most of the time except when she was nursing, and still had room enough to move around.
—kennethjb

If your horse is nervous in the trailer try wrapping legs instead of using shippping boots. Some horses feel more secure with wraps. Boots make them walk funny, so it probably feels weird in the trailer too.
—Guest Helena