Horse trailers and tying...

[Heidi]

Saw a post in another thread and wanted to start this one for information purposes...

Differences of opinion about how to tie in a trailer?

Myself, I would personally use my leadrope (to keep it attached to the horse), or loop the leadrope over the neck and back under the neck and over the leadrope again to keep the end up but easy to grab, and leave the horse untied in a stall trailer. Stock trailer I think I would just leave loose unless I had more than one horse per section.

What is the thinking on this, pros/cons? Should they be tied? Should they remain loose? Are there situations that call for one or the other?
Heidi

[Cindy]

I always tie my horses in the trailer as I think it is safer for them to not be able to move around and get themselves in trouble. It is especially important to tie them if the trailer has a open back as they can and will turn around and possibly try to jump out the back.

I also use the lead rope to tie. As I stated in the other thread, I just do not understand the concept of a trailer tie. That is what the lead rope is for.

The only time that I would haul one untied is if it were a foal by the mare's side or if it was a young horse that was not yet taught to tie. In this case, I would only used an enclosed trailer.

One thing that I cannot stand to see is horses going down the road with the windows open in front of them. This is highly dangerous. I have actually seen horses with their heads sticking out the trailer when driving down the freeway. HELLO!!! Even with the bars up so that the horse cannot put it's head out there is still the danger of something coming up from the road and taking an eye out or worse. Some of the trailers now have a mesh that you can put up which makes it better and I would find this acceptable for older, well trailered horses. However, as I am sure many of you have experienced, the first thing that a young horse or a horse that has not been trailer much does when it gets nervous in the trialer is to lung forward. This is how many of them end up in the manger and why I would not have a trailer with a manger. It is not hard to imagine what would happen if this same horse jumped forward and out the window of the trailer. So, please, put those window up and only leave them down in the spaces where there is not a horse.

[motorgypsy]

You read my mind. I would think all our combined experiences with trailering would be useful to the readers.

We have a two horse bumper pull. It is too narrow for the horse to turn around in. We load by putting at least one longe line connected to a rope halter on the horse through a trailer window and keeping the slack out of it whill giving tugs on it. If the horse has been trained to load from a rear cue the longe line is long enough so you can walk back to where the horse is loading and still tug on the line. If we have a time frame and a reluctant horse we use two longe lines, one out of each window to be sure the horse is centered and we can swing the end of the line behind the horse to encourage forward movement if needed.

We always have a dish of grain and some hay in the trailer. We have two padded mats under the main mat to dampen the sound of loading and to make the floor more padded for long trips. We use grippy pads between the other pads to keep them from slipping and grippy stuff glued to the wooden floor so when they jump in the mats won't slide.

If the horse loads and wants to back out we allow it but again encourage the horse to reenter quickly. Sometimes they will go in and out four times before they are calm enough to stay long enough for the door to be closed. We don't tie until the door is closed and we use a short tie with a panic snap on it. We NEVER OPEN the rear door until that short line is disconected and a long lead or longe line is connected to the rope halter. We heap the long line in the sill and they drag it out with them as they unload.

With an inexperienced horse we try to unload on level ground with the trainer wheels in a slight depression to minimize the height of the sill. The same thing for loading.

If we are loading or unloading at night we use a flashlight to light the inside of the trailer. We also open all the windows during loading because some of them like to look outside immediately after loading.

If a horse is reluctant to unload, if you have a second horse in with them and unload the second one first, the first one will usually unload. We initally trailer a new horse with a second horse when possible. They seem more comfortable with company.

We actually stop at rest areas on the interstate, far from the road, use a longe line on them, and take them for walks on the pet walk area. But you have to know your horse very well before you try this.

A few safety suggestions - don't allow strangers to help you load your horses. Tell them you have plenty of time and are in no hurry. Ask people to stay away from horses you are loading. Even though ours aren't tied but hand help during loading they still feel a bit trapped and might kick out at someone who comes near if they really don't feel like loading. We also trailer with fly masks on since we have air vents on the front windows and trash could blow in.

[Cindy]

Good advice. I have used the long line to load horses as well and it is especially helpful in those two horse side by sides. I have found that I do not need it, however, with the slant load trailer which is more open so they tend to go in better. One thing though, and I know that you know this MGs, do not EVER tie the rope to the trailer when you are loading the horse. It is a good way to break a neck as the horse can move forward getting a lot of slack in the line and then if they lunge backward, they can break their necks. Always have someone holding the line so that it does not get too much slack in it.

Also, I have seen horses get turned around in those old, little two horse trailers. You would be suprised what they can do that you do not think they can.

I would also never take a horse out of a trailer while traveling unless absolutely necessary. You never know what can happen even with a horse that you know very well. If they happen to get loose, they are then running down the freeway.

[CarolU]

Ditto what Cindy said about tieing while loading. I've seen horses panic when only their two back feet are out, they pull back and the back feet actually slide UNDER the trailer. One horse I saw broke its leg this way and had to be put down.

Alway TRAIN the horses to load and unload before you go need to go somewhere. Don't forget unload training, it is AS important as loading. If you have a straight load, leave the butt chain/bar done up until after you have untied the horse. It is a good idea to train the horse to stand in the trailer UNTIL you give it the cue to back.

I like trailer ties, especially for geldings who enjoy untying knots. Make sure you get those with panic snaps. If you use feed bags, it's a good idea to put them in with panic snaps also, just in case. If you tie with a lead rope, make sure you use a safety knot that can be undone quickly (directions in this months PFHW)

I don't mind mangers, but if you have them make sure there is enough space the horse can back away from it and lower their heads to clear their throat. I've heard of horses choking before because their head was tied up.

I don't have problems with the windows down as long as the bars are up. I have riden in my trailer and there is very little air that comes in from the sides. I had mesh on my old trailer and my horses destroyed it. I do find my horses love the windows down and actually enjoy going for a ride. When I turn off the main road and am going up the canyons, I usually open the bars too and let them put their heads all the way out. Mind you I'm driving VERY slow. They really like this.

[Cindy]

One thing about butt bars. Always take the butt bar down before you open the door. Some horses will try to back out as soon as the door is open and get caught under the butt bar. A good way to have a serious injury.

[CarolU]

Yeah, and they're hard to undo when the horse is backed against them. Actually the best idea is to train the horse to STAND there until you tell it to BACK out.

[Heidi]

Thanks everyone! This is all great advice.
I've never owned a trailer...but am thinking we will purchase one in the next year or two as Q and I do more and more riding.
Heidi

[Linda Y]

In my trailer, the tie rings are really high. I can't reach them from inside or outside the trailer. So I have soft cotton leadropes tied to them that stay there all the time. I can reach through the window and fasten the regular lead to the horse then unsnap the trailer one from the horse.
As they said, a horse can get into trouble real easy in a trailer. I had one jump part way over the partition in a 4 horse gooseneck. If that wasn't fun to get her out of! Also had one jump through the escape door on the side of a 2 horse, one go through the front of a fiberglass trailer after jumping into the manger, a foal try to jump out the back of an old 2 horse that didn't have upper doors, one try to turn around in a straight load 2 horse, and one jump into the manger then slip and fall and get hung by the leadrope and slip under the divider. That last one is the only horse that was actually mine and it was her first time in the trailer.

[CarolU]

One other note about trailering, has nothing to do with tying really, but Cindy's comment reminded me of it. Drive EXTRA defensively when pulling a trailer, double your following distance and really watch out for idiots who pull out in front of you. I ended up with two horses on their butts, under the butt bars and trapped in my trailer, when some old biddy pulled out in front of me 'assuming' I was driving slower because of the trailer. I had to take the divider out in the middle of main street to get the horses up and out of the trailer. It was a FRIGGING mess.

Never underestimate how stupid other people are about you pulling trailers.

[Mellifluous]

My tip-

Even if your horse is comfortable loading, unloading, standing tied, etc. Ship can happen so never take it for granted and try to keep your head about you if something does happen. Oh, and don't use bungie trailer ties :D I have a slant load and I really prefer it over a 2 horse straight load. There are no crazy mangers, chest bars, butt bars, etc. which in my mind are things that horses view as challenges to see if they can wrap a leg around them. I am going to purchase a rubber bumper for my trailer and hope that it will help prevent banged up legs.

I have seen a horse that had only been hauled once (by me a few days previous to this event- used a stock trailer and hauled her untied), never taught to tie and was essentially untouched/trained by people have a nasty loading incident. They tried to load her up in a 2 horse with partition and chest/butt bars. They tied this horse to the little flimsy ring in the front. This was the first time this horse had ever been tied. She pulled back, freaked at being restrained, reared up broke the ring and flipped on her back. She then kicked her way under the butt bar and off the trailer. Sandy M ended up getting her to her destination a couple of weeks later. She can tell you all about that trip!.

[Cindy]

You know, come to think of it, what good are butt bars anyway? Is there some purpose that they serve other than one more way to possibly injure our horses? I have a 6 horse slant load and it came with a butt bar on the side of the back doors that does not have the fold up tack compartment. I took it out and put it in the tack room the first time I ever used the trailer. I have no use for it. Does anyone else have some use for them that I have been missing?

[Cindy]

Mel, why don't you put a ramp on instead of a bumper?

[Mellifluous]

I hate ramps. plus, no way to attach one to my trailer. I have seen horses get some nasty wounds from stepping off ramps when they get squirrely.

I think step ups can be safe enough as long as the horse knows to get off the trailer slowly and calmly. Gonna have to work on that one with Phoebe after last night!

[Cindy]

I love ramps and have never had one hurt from one. The step-ups scare me because they can get their legs under them. I find it much easier to load new to trailering horses with the ramp as well which is much more improtant to me because I haul so many different horses than it would be to you. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on that subject though and all seem to have very strong opinions one way or the other.

[JennLM]

We had a 2 horse straight and slant bumper and it was very very hard to load horses who had not been trailered. We now have a stock trailer and it's been VERY easy. Only thing I wish it had was a ramp. Not for just the horses but when we take our riding mower to be worked on lol

We do not tie them in if they are nervous or bad riders. I want no feet tangled in anything. Trinket climbed the trailer (not ours or us hauling) and I am glad she was not tied in, her feet would have gotten stuck.

If they are good travelers, they get tied using a leadrope.

Our stock is pretty cool as you can fit one in front and the divider between. Or carry stuff up front and the horse in a stall size area in the back. One of ours fit in the front part which I wanted since we had hills to go up and I wanted her to be able to use the divider to brace her butt if she had to. No one out here had used bumper pulls for sale so we went without for a year. When I sold my Andalusian stallion, the trailer came with part of the deal. Not that pretty but it works and the bottom is not falling out. There is no manger and I am glad, I don't like them. With the heat I like having the stock trailer so they stay cooler.

[CarolU]

Cindy the only time a butt bar is useful there is if you forget to latch the back door properly. A friend of mine did and her horse fell out on the freeway. Was pretty banged up but survived to trailer again (didn't blame the trailer). In fact you saw/judged this horse at our October show. That is the only use I can think of...an additional safety net. Of course if you have a ramp, it might be impossible NOT to latch your trailer door and take off without it set.

I am debating putting on a ramp on mine. It doesn't have one but has a very high step. I'm using the back tack and will have to teach the horses to back out in order to use the third spot. It is a good 18" off the ground...seems pretty high to me.

[Cindy]

That's one other reason I like my ramp. The way they make those back door latches is often inadequte these days. I miss the big old latch thick latches that they used to have. Since the ramp is an add-on on my trailer it is an additional safety feature so even if they kick the door open, the ramp will hold it shut.

I have the rear foldable tack in my 6 horse and usually keep it folded as I do not use it. But even with it folded I have to back the last horse out because of the bar in the middle that latches the doors. It is too tight for them to comfortably turn around in the last space.

[JennLM]

We were discussing adding a ramp onto ours. Is it hard to do or very expensive? I'd prefer it.

[Cindy]

It was about $500 on mine. I had them add it when I bought it.

[JennLM]

ooooooo thanks. Will definitely look into it when we move. Hopefully we can find a place out here that will do it. = )

[Cindy]

Just thought of another trailer danger. Hay nets. Don't ever hang a hay net when hauling a new horse. If they put a leg through it that leg may be broken by the time you get it out. I use the plastic removable corner feeders that go in the corner of the slant load in front of the horse. If they end up in one, they just break and have to be replaced. If I have a new horse that has never been hauled, I simply remove them and there is no danger at all.

[CarolU]

Cindy, would you mind e-mailing me pictures of your ramp add-on and how it connects and works? My brother has a custom metal shop and I could get one built fairly easily...but need ideas on how to add them on.

pasobaby(AT)yahoo.com

[Cathy]

I do use the trailer ties but they have to have the panic snaps on them. I did have one Paso gelding back all the way out of the trailer while he was still attached :cry: Someone Not mentioning names here but not yours truly had forgotten to unsnap him. The trailer tie eventually broke and no one was hurt but I don't even want to think about how ugly that could have been. I prefer to load/unload all by myself. You get in that mode of first you do this and the next step is that. If someone trys to help or you get distracted you might forget a step. I haul every weekend, don't have the luxury of riding off my place to some wonderful forrest or trail. It has its good points. :D

[motorgypsy]

One other thing about not opening the door until they are untied - ours - even the tallest, will squat and go under the butt chain or butt bar. They've done it several times before we got smart enough to remember to untie them and undo the butt rope before we opened the door. We finally stopped attaching the butt chain because of the problem.

Also be sure to stand clear of the door and when possible have someone hold the horse in the front with a leadline to watch them and prevent them from backing until cued when you open the door. Some horses will literally blast out the door backward and run over you. A friend who hauled thoroughbreds had one do that. Horses will indeed try to jump out of the escape door. Be very careful about that. They will also turn around and try to jump out the back of a trailer that is open in the rear even when the doors are closed. We saw it happen. Luckily the horse didn't make it out but we had to switch trailers.

When you are hauling a horse trailer in bad weather or dim light - slow down when you can't see ahead of you. A family member's sister-in-law was decaptitated by their gooseneck trailer when a bus was stopped in the middle of the road and they rear ended it hauling a 4 horse loaded trailer. The trailer broke loose from the ball and took off the top of the truck on the passenger side. The front two horses had to be euthanized also. Another family member came on the accident right after it happened and said it was just horrible. So BE CAREFUL!!! There are a lot of idiots out there.

[JennLM]

ok that will remind me not to buy a gooseneck. How horribly tragic. :(

[Cindy]

I sent you some pics, Carol.

[pnalley]

We have been using a 2 horse bunoer pull for years. It was well designed but we have had some injuries.

I am thrilled with our new gooseneck, Exiss stock trailer. It's big enough that a horse not used to being hauled can be left loose comfortably. Or you can tie the more seasoned horse. We hauled 3 horses the other day that had never been hauled (not at the same time, we buddied them up with seasoned travellers). They all did quite well.

Goosenecks are safer then BP's. Especially in wrecks, as they don't flip as easily. My husbands motto when hauling horses is " if you don't have a line of cars behind you, you are driving to fast".

[CarolU]

I sent you some pics, Carol.

Thanks Cindy...got em'. Looks very nice AND doable. It just looks a lot easier to get the horses to back down that ramp then out an 18" drop. I do need to use my rear tack space.

[SandyMM]

1. Horses are heavy, and live weight shifting around (untied), can cause it's own set of problems - like a major weight shift in the trailer on a curve. The last horse I trailered untied got under the partition of the 2 horse bumper pull, lifted it out of the sockets, and was standing on it when we arrived... :-/

2. We always tie our horses, leave them tied until we are ready to unload, leave the butt bar up until we are ready to unload, and often put down the ramp and open the back doors long before we unload. It's great patience training and cooler while they wait. Our horses know that stopping and opening doors, etc. doesn't automatically translate to unloading... If a horse is going to throw a trailer fit - he isn't going to be any safer if he has access to the entire trailer.

3. We use trailer ties with bull snaps on one end and panic snaps on the other... depending on the length of the trip, I may just flip the lead rope over the horse's back so it's attached when we unload. In an emergency, a trailer tie can double as a lead rope. Trailer ties can also double for ties on the outside of the trailer.

4. Chest bars and butt bars are almost always too high to be effective for Pasos. I have seen some trailers that have adjustable height bars. We have a ramp as double insurance on keeping the back doors closed and the horses inside, but if we didn't, I would _definitely_ use butt bars as added insurance - adjusted to a more appropriate height.

Our trailer is a straight load with mangers and we love it... every horse we have hauled in it has traveled very well... Took some convincing to get a couple of other people's horses in, but it wasn't our babies or the first-time-loaded horses.

Ideally, I should be able to lead a horse up to a trailer and have them step right in, but for reluctant loaders, I use a long lunge line threaded through a _heavy_ ring in front of the manger and clipped to the halter so I can direct the loading from the back. We always have hay in the manger as an incentive/reward and to keep them busy while traveling.

I have considered slant loads, but do not like the fact that the middle horses are trapped until others are unloaded - among other things.

Accidents I have witnessed...
-A horse attempted to go through a trailer window. It was an enclosed 2 horse bumper pull with an 18" x 18" latched window in the front center. The horse managed to crawl out up to his withers and cut a pie-shaped piece out of his neck - saw him a couple of years later and you could hardly see where the cut had been. The rescue workers had to cut the window completely open to allow the horse to ba backed out and unloaded.

-A Paso mare who had been trailered _many_ times loaded quietly in a 2 horse bumper pull at the end of a show. Minutes later - for no apparent reason, she dd a barrel roll and we had to open the door, cut the lead rope and pull her out by her hind legs and tail... She had turned herself completely belly up on her side of the trailer... She shook it off and walked right back in - never had any other problems loading or unloading her.

[cowboy ed]

the butt bar is used to keep the horse from backing against the door, which would strain the hinges and possibly bend the door.
i suppose some paso finos might be so short that their butt would go under the butt bar, rendering it useless or possibly hazardous.

i say tie your horses in the trailer when you haul them. they are more likely to be exactly where you left them when you reach your destination. i have heard of more horse problems with horses that were not tied.

i picked up a nice andalusian/arab mare in illinois a few years ago. met the guy at a truck stop to get the horse, in order to save a bunch of driving time. i lead the horse into the trailer i was using( a bumper pull livestock trailer) and began to tie her in the corner. the guy told me, "oh, you shouldnt tie her, she will be just fine without tying."
its best to pick your battles sometimes. i just told him ok, no problem. we parted ways, and i headed back down the interstate. i had barely gotten started when that mare just started moving all over the place, rocking and rolling, with the trailer swaying and bumping. i stopped, tied her in the corner, and had a smooth ride the rest of the way back.


r, and began to tie her in the corner

[GeorgeGuns]

Yep, I like to have kicked my hubby's tail one day years ago when he threw open the back door before I hae even got to Mouse, she broke and rolled out the back a$$ over teakettle, scared the ---- out of me. hub told me I had to tach that mare how to unload (like she'd had any problems all the years). I told him I have to teach my husband how to wait for a handler to yell the all clear before opening the durned door.

Then I came up with OH the most brilliant trick - a 20+ foot line so I can untie and hold the horse on a line through the barely open escape door and let them off the back solo - I would NOT do this with a green horse, only ones that i know are handy with unloading already. I've loaded like this too, but prefer to have help.

As to tying, I'm all for it, for all the afore mentioned reasons.

Story about Bri: Several years ago I took him to a clinic, and had the misfortune of having to stop faster than I like at an at-grade intersection. (I hate those). I listened and heard four hooves doing a fast step back there, he was up, I was moving on. 2 1/2 hours later I opened his door to find him with a busted lead, and he had sat on the butt bar all the way. Stupid on my part, I should have visually checked him. He was the smart one that day. I tied him a little longer for the ride home...

[Minouri]

What a scary.....informative.......scary thread....lol

Knock on wood, my boys load and unload pretty easily. I like the idea of the lungeline for when I'm alone.

What is a good way to teach a horse to stand in the trailer until a cue is given? I find that when that buttbar comes down those feet start backing. When we first got our trailer Tony beat me to unloading the horses and Scooter was still tied when the buttbar came down. He broke his tie.....which was bungee on a light leather tie.....I was told to do that so it would break incase of some hard pulling.....

Since then we also untie first then put down the buttbar.....so I haven't actually trained him to unload better he trained me. But I'd like to know if there is a trick to getting him to stand in there.

I have the trailer and the horses in my backyard now.....and after today the summer off. What kinds of things should I practice?

My one fear is that I'll do something in my training process that will stop them from loading and unloading as well as they do. As it is now, both boys go right on with no questions asked. They back out slowly over our step down.

[SandyMM]

What kinds of things should I practice?

My one fear is that I'll do something in my training process that will stop them from loading and unloading as well as they do. As it is now, both boys go right on with no questions asked. They back out slowly over our step down.
Obviously, you have two horses who safely load and unload... If it ain't broke, don't fix it... ;-)

[CarolU]

Well part of this should say "know your horse"...if you know your horse well, you are pretty safe doing whatever the horse is comfortable with. When I was a kid we fed our horses in the trailer for a month or so. All you ever had to do after that was point them at the trailer and throw the lead over their back...they'd jump in to start eating (old straight load with mangers). I used to load my horse saddled and untied all the time BUT I probably put a couple 100K miles on that horse trailer between shows, rodeos, and ranch work.

Now...what I would practice is loading from the outside with a long rope and telling the horse STAND and make it stay in the trailer with the door open for a few minutes and then BACK to come out. Then you will never have the accident Mel (and apparently many others) that started this thread. The horse will stand in the trailer until told to come out.

[Terry Wallace]

For me...it depends on how long the trip is, as to wether or not the horse will be tied. If the trip is over three hours..the horse will not be tied, and the trailer will be set up in box stalls, not "individual slots"...I make a two stall our of my 4-horse. This is so the horse can get its head DOWN...to clear its airway...which a tied horse cannot do.

If I'm just going for a ride, and it a new horse..I tie it up...if it is a seasoned horse, a horse I have hauled and own, I just open the trailer door and in they go...they are used to being able to turn butt-to-bumper, for the most comfortable ride for them. When I unload, I always speak to the horse before I open that door, and they then get ready to exist the trailer...I just reach in for the lead rope (which I just put up & over their back) and guide them out.

The know the routine, and its never been a problem for me.

I have opened the trailer door on a long haul to find a very tired yearling colt laying down in the shavings, and have put a bucket at his head so he could drink water and not have to get up....he just sat up on his chest, I put the bucket between his front legs, and he drank his fill....

[motorgypsy]

If you're by yourself and want the horse to stand you can use the longe line through the window of the trailer and keep some tension on it. Give the stand cue and as you stand off to one side and open the door, if the horse moves you give a sharp tug on the line and repeat the STAND command. Once the door is open and secured - I like to tie the door open because I've had the wind blow one shut as the horse was unloading - you fold up the longe line, go back to the window and give the BACK command while feeding the long line through the window as the horse unloads. I then drop the longe line, go to the back, clip on a long lead and unclip the longe line while the horse stands at the rear of the trailer. The great thing about using a longe line is if the horse backs out really fast and takes off for parts unknown you can easily step in the the line and grab them. But be careful doing this. The first thing we teach youngsters is not to fight the rope halter so when ours feel a tug on the halter they stop. But if you're using a flat halter they won't necessarily stop and could yank you off your feet.

[motorgypsy]

Forgot to mention one thing with step up trailers. We always let the mat hang over the edge of the sill. The door will still close with it like that but when the horse unloads it prevents them from banging their legs on the metal sill. Works great!

[lisa l aka marci]

In my trailer, the tie rings are really high. I can't reach them from inside or outside the trailer. So I have soft cotton leadropes tied to them that stay there all the time. I can reach through the window and fasten the regular lead to the horse then unsnap the trailer one from the horse.
As they said, a horse can get into trouble real easy in a trailer. I had one jump part way over the partition in a 4 horse gooseneck. If that wasn't fun to get her out of! Also had one jump through the escape door on the side of a 2 horse, one go through the front of a fiberglass trailer after jumping into the manger, a foal try to jump out the back of an old 2 horse that didn't have upper doors, one try to turn around in a straight load 2 horse, and one jump into the manger then slip and fall and get hung by the leadrope and slip under the divider. That last one is the only horse that was actually mine and it was her first time in the trailer.

I used this picture in a presentation I gave a couple of years ago.....I believe this horse came out OK, but had to be taken out the escape door on the side of the highway! I think it was stung by a bee......

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/49811Picture1.jpg

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/49811Picture2.jpg

[Pasogirlz]

My tip...
Always make sure the safety chain is on on. Even if you are not the driver, or the one who hooked up the truck and trailer, you owe it to yourself to check.

I once asked some folks to haul my horse up the road a ways to drop her off at the farm where she was too be breed. The round trip was probably less than 10 miles and it was back roads...what could wrong? :confused

We started to load my Arab mare and she gave me some trouble which was unlike her. She finally went in and started down the road. We arrived and unloaded uneventfully. I thanked the folks and wrote them a check for their services. I stayed to put Princess away and make her comfy leaving about 20 min later. About a mile down the road I found the horse trailer smashed into a tree on the side of the road. The place where Princess's face would have been tied was flat as a pancake. They didn't have a safety chain on at all and figured it was such a short trip....what could happen? Well, when they crossed a small bridge, the trailer came off the hitch and went right into the tree. Apparently the weight of the horse was the only thing that kept it on the first time we crossed. :shock: I felt sick just looking at the wreckage. Thank God my precious horse was not in there when it happened.

[TrueStepPaso]

Wow Lori....people.

I have a 2 horse BP stock trailer, and I like it. Its good enough for what I do......
I frequently hook it up by myself, load two horses by myself, and unload two horses by myself. I've had good luck, but I am careful. I tie, use the chest & butt bars, and double check everything.
When I unload by myself, I first go in the side door, untie one horse, and say "WHOA" firmly...continuing to say it until I reach the back door. I then open the back door, put down the butt bar, and then grab their tail and say, "Back"...guiding them out by their tails until they turn their heads towards me, and then I lead wherever.
It works for me.
BTW, I have had my Paso try to back under the butt bar, too :roll: So, now we work on hanging out in the trailer with everything down/off him until I say "back"....getting better each time now.

[Cathy]

First let me say the horse survived!
My good friend was hauling her horse back from a nice trail ride when she thought things didn't feel quite right and stopped. Her warmblood gelding had kicked the door open and fallen out. He was tied so unfortunatley was drug for a while. Both my friend and her husband are RNs. they felt the horse should be put down. The vet that arrived on the scene felt that he could and should be saved. I'm happy to say he's alive and well (though still missing a little hyde). The butt bar was not up! actually it was impossible to put up because it was a slant load and they had collapsed the dressing room to give him more room. Amazing to me the horse got into the trailer for the ride to the vets!

[Edurne]

same thing as your photo happened to one of the tbs on the farm, he had been taken to the hunt as a baby sitter for the younger horse and was left in the trailer, went nuts, jumped the rail and got stuck lying down in the escape aisle with his head out of the door. To the amazement of everyone after a while of being stuck in that position somehow rebirthed himself.

[hast]

For a couple of years I borrowed trailers from all my friends, probably once a month or so. I learned several things about what my horse preferred to travel in. Michico clearly favors slantload, step up, so that's what I bought. He hates the sound (maybe it's a feeling too) when he steps on a ramp, but has no problem backing out stepping down... I bought a warmblood size three horse slant load. :lol: (Since I bought used I didn't have a choice on the size) My pasos look pretty small in there. LOL.

The dividers are low, the only way a horse can get underneath one and lift it, is to fall flat on the floor and get up under one. I don't tie Michico, if he looses his balance it's easier for him to regain it when he has his head and neck free and he doesnt' need to be tied. I DO tie Miss Dina, but only in a "Blocker tie ring" (or whatever they're named) so she can pull out if she panics. Actually, in my trailer no horse is tied unless it's a tiering where the leadrope slide through in an emergency. I too have the corner feeders, and always offer at least hay, but usually grain as well.

It's really interesting to see how different safety aspects are important to us all... Oh, and talking about safety, I try to always remember to do an extra check (hook-up, doors, the works) if I have left the trailer unattended... even for a short time using a bathroom at a gas station.

[lisa l aka marci]

I do the same thing checking my trailer - and any trailer I tow.....Check the hitch, emergency brake cable - don't know how many times I have found those hooked up incorrectly!!!!!.......safety chains - how many people let them drag on the ground?.......and always check the horse, doors and hitch when I stop.

Also, I usually stop about 10-15 minutes into the trip to check everything again - I have had the electrical hook-up come undone (towing a cargo trailer) - you should have seen the plug after dragging on the ground!