Trailer Advice

[Kcdives]

We are in the market for our first trailer and I'd like to seek the advice of you experts on the best trailer brand(s) for Paso's and/or "must-have" features.

Common sense tells us that we need a brand which has dividers that are short and/or full length so that our horses don’t slip under them in the event that they get untied. We looked a couple of trailers at a recent exhibition and, while the dividers were padded, they would have hit our horses at about wither height (these trailers must have been built for thoroughbreds because they were huge!). Logically, a slant load should provide better weight distribution, but how do Paso’s do in a slant load? What brand provides the best value for the $?

We don’t need any bells and whistles, but want to provide the safest ride possible for our Paso’.

[CarolU]

Many people will tell you that horses ride better in stock type trailers. I like slant loads with drop windows so I can feed, water, and check horses periodically on the trip. There are reverse slants, where the horse face outside. Like this one by Turnbow:

http://www.turnbowtrailers.com/Pics/SlantLoad.gif

I will talk about features, and you can brand shop by those.

First of all, you do not need or want a thoroughbred size trailer. Pasos can almost turn around in those stalls.
I prefer alluminum to steel. It doesn't rust and is lighter to pull. Steel is cheaper, and if you get steel, get diamond grill or alluminum front cover to avoid road chip rust.
A lot of horses prefer ramp loads, but they aren't the best if you trail ride a lot and load/unload on uneven ground.
I like the window to have the slats that also drop down. That way you can haul with the window down and the bars keep the horse's nose in and out of harms way. I had one with screens and the horses destroyed the screens.
Make sure your lights are built into the framework instead of sticking up to get ripped off by low hanging trees.
If you don't get a ramp, you want to make sure the back bumper is safe with nothing sharp to cut the horse.
Make sure your dividers have safety latches that won't cut the horses getting in/out past the latch.
A nice feature now are pullout saddle racks so you don't have to climb in the tackroom with your saddle.
Wood floors have to be replaced periodically. You might look at the alluminum or rubber composit floor boards. They're guarenteed for 20+ years.
Watch the wheel fenders to make sure they aren't sharp and won't cut the horses if they're tied there.
I installed a camera in mine and a monitor in my truck. I tell you THAT is the best thing I've ever done for peace of mind.

[Carol Nelson]

Many people will tell you that horses ride better in stock type trailers.

Yup....that's what I'm gonna tell you. That's what I've got and many times I could have afforded a nice slant horse trailer...but decided to keep my CW White 14' two section stock trailer. I've never had a problem getting a horse to go in it. In fact, I just had a client come to get their own horse, and he wouldn't go in their new Sundowner two horse slant...but he hopped right in my stock, so they left their trailer here and took him home in mine. (Of course, they came back to exchange them later). ;-) There's absolutely NOTHING in the riding compartments that a horse can get hung up in or impaled on or stuck in...
Now the only thing I wish was different with mine is that it be two feet longer...the back compartment is awfully small for a larger horse, and was probably originally intended for tack. So if anyone has a 16' that they want to trade for a 14' in good condition, look me up! :D

[Laura S]

I personally prefer a stock so my horse can move around. Although I have a two horse bumper pull now, but my next trailer will be a stock. My horses have always seemed to prefer my friends stock trailer. :D I would advise not to get full dividers between horses because it doesn't allow the horse to spread their legs out to balance.

[reuben T]

studies have shown that they travel with least stress facing backwards, so in view of easy loading and the backwards thing, I've decided to stay with open stock style.

[TrueStepPaso]

I agree. I bought a Valley 2H stock because my horse NEVER did well in enclosed trailers. The only time she didn't have a problem at all was in my friend's stock trailer......so I bought one of those.

I'm very happy with it. And I wanted to "second" Laura's advice to NOT get a full divider.....I hear/feel my horses moving around to get balance from time to time, and (contrary to wide beliefs) they never injure each other doing so.

[Fuego]

I have a 3 horse slant load stock trailer with dividers and love it. It has a spacious tack room and the dividers are easily removed pending on my situation.

When hauling only Chino, I remove one divider which gives Chino a small box stall in the trailer. This allows Chino enough room to turn around and stand how he is most comfortable when hauling. It also allows enough room for a gelding to stretch out enough to pee in the trailer and is a safe box stall for overnight camping.
Even with both dividers in the trailer, it is still wide enough for the horses to turn and walk out of the trailer ( instead of having to back out of the trailer).

The down side of my trailer is hauling 3 horses on long hauls. Without drop windows or emergency doors, it's a pain trying to get to the front horse to provide food and water.

It's my understanding, that there is very little weight difference between steel and aluminum in the smaller trailers ( 2 and 3 horse trailers). The weight difference isn't substantial until you get into the larger trailers. But of course steel rusts..

[jodiTowne]

I recently went thru all this. My advice......get as much info as you can and look at as many trailers as possible. Then, based on your needs, preferences and wallet....buy what suites you.

I say this because you will see many different preferences and studies....all with different results. I am not saying any one thing is wrong. For example, I saw a study showing horses rode better backward, one showing frontward and another on a slant!!

Horses DO like open and airy. Many horses are difficult if the stall is without windows.

Some sites for good info:
horsetrailerworld.com....go to forum section

equispirit.com (I think)

Good luck. Safety is the most important feature!!

[PattiB]

I had a two horse straight load with dividers to the floor, horses bent and dented the divider trying to balance. Horses do better with the half divider in my three horse slant where they can spread their legs. I have used ramps but I had more trouble with horses not wanting to get on them and jumping in so I went with no ramp.
Wood floors have to be watched for rot, aluminum floors need to be hosed out or they will pit from the urine. I hose mine out often, then once a year I pull the mats, hose it, let it dry, sprinkle baking soda on the floor then put the mats back in.

[Pam M]

I recently bought what I think is the perfect trailer! :D It's a 3 horse slant, aluminum, with drop-down windows on the head side but stock style on the butt side and the rear. I can pop out the dividers and have basically a stock trailer. It's got no rear tack so it feels roomy back there. The dressing room is small but it's perfect in every other way.
I wouldn't have full dividers because my mare spreads herself out pretty wide to balance. I don't tie her head either because she prefers to ride with it low.

[livn4him]

For those of you hauling in stock trailer do you tie the horse?

[Fuego]

For me it varies, pending on the horse's experience and attitude about hauling. I prefer leaving them untied, but it just all depends on the horse.

[Carol Nelson]

Ditto to what Fuego said...depends on the horse...some I leave loose, others I tie...whichever one seems safest for that particular horse.