When it comes time to get transportation for your equine friends, it's important to know what your needs are to narrow the search. There is no shortage of new horse trailers for sale. Not only are there many manufacturers, there are many design features to complicate things for people planning to buy. It's also necessary to understand what makes horses safe and comfortable during loading and hauling.
One thing you need in a horse trailer is enough space for your horse or horses to stand and shift weight for balance and for comfort. There should be adequate head room to allow free movement of the neck and to prevent bumping the head when standing normally. There should be lots of light in the interior; horses don't like dark confinement. Air should circulate freely to keep the animals from becoming too warm during transit.
Safety of animals in transit is a major concern. You need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of materials; things that were true in the past may no longer be valid. Design is important, too. Some trailers are 'straight', so horses face forward when they are loaded. Others are slant-load. Owners disagree over which way is easier on horses. You must do your own research to weed out facts from mere opinions.
Never proceed on assumptions. You may have heard that step-up trailers are safer than ones with ramps. However, although many horses load into step-ups readily, unloading can be hazardous. For this reason, some designs have no rear ramp but a front unloading ramp. An unloading ramp is nice, anyway, since it means the horse does not need to back out of the trailer.
Another assumption many people have is that aluminum is better than steel because it doesn't rust. However, manufacturers are now using galvanized steel and coated parts, which reduce the rust problem. Aluminum does not rust, but it does corrode. Even 'all-aluminum' units will have some steel components, since aluminum is not strong enough for all structural supports. 'Hybrids' use both steel and aluminum to get maximum strength and a lighter over-all weight.
These horse transports come in two styles, tag-alongs which attach to the rear bumper or frame of a vehicle and goosenecks, which attach to a 'fifth-wheel' specially installed in a pick-up truck. Problems with tag-alongs usually occur when they are improperly hitched or when they begin to sway from side to side. Special bars called stabilizers prevent swaying and reinforce the hitch.
Finally, the trailer should fit the horses being hauled. Quarterhorses are often shorter in length and height and lighter in weight than warmbloods, for instance, and can travel comfortably in trailers that would be actually unsafe for larger and heavier animals. You need to know your minimum requirements and then proceed from there.
Cost, warranties, and safety records should be considered. Remember that a higher cost does not necessarily mean a better choice, and a lower one does not always mean a bargain. A warranty is only as good as the company that makes it. Check customer reviews to find out if the manufacturer really stands behind its products. Also, a company that is in danger of going out of business may no longer be around when you have a problem.
One thing you need in a horse trailer is enough space for your horse or horses to stand and shift weight for balance and for comfort. There should be adequate head room to allow free movement of the neck and to prevent bumping the head when standing normally. There should be lots of light in the interior; horses don't like dark confinement. Air should circulate freely to keep the animals from becoming too warm during transit.
Safety of animals in transit is a major concern. You need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of materials; things that were true in the past may no longer be valid. Design is important, too. Some trailers are 'straight', so horses face forward when they are loaded. Others are slant-load. Owners disagree over which way is easier on horses. You must do your own research to weed out facts from mere opinions.
Never proceed on assumptions. You may have heard that step-up trailers are safer than ones with ramps. However, although many horses load into step-ups readily, unloading can be hazardous. For this reason, some designs have no rear ramp but a front unloading ramp. An unloading ramp is nice, anyway, since it means the horse does not need to back out of the trailer.
Another assumption many people have is that aluminum is better than steel because it doesn't rust. However, manufacturers are now using galvanized steel and coated parts, which reduce the rust problem. Aluminum does not rust, but it does corrode. Even 'all-aluminum' units will have some steel components, since aluminum is not strong enough for all structural supports. 'Hybrids' use both steel and aluminum to get maximum strength and a lighter over-all weight.
These horse transports come in two styles, tag-alongs which attach to the rear bumper or frame of a vehicle and goosenecks, which attach to a 'fifth-wheel' specially installed in a pick-up truck. Problems with tag-alongs usually occur when they are improperly hitched or when they begin to sway from side to side. Special bars called stabilizers prevent swaying and reinforce the hitch.
Finally, the trailer should fit the horses being hauled. Quarterhorses are often shorter in length and height and lighter in weight than warmbloods, for instance, and can travel comfortably in trailers that would be actually unsafe for larger and heavier animals. You need to know your minimum requirements and then proceed from there.
Cost, warranties, and safety records should be considered. Remember that a higher cost does not necessarily mean a better choice, and a lower one does not always mean a bargain. A warranty is only as good as the company that makes it. Check customer reviews to find out if the manufacturer really stands behind its products. Also, a company that is in danger of going out of business may no longer be around when you have a problem.
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