Choosing Accessories For Horse Trailers

By Linda Ruiz


Hauling horses is a necessary evil. There are lots of things to do and places to go where you can't use literal horsepower to get there. Loading and transporting horses is never 100% safe and can be traumatic for both owners and horses. However, the many, many accessories for horse trailers make the process safer and a whole lot more fun.

The number one thing everyone should have is a trailer jack. These differ from the usual car jack; you don't crank the trailer up off the road but drive it or back it up onto the jack. Once the good wheel (trailers have dual wheels for safety and stability) is in position on the jack, the flat tire will be off the ground and easy to change. You don't even have to unload the horses, and the job can be done in twenty minutes.

It's just like changing a car tire in that you'll need a tire iron, a screwdriver to pop off the hubcap, and a spare. It's a good idea to have two spares, since there's no guarantee you'll only have one flat a trip. A toolbox is something no one should be without.

There are lots of other handy things for keeping your traveling tack room organized. Check out trailer-door caddies. These are similar to the ones people use in closets or for bathroom and kitchen supplies. There have handy pockets and pouches for grooming tools, liniment, or other small things best kept ready to hand.

Racks for saddles and bridles keep your tack off the floor. Tack trunks can be secured during travel, but there are also mounted cabinets, shelves, and bins made especially for horse gear. These days, you can even have a water tank that lets you hose your horses down after exercise. Slow-feed hay nets keep horses occupied and happy.

A portable mounting block is great for those of us who've kept our enthusiasm but lost our spring. It doubles as steps for the tack room; this makes it possible to get in while having both hands full of gear. It also makes a handy seat for pulling boots on and off, cleaning tack, or just taking a breather.

A trailer may be a lifetime investment. It's nice to know that manufacturers make replacement parts, like window gaskets, handles and pulls, non-slip mats, stall and bar pads, and air vents. There are great how-to videos that help people select, use, and maintain horse trailers; these can show you how to repair damage and even improve on original design.

There are hundreds and hundreds of cool things to use when you and your horses travel, from slow-feed hay nets (or sling mangers that clip in front of the horse after loading) to easy-to-install locks to keep all your cool stuff secure. Peek around at your next event and see what others are using - like water tanks that hold enough to hose a horse down after a workout. In addition, browsing the internet or supply house catalogs is fun and informative.




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