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How to use a Stock Trailer?

5K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  kim_angel 
#1 ·
So, my horse and I are going to our first show in a month. The only trailer I can get my hands on is a stock trailer (2-horse size, no divider).

The only time I've trailered my horse (when I bought him), he was in a slant load with a divider. There was a trailer tie in the corner that I hooked him to. There was no ramp, and he jumped right in (and out of) the trailer, so I'm not worried about that.

Basically:

Do I get a trailer tie and tie him to the driver's side corner just like it were a slant load? Or do I just use his lead rope with a safety knot for that? Or do I leave him untied in there?
 
#2 ·
We have a simple 2 horse BP combo/stock trailer with a removable divider..how we use it mostly depends on how far we have to haul and if we're hauling 1 or 2. For a short trip with 1 horse, if you drive carefully around turns, we take out the divider and just leave the horse loose (they seem happier that way). For longer 1 horse trips, we use a lead rope as you mentioned (still no divider). For 2 horses, we use the divider.
Be aware... to tie or not seems to be one of the emotional 'hot buttons' for many horse owners. Many say leaving loose is dangerous, many say to tie is dangerous :) Since we don't really haul that much, what we do is based solely on the advice of breeder/training/rancher friends down the road that have been in the business for 35+ years.
 
#3 ·
I have the same type of trailer. I took of the divider and let her stay in loose. On turns I can always see in window her facing the rear and looking at the cars behind us. :) She actually HATES to be tied in trailer.
 
#4 ·
We do not trailer much either. When we do it is a stock trailer and we leave them untied. I can't tell you what to do its a matter of the horse in the trailer. But anyways...thats how we do it. :D
 
#7 ·
On long trips, it is actually better to leave them untied - or tied loose enough to where they can get their head below their withers. Many studies have shown that horses who are tied up for long periods of time while traveleing have immune systems that are put at a high risk.

...Wish we would have known that before a good friend flew her horse here from Germany...ugh.

It's really up to you weather or not you tie - - but keep in mind that if the horse has never been "let loose" he/she might not know what to do with it's body/ react to the road. :wink:
 
#8 ·
Thanks for the replies!

There's only 1 horse in the trailer and the trip is about 50 miles (each way).

Maybe I'll leave him loose when we drive from the farm to the highway...then I'll stop and check on him. I don't believe he's ever been loose before. If I tie a haybag in the corner, he'll probably just stand there the whole trip and chow down anyways!
 
#10 ·
Equina said:
Thanks for the replies!

There's only 1 horse in the trailer and the trip is about 50 miles (each way).

Maybe I'll leave him loose when we drive from the farm to the highway...then I'll stop and check on him. I don't believe he's ever been loose before. If I tie a haybag in the corner, he'll probably just stand there the whole trip and chow down anyways!
It is always a good idea to allow extra time to stop and check on the horse. You can always decide to tie him up later on down the road. be flexible and calm. There is always more than one way to skin a cat!
 
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