[NorthernMama]

Having discovered that my 17.3 h mare will not fit in my little trailer, I am trailer shopping. I have two horses. There are some very good deals to be had, especially for someone that doesn't need the comforts of home. I am looking at 3 and 4 horse trailers right now. Mostly with lots of room to make a sleeping area if I wanted to as I would never need the tack and dressing areas available.

Anyone ever find that their trailer is just too big? I am fully comfortable towing large trailers, so driving and maneuvering are not issues for me.

 

[~*~anebel~*~]

With a 1/2 ton I would have to be very pressed to haul anything. Maybe a 2 horse with one horse in it.
With a 3/4 ton I would feel comfortable hauling a loaded 2 or 3 horse, and depending I would haul a loaded 4.
With a full ton I would haul a loaded 6, fifth wheel only.

I have the same issue, my horse needs a 7.5' or 8' trailer.

Also, please keep in mind that angle hauls are designed for convenience, not comfort for the horse. I will only haul in straight haul trailers for this reason.

Good luck!

 

[trailhorserider]

Also, please keep in mind that angle hauls are designed for convenience, not comfort for the horse. I will only haul in straight haul trailers for this reason.

Do you mean slant trailers? I have always heard that if horses were loose, they would choose to stand at an angle, and that slants were considered better for the horses. I can't speak from personal experience because I don't even own a trailer, but that is what I have heard based on a study of how horses choose to ride if they are left loose (as in a stock trailer) and not tied.

So I dunno. Has anyone else heard of this? It could have been Monty Roberts that did the study of how horses prefer to ride in trailers, but I couldn't swear to that.

 

[HowClever]

I've read the same studies, about horses preferring to travel on a 45 degree angle as it helps them keep their balance with the movement of the trailer. I'm pretty sure that Monty was one of those people who advocated slant trailers. But I am pretty sure that there has been others too.

 

[iridehorses]

Whenever I hauled in a stock trailer, I find the horse standing on a slant all on his own and I've never seen a study that suggested straight loading a horse was better. When using one horse in a straight load trailer, I secure the center divider off to the side and let the horse slant himself as he always does.

As for the size of a trailer I prefer, I like either a two or a three horse. I never haul 4 horses so the need for one makes no sense to me. A good friend of mine did it the right way - he has a three horse with LQ for the long trips, and a regular 2 horse for day trips.

 

[kitten_Val]

From what I read slant trailers considered to be more comfortable for the horse. I use stock trailer and my paint always stand under angle tied. My qh (I don't tie her as she hates that) always stand butt forward and observes the surrounding through the holes on back door.

 

[My Beau]

Hmm I've heard most horses prefer to stand backwards. Don't know if it's facing the back on an angle or straight, but definitely head towards the back.

I've also heard horses can come up sore on their right front after long hauls in slants because of the weight that hoof takes when the trailer is slowing down/stopping.

 

[QOS]

I haul in a Brenderup so the horses are in straight. When we bought Sarge, he refused to get in the Brenderup as it was "different". Charlotte, the lady we got him from, finally got him in her stock trailer and he promptly turned around and rode backwards! LOL I thought that was a hoot. She said he always hauled backwards but he turned himself that way.

 

[iridehorses]

I've also heard horses can come up sore on their right front after long hauls in slants because of the weight that hoof takes when the trailer is slowing down/stopping.

I've trailered as far as 750 mile a few times, ~100 - 200 miles several times per season, and ~50 miles regularly. Perhaps some have had an experience where that may have happened but in 25+ years of hauling, I've never experienced soreness in any of my horses. To me, that would be the same as a horse having soreness in their front legs in a straight load trailer for the same reason.

 

[Indyhorse]

How much is too much trailer?

This much!

Anyone ever find that their trailer is just too big? I am fully comfortable towing large trailers, so driving and maneuvering are not issues for me.

I always thought the same thing, I could pull anything out there, size wasn't an issue, and while I could pull this trailer just fine, backing it up gave me nightmares - seriously. This trailer was stupidly big. I pulled it with a Chevy 1 ton dually, and it was still very hard on my truck. This trailer was 41 ft long +, it was a 4 horse slant with 26 ft of living quarters. I too need an extra tall trailer with 3 of my 4 horses, and it can be harder to find.

One of the things to think about realistically is how much and the type of towing you do. For my part, I found I was facing going into this summer with the main hailing I would be doing was 6 miles up the road to my local horse campground - at 6 miles away I hardly needed such a "home away from home". The other main travel I would be doing is taking my son to shows with his pony Misty. It was really hard to see any reason behind dragging around 10,000 lbs of trailer for 400 lbs of pony. You are better off pinpointing exactly what you NEED and will make the most use of - gas prices make pulling any more trailer than necessary an expensive trip for sure!

 

[NorthernMama]

I'm going to look at this trailer on the weekend. It needs floor and electrical work I figure. Maybe some interior clean up. We'll see...