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![13 Tips for Trailering Your Horse [A How-To Guide]](https://madbarn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/How-to-Trailer-a-Horse-Tips.jpg)
Whether you are a seasoned equestrian or a new horse owner, trailering your horse can be a daunting task but does not have to be uncomfortable for you or your horse.
Many factors influence equine welfare while trailering. However, the right vehicle, proper trailer maintenance, careful driving, and thorough preparation will help ensure a safe and successful journey with your horse.
Ensure your horse is familiar with the trailer before hitting the road, and practice loading and unloading several times at home. To keep your horse safe, it is imperative to gather relevant paperwork and carry the necessary equipment you or your horse may require.
Even with the best preparation, travelling to new facilities, competitions, or clinics can cause travel stress in horses. Trailering also increases the risk of dehydration, ulcers, gut issues, and respiratory problems.
This article will review trailering tips to keep your horses happy and safe on the road and discuss how to support equine health while travelling.
Horse Trailering Safety
Equine and human safety should remain the top priority when trailering. Before trailering your horse, check that you have an appropriate rig and know how to drive it safely.
Regular inspection and maintenance of your rig will help ensure your vehicle and trailer are safe for towing, even when you need to transport your horse unexpectedly.
Vehicle
Towing vehicles need adequate power to climb hills and safely accelerate while pulling your horse trailer. These vehicles also need reliable brakes to safely bring the rig to a gradual stop and electrical systems that connect to electric trailer brakes.
Towing Capacity
Determine the vehicle towing capacity required to safely transport your horse and any tack, gear or supplies you need on the road.
Engine size and gear ratio provide towing power, while heavy-duty suspension and well-adjusted braking systems support stopping ability.
Trailering horses is very different from towing other payloads. Loaded horse trailers have a high center of gravity, and horses constantly shift their weight during travel.
Staying at least 10-20% below your vehicle’s towing capacity is essential when pulling live weight. [1]
Size
Vehicle weight and size should be appropriate for the trailer. For example, half-ton trucks are too small for large six-horse trailers but preferable for two-horse bumper pulls.
However, drivers might not be able to feel movement in a small trailer if they pull it with a one-ton truck. [2]
Features
Some vehicles have enough power to tow your trailer but lack the safety features necessary for trailering horses. For example, cars with short wheelbases and all-wheel drive sometimes offer less stability.
Vehicles also need a sturdy hitch attached to the frame. Hitches and balls should appropriately match between your trailer and vehicle to allow for the trailer to travel level with the ground. Safety chains should also be used to provide additional security to the hitch attachment and are often required by law.
Trailer
Owners should account for their horse’s breed when selecting a horse trailer. Trailers need adequate height, length, and width to accommodate the horse’s body size. Some manufacturers offer “warmblood” models designed for larger horses.
Appropriately sized stalls allow horses to stand solidly on all four feet and shift back and forth to brace during travel. The stall width should also provide enough space to enable lateral movement on each side of the horse. [3]
Flooring
Trailer floors should be strong, textured, and resistant to moisture. Rotten wooden boards and slick flooring pose significant safety risks. Covering the floor with rubber mats provides extra cushion and grip, while wood shavings help absorb urine and feces.
Dividers
A solid divider or partial divider should separate horses. Solid dividers protect horses from being stepped on by travel companions but limit space for the horse to brace in a narrow trailer.
Standing stalls need a butt bar behind each horse that prevent them from pushing against the trailer door or backing out when it opens. Well-padded trailer walls, butt bars, and dividers help avoid injury from a sudden stop or turn. [4]
Loading
Loading ramps with a gentle slope and secure footing help prevent horses from slipping when entering or exiting a trailer. If you purchase a step-up trailer, choose one that is low enough to limit the risks of injury while loading or unloading.
Ventilation
Enclosed trailers should have overhead, side, and rear vents for airflow. Trailers quickly heat up with horses inside them, and inadequate ventilation can increase the risk of respiratory problems. [5]
Safety
Other safety features on horse trailers include trailer lights, brakes, and a spare tire. Owners should check that their trailer lights work and their tires are properly inflated before every trip.
Improper or uneven tire pressure is a common cause of towing problems. [2]
Driving
If you are new to trailering horses, seek instruction from experienced haulers on how to drive while towing a trailer. There are risks every time you take your horse on the road, but safe driving can make it a better experience for you and your horse.
How you drive can also influence your horse’s stress levels and attitude about trailering. Sudden stops and sharp turns feel jarring from the back of a horse trailer. Be considerate of your horses and drive carefully.
Preparing for a Trip
Load horses on the driver’s side when transporting a single horse in a straight-load trailer. If you’re trailering two horses, load the heaviest one on the driver’s side. When hauling one horse in a slant-load trailer, load the horse in the first stall at the front of the trailer. These techniques will distribute the weight of the horse(s) and help balance the trailer especially on roads that crown in the middle.
Adjust side mirrors to visualize the entire side of the trailer. Always double-check that the hitch is attached correctly, trailer lights are working and that all trailer doors are securely latched before driving.
Driving Tips
Once you hit the road, every aspect of your driving should account for your rig’s extra weight and length. Stopping distances are longer, and you won’t be able to accelerate as quickly. [6]
Make all stops, accelerations, turns, and lane changes gradually to keep the ride as comfortable as possible for your horse. Drive under the speed limit and maintain a reasonable distance behind the vehicle in front of you to ensure you have enough time to stop.
Shift to lower gear when traveling up or down steep hills. Slowing down on long uphill grades will prevent your engine from overheating. Avoid hard braking in emergencies if possible, as keeping forward motion maintains hitch tension and prevents loss of control due to trailer sway. [6]
Most importantly, don’t let other drivers pressure you to drive faster. Your rig is bigger than other cars on the road, and you’re responsible for your horse’s safety.
Horse Health and Trailering
Even with safe driving, trailering can take a toll on your horse’s health and well-being. Multiple studies show the effects of trailering on stress, fatigue, digestive function, and respiratory health in horses.
Research suggests that owners can minimize these effects with appropriate management. [7] Many horses are frequent travellers who regularly leave their home farm for competitions, lessons, and vet visits.
Transport Stress
Transportation is a significant stressor for horses, contributing to several behavioural and health issues. One study of twelve standardbred horses found that trailer loading caused an increased heart rate in all horses. [8]
Researchers in the same standardbred study also found significant increases in serum cortisol in horses after a 1-hour journey in the trailer. It took 11-36 hours of rest for cortisol to return to baseline after travel. [8]
Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol are associated with decreased immune function in horses. As a result, horses may experience immune system suppression after travel, making them susceptible to infectious diseases. [9]
Over time, horses can become habituated to travel and exhibit decreased stress responses after positive trailering experiences. [10]
Gastric Ulcers
Recent research also reveals an association between an increased heart rate during transportation and a higher incidence of gastric ulcers after trailering. Increased gastric ulceration was also observed in horses that frequently lost balance during transport. [11]
Researchers hypothesized that increased movement and loss of balance during transport facilitated more contact between the stomach acid and the squamous mucosa. Careful driving and free-choice forage while trailering horses may minimize the risk of ulceration. [11]
You can also feed gut health supplements, such as Mad Barn’s Visceral+, to maintain gastric and hindgut health and support the immune system in horses being trailered.
