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Equine Trailer Towing: Safe Driving Tips for Hauling Your Horses

Published on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 in General

By: Estella Cooper

Before you turn on the engine, wrap your head around the following horse hauling tips related to trailers and good-horse behaviours. 

Speak with a Veterinarian

Speak with a vet before buying a trailer.  The professional can lend advice as to whether that 2 horse gooseneck is as good for the horses as it is for your wallet.  Horses have distinct personalities and may react poorly to a trailer’s confines depending on dimensions and features.

Knowing your horse, and allowing professionals to provide additional insight, facilitates safer towing experiences.

Know the Tow Weight

A common mistake is estimating the total weight of a tow without considering the weight of horses and additional equipment.  Ensure the tow vehicle and hitch can sustain the maximum weight of a loaded trailer.

In addition, spare no precautionary measures before starting the vehicle.  Check: tyre pressure, bulbs of brakes and turn signals, and the hitch.

Get a Safety Kit

Buy a safety kit for your tow vehicle, and overcompensate in getting items such as shovel, flashlight, batteries, insect repellent, extra food, etc for the trailer.

You don’t want to be abandoned on the side of the road with a hungry horse, and one of the worst things you could do is leave a horse unattended.  Be prepared for all possibilities and circumstances (especially occurring at night).

Provide Experience

If the driver is not used to taking long distance rides, then they must practice while towing a trailer, especially a larger one.  Additionally, a horse with little to no experience riding in a trailer is unlikely to hop in without some hesitation.  To compensate for time sensitive duties, make sure the driver and the horse are prepared.  With a bit of practice and initial exposure to the trailer there is less to fear out on the road.

Maintain Balance

Some trainers and drivers ride in the back of the trailer (it is not suggested to do this on busy roads) to see what the horse will experience in having to maintain its balance.  Since the majority of a horse’s weight is in its upper two-thirds, the trailer will be top-heavy and prone to tipping when taking sharp turns at high speeds.

Furthermore, a horse will do whatever it needs to maintain balance; so, make sure the inside of the trailer is designed to disable the animals from turning around and poking their heads through open holes.

Avoid Rustic Roads

The final destination or point of pick up could be a hilly, rustic area, but avoid such places (even if that means taking more time) when traveling long distances.  Large hills and sharp turns place extra stress on the driver and the ability of the trailer to stay balanced along with its passengers.

A number of driving apps offer alternative routes as to avoid high traffic or highway situations, but the levelness and width of highway roads ensures there will be no radical turns or insurmountable hills along the way.

Read Online Forums

The digital age allows for a wealth of information at one’s fingertips.  Search online forums and equine web sites for targeted information and glean discussion about methods and towing suggestions.

Birds of a feather flock together and provide experience-based insight about roads to avoid, what not to do in certain situations, and additional resources that can provide help.

Check the Mirrors

Invest in a good set of mirrors for your towing vehicle.  This ensures the vehicle can address longer and wider trailers.  Custom order mirrors from nearby vendors or check online outlets.

However, do not make a costly mistake in buying used items without ensuring they will fit your trailer or vehicle.

You need to invest a bit of time and thinking into the ride before it begins, yet doing so ensures a smoother drive to your final destination.

Estela Cooper has worked in her family horse stables since she was old enough to walk. Now with decades of experience and a deep love for horses, she often blogs about her tips and tricks for horse care, from basic grooming to transportation to training.

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