PrintCheck back on Wednesday, April 28, to learn about choosing the right tow vehicle, the next article in our continuing series on Towing and Trailer Safety.
With so many different trailers to choose from these days, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when considering a trailer purchase. However, if you stick to a few simple guidelines and keep in mind that the trailer needs to fit the horse, you can simplify the process.
“So many people choose the wrong trailers,” said Tom Scheve, co-author of The Complete Guide To Buying, Maintaining, And Servicing A Horse Trailer. “The horse should always come first, the trailer second and the tow vehicle third. You have to look at the horses you have and determine what kind of trailer will fit the horses comfortably.”
Trailer Dimensions
Determining the appropriate size for your trailer depends on the breed and type of horses you own. While most horses fit in a standard straight-load trailer—10’ stalls, 7’6” tall and 6’ wide on the inside—many of the breeds used in the performance industry today need a little more space. In general, a horse that is 16.3-17.2 hands needs a trailer that has 11’ stalls and is 7’8” tall. Two inches doesn’t seem like much of a difference, but that extra clearance will make the horse much more comfortable. For the 18-hand range, or an extra wide horse, some width may need to be added. Since the legal width on U.S. roads is 8’6”, the interior width can be 6’8” before the wheel wells would need to be inside the trailer.
“The size of the trailer is going to make a difference,” said Neva Scheve, co-author of The Complete Guide To Buying, Maintaining, And Servicing A Horse Trailer. “The horse needs to have enough head room so they can keep their head and neck in a natural position, and you want to have enough width that they can spread their legs to balance. He needs to be standing in a nice, natural position while he’s on the road.”
Materials Make A Difference
