Horse Fell in Trailer!

[Bogie]

I am one of those who usually ships to a hunt with their horse tacked up and untacked on the way home.

I trailered home after my hunt on Saturday. It was a cold, cold day probably warming up to about 30 degrees. I had only a 15 minute drive home and on the way back I heard my horse kicking around in the trailer. I was only 5 minutes from home so I kept going.

When I opened the side door upon arrival, I had a terrible shock. While I'd loaded my horse on the driver's side of the trailer, he was now standing on the right :eek:. His halter was empty and dangling from the trailer tie (despite the fact that I use velco ties) and the front bar on the passenger side was down. This is a Hawk 2 horse where the dividing bar does not go to the floor.

This is a big horse. Think 16.2 Trakehner built like a tank. The only thing that I can imagine is that because of the cold, and because he peed in the trailer after the hunt, the floor had an icy spot that caused him to lose his footing and slide under the divider :eek::eek::eek:. Miracle of all miracles he doesn't have a mark on him. I haven't tried riding him yet, but he's walking/trotting sound in the field and seems fine. I've gone over him with a microscope and given him a full massage and so far, no sign of injury. I have been leaving offerings to the horse gods because I know I could have lost this wonderful horse to this accident.

I felt absolutely terrible because it never occurred to me to check the trailer floor after the tea. I'd left him in their about 45 minutes and after giving him a pat and closing up the side door, I just drove home. The entire trip was on back roads where I was going maybe 35 mph and there were no sharp turns.

I may need to rethink hauling when tacked. It would only have made the situation worse :no:.

[JustJump]

:eek: Was there any bedding down on the floor?

Thank goodness it all turned out ok...close call!

[Bogie]

Yes - there were shavings. I think they must have frozen.

[snoopy]

hand on heart...I remember trailering to a horse trials...I heard a bit of noise but then all went quiet...when I open the trailer door on arrival, my horse was on his back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honest to god, I still cannot figure out HOW he could have managed that!!! I would not believe it had I not saw it with my own eyes...but it is true. I removed the divider and he rolled over, shock himself clean and proudly walked off the ramp like NOTHING happened...I put him in his stall and got an "Adult Bevie" to calm my nerves.

[MapleMeadows]

I'm curious if you had bedding in the trailer or just matts?

I've been tempted to truck without shavings or straw down in the trailer because it appears to be so much easier to clean out. My biggest concern has been exactly what happened to your horse. They almost always pee in the comfort of the trailer and I really believe that makes the matts very slick without bedding. Even in warm temps I've found that our ramp gets slippery when wet and when it's really cold it could become a mini ice rink back there.

About ten years ago I had a horse fall in my two horse trailer & there was a second horse on the passenger side. It was pretty tricky getting them out because the down horse was halfway under the other horse and couldn't get up until the standing horse was removed. Fortunately she was a very sensible gal and managed to back off without stepping on any piece of her companion. I don't know why she fell but it hasn't stopped me from shipping to every hunt with tack on. Bad things happen even when we do the best we can to prevent them but I still see more pros than cons to tacking up at home. I pray I never have another horse go down again. I will continue to bed my trailer and drive with caution to prevent that but... I don't think it's going to change my tacking up at home.
I hope your horse is okay!:)

[justhanginon]

I had similar and just as scary experience. My daughter's horse was sleepy (I think) and I had to break a little suddenly but nothing dramatic. She fell down - the scary part was the trailer tie did not break, her breakaway halter did not break and she was on the floor with her head cocked up on the breast bar. I unhooked her, while hysterical daughter tried to help, dropped the breast bar and she stood right up. Somehow in the process I broke my finger but the pony was fine !! 100 % perfect. It took me months before I was not a complete wreck pulling the trailer. If she had not stayed still (and surprisingly calm) I think she could have broken her neck. Luckily she wasn't tacked up either.

[J Swan]

I'm glad your horse is ok, poor thing.



An off-topic question - how many of y'all have your tack insured? I never worry about my tack being stolen or damaged in an accident - it's on my farm policy. Not to imply I'm cavalier about my tack - far from it.

Just wondering.

[goodhors]

The mats that are one-piece, NEED shavings or sawdust. Doesn't seem to matter what kind of grippy tread they have. I would strongly advise AGAINST EVER using straw bedding in the trailer. Straw is extremely slippery, very easy to have a horse down when used in the trailer. One of my horses slipped, fell with straw bedding, while truck was parked! Upside down, legs straight up! Lucky for me, some helpful motorcycle guys helped me. We pulled her head up and over her butt, head first and straight out the back on the ramp. Also lucky she was not too big, 900#. Never used straw in under a horse in transport again!

When we bed the trailer (every trip with horse) we bed deeply. I want sawdust up over his hooves. Shavings need to also be deep, maybe sprinkled so they don't blow around in any drafts. Horse needs enough bedding so there is something to absorb the liquid they may pee in trailer. With sufficient bedding, there are NO PUDDLES to freeze and make a skating surface to slip on. Sawdust freezes in clumps, with rough surface on any icy parts. Gives horse grip.

The very old trailer mats, with rubber cut in strips, held together with wires, were not slippery. Didn't seem to matter if they were wet or dry, horses didn't slip on them. Really hard to find anymore, limited life before wires broke. Sure saved time though, not having to bed trailer. Newer mats are one piece, don't drain. Slippery with only fog in the air! After horse pees on them, it is very slippery, cold weather or not They MUST be bedded adequately to keep horses safe and upright in even slow, gentle trips. Borium, even road studs, don't seem to grab on those solid mats. Bedding the trailer removes any slipping problem for our horses.

Glad your horses seem to have come out of their accidents with few problems.

[Beverley]

Wow, glad all turned out well. Sounds to me like a freak, one in a million thing. Could happen to any of us. I did watch one horse's head disappear once, heading down the highway, he threw himself down (also a partition that didn't go to the floor). He wasn't tied so no hangup problems, but I had to unload his Mom from the right and swing the partition over, so he could get up. Like yours, not a scratch. Closer inspection showed a wasp's nest behind the spare tire, poor guy had been stung, we assume. But he got right back in and we went on our merry way.

Same horse, different occasion, same trailer, I threw him in without the partition- had removed it for some reason and didn't put it back before that hunting morning. I did have him tied since the partition was out. Going around I-495 at oh-dark-hundred, I thought people were awfully friendly and amazed at the trailer, waving, smiling, generally seeming goofy. Get to meet, still pretty dark mind you, open escape door to untie head and...meet horse's butt. The little stinker had slipped his halter and tippie-toed around in the trailer, without my feeling a thing, and was riding down the road with his head and shoulders out the back. He was happy, his public was happy, what can I say.

But, a serious caution in the event of mishap- if you feel a wreck happening, first, pull to a safe place, well off whatever road or highway you are on, however long that takes, and then stop. Do NOT open ANY doors if there is thrashing or commotion. You will only make a panicky horse more panicky, and could be seriously injured in the process.

PS I have never used shavings in my two horse trailers. For one, not necessary, for two, I'd be concerned about the shavings swirling around and getting them in the eye, given the open backs of the trailers and general air flow. So far, so good.

[flypony74]

Glad to hear that your horse is okay. How scary!!

I use Turtle Snaps trailer ties just for this reason. These snaps will hold tight under normal pressure, but will release under an extreme load (horse falls, panics, etc). One of my worst fears is having a horse fall in the trailer.

I also use a good amount of shavings, and my trailer has a WERM floor, which is more textured than mats. My gelding pees in the trailer a lot so I take that into consideration in bedding the trailer, and also when I was making my trailer selection.

[mbj]

I like to use a bit of baling twine to tie the cross ties and trailer ties to. They will break when necessary, and are free!

[SteeleRdr]

I was coming back from a show last year with my favorite hunt horse, and we had to stop short because someone turned in front of us. I heard something in the trailer, so the lady I ride for, who was driving, stopped and I went to look. Well, in the 4 horse head to head, it was in the driver side facing backwards. When I walked in, it was standing forwards and in the aisle area!! I guess he turned and flipped. He got adjusted and LOTS of bute that night.

Glad your horse was ok!

[gkittredge]

Three words: Wireless video camera

They are worth their weight in gold and can be had for a few hundred dollars. They can be hardwired into the trailer or work off a battery pack. The monitor runs off the cigarette lighter in the truck.

[JoZ]

Very glad your horse fared well in this mishap... what a scare though!

I have a question for those of you who bed (shavings/sawdust) over mats -- actually two questions. (1) Are all of you in climates where pee or other moisture could FREEZE on the mats and (2) since I am just a visitor to this forum, not someone who hunts -- is it likely that a horse would need to pee after a day of hunting? I have hauled my horses to trails, vets and clinics and NONE of them ever peed in the trailer. It's as if they cross their legs.

With no freezing temps (or at least so few that I've never hauled in them) and no pee in the trailer, I have never put down shavings, since I felt that the risk of blowing in their eyes or nose was more serious than the risk of them slipping. So I'd be curious to know your situation(s).

[goodhors]

From the beginning of trailer training, I always bed over mats, so horse won't slip. I want him to regard trailer as his second home, has food, is comfortable enough to pee in there. While we may do short hauls, he is most likely to be in there for a while. I want him to pee when he needs to, so there are not problems from urine retention over long times. For us, the horses usually need to go, every couple hours. This is good, they drink well, then have to go. Shows me everything is working well inside horse.

All but one have been fine doing this. That one, a purchased horse, would not pee unless he could REEAALLLY stretch out. This was like a show pony, on tippy toes behind. So we learned we would have to drop the butt bar in the 4-horse, to give him enough room. We got very nervous with him hauling home right after buying him. On a 12 hour trip, he did NOT pee. This was after drinking VERY well on every stop, which happens about every 2-3 hourse. He had probably drank 4-5 times, a 5-gallon bucket full each. It was very hot out, July. We always stop often, give them a chance to drink and pee. His eyeballs must have been floating!! We hustled the last couple hours home, to get him out of the trailer. He walked into a stall, stretching out as he went, and FINALLY went as his nose reached the far corner. Some horses get weird habits, you have to work with horse, so he will pee in trailer as often as possible. No problems going once WE learned to take down the butt bar for him.

A number of horses don't like being splashed while peeing, as happens with no bedding on mats. Won't go in trailer then, if splashing happens a few times in the trailer with no bedding. A sprinkle of sawdust or shavings just is not enough. As I said previously, I want the bedding to be hoof deep, so it is grippy, absorbent, no splashing happens.

I am up north, MI, where we do get freezing temps. I don't want any icy pee spots under my horses to slip on during his rides. Wet is absorbed with deeper bedding.

I watched one of my horses slide down the ramp on the rubber matting. The morning fog had made it slick in the short time from putting ramp down, to untying and backing horse out. We put cleats on ramp after. However with that little amount of water on rubber, there was no way she could grip, even shod. Showed me just how easy rubber mats are to slip on when damp! Sure don't want anyone going down in the trailer if it is preventable, so they are bedded every trip.

I have sawdust available, usually use it, actually prefer it on trailer trips. Sometimes have to use shavings to get home from overnights. If needed, you can sprinkle a bit of water on them to lay the dust, keep bedding in place. I always find shavings to be dustier to use, need dampening. Being damp helps hold them down, yet still absorbent. You can put a fly mask on for eye protection if you want.

Our smaller trailer is slat sided, makes good air flow in summer heat. We put boards over slats in winter so it is not drafty. I have not had problems with bedding blowing around, even with the open sides, all kinds of roads. None in the mangers. They are tied in place for every trip.

[J Swan]

I don't put bedding in the trailer - but the horse I hunt hates to pee if he's going to splash himself. Another horse I have lets loose with no problem - but he gets the winter off so I don't count him. I don't know about the third - he's just started under saddle so I don't know what he'll do.

I know some folks that train their horses to pee when they whistle.

[marta]

and i bed the trailer all year round. she always wears a fly mask on the trailer to prevent any dust or insects from getting into her eyes. i want my mare to be as comfortable as possible on that trailer and to feel free to pee poop or whatever. which she does gladly:)

i'm so glad that your horse escaped uninjured.
i don't know how many of you recall the story from earlier this year of a horse that jumped out of the trailer while the trailer and truck were in motion on a highway? she ended up with bad case of road rash but apparently no major injuries. it was absolutely horrific to read the owner's description of looking in a rear view mirror and seeing her horse tumbling behind the trailer!!!!

[CherishtheMoment]

I had something similar happen like that before, My old TB who is now passed, fell down, while the trailer was stopped in a parking lot at the vet's office, waiting to be unloaded for his appointment. I have a 2 horse ramp load, and another horse on the trailer, and somehow my 16 hand TB manged to fall, slip under the chest bar and was basically upside down in the trailer, one of the vet's assistants helped my dad and I pull him out of the human escape door-it has huge escape doors. My TB came out with some scratches and hair loss from being pulled. My other horse just stood in there quietly as can be. Good thing he was already at the vet's office! LOL they laughed when we told them what he did. He was on bute for a week or so, and was just fine.

[jumping jane]

All I can say is use leather. Leather halters are the best when trailering because it will break under pressure. Nylon is a no no. It usually does not break and the fittings end up snaping first. The twine in between the cross tie and trailer is good as well because it snaps under pressure.
Bedding and rubber mats are the way to travel. Make sure there is enough bedding to absorde the pee to keep it form getting slipery.
When on the road drive defensivly, keep a lot of room between you and other cars for sudden stops and always have you lights on.

[Beverley]

The mats that are one-piece, NEED shavings or sawdust.


I haven't found this to be the case. My two horse Shoop bumper pull has a one piece mat, and in the 14 years I've been using it, no horse has ever had a slippage problem, and a wide variety of horses has been in it. They do sometimes slip on the ramp if it is wet from precipitation, but so far that hasn't been a big deal, they learn and don't slip a second time!

As I indicated in an earlier post, my trailer's not conducive to adding shavings anyway, as the shavings would swirl about and potentially cause eye problems. I occasionally haul, on my little hunting tours, a minimum of 8 hours a day, sometimes every second or third day for a couple of weeks. Those horses who don't mind the splash, pee at will (it does drain adequately even with the one piece mat). Many, my now retired guy in particular, don't wish to pee or poop in the trailer if they know they are going to be in there all day. So, while they typically munch hay at will, they don't drink much water on the road, if any- they seem to have a clue on the connection between intake and outflow. They have taught me not to obsess about their not drinking water for 8 or even 10 hours. They are well hydrated when they get on the trailer and happy as clams for the entire ride. They drink up at destination. So far, so good, in I don't know how many thousands of miles of long distance travel.

I would add that in addition to my own trailer, hauling in a variety of trailers and vans with others since oh, the mid-60s, nobody's every used shavings. Some used straw in the old Imperatores. The use of shavings, particularly for short commutes is something I've noticed only in the last several years.

My personal bottom line on shavings, based on my experiences and observations: Nice touch, if one is using an enclosed trailer, but hardly necessary.

[talloaks]

A question for those of you who have had a horse go down in a trailer. Was the divider/partion in the middle all the way to the floor or was it a short/small one???

[Hunter's Rest]

Re: Leather 'breaking' and baling twine safety ties 'breaking' and general cheap old snaps 'breaking'. Errr, they often won't. I once had a horse tied in a raggedy old cheap leather halter, ancient with old cheap fake brass fittings, to an old leadrope practically in threads, tied to a piece of old twine around a post. The horse pulled back for some reason - nothing broke, except, well, his leg then the post came OUT OF THE GROUND and swung around and whapped his stifle.
Though I concur about the safety of leather, twine, etc., don't count on any of it breaking. Unless you don't want it to. Then it'll break every single time .... :>)

[mbj]

HR, what do you find is safest? We have the velcro straps tied to baling twine (not the plastic stuff) in the trailer, or have them loose if it is configured for 2 boxstalls. Haven't had them test the breaking ease yet, thank heavens!

[J Swan]

HR - I had a horse do that too (not in the trailer) I tied him up to give him a bath - he pulled back hard - snapping his head back -and I fully expected the decrepit leather on his breakaway halter to do what it was supposed to do. I was lucky though - after a couple of seconds of straining - he decided to stand there and I was able to safely reach under his chin and unsnap the lead (which had been tied to the post with a quick release knot..... but the horse was flailing and I didn't want to get killed).

I have had better luck with those turtle snaps. I don't know if people would be interested in those or not - but I do use them when trailering and cross tying. I also use them if I need to tie a horse at a meet. Maybe something to check out?

[CBudFrggy]

What is a turtle snap? Is that the one with the sliding buckle you can grab and pull (if you're brave enough to squeeze by a flailing horse)?

[J Swan]

Not sure we're talking about the same thing but it does have a buckle, and you can pull it to release if you want. That's how I unclip the horse normally. But if enough backwards pressure is applied - it releases.

Here they are (just googled it and picked a website)

http://mandmtackshop.stores.yahoo.net/datusncrti.html

They have worked for me for trailering and tieing. They may or may not work for everyone. I just like that I don't have to get anywhere near the horse. Having said that - I have no doubt that they aren't the perfect solution.

[Carrera]

[QUOTE=MapleMeadows;2828628]

About ten years ago I had a horse fall in my two horse trailer & there was a second horse on the passenger side. It was pretty tricky getting them out because the down horse was halfway under the other horse and couldn't get up until the standing horse was removed. Fortunately she was a very sensible gal and managed to back off without stepping on any piece of her companion. QUOTE]


the exact same thing happened to me 2 years ago. I don't know how my gelding went down but he ended up with his legs between my mare's. Everything went well and came out fine. Neither horse had a mark on them! I came out with a torn rotator cuff tho...

[Ponyclubrocks]

I'm glad your horse is ok, poor thing.



An off-topic question - how many of y'all have your tack insured? I never worry about my tack being stolen or damaged in an accident - it's on my farm policy. Not to imply I'm cavalier about my tack - far from it.

Just wondering.

My agent say's mine is covered by my homeowners policy.

[Ponyclubrocks]

Also, to the main topic...I don't tie my horse in the trailer. She self loads, I put up the butt bar and we are done.

Does anyone else do this? I always figured if I was in a wreck I would not want her tied up (even though she has a breakaway halter).

[Lori]

A number of horses don't like being splashed while peeing, as happens with no bedding on mats. Won't go in trailer then, if splashing happens a few times in the trailer with no bedding. A sprinkle of sawdust or shavings just is not enough. As I said previously, I want the bedding to be hoof deep, so it is grippy, absorbent, no splashing happens.
.

When I trailered my old pony from VA to IA, I had a couple of bales in front of him on the floor of my 2h straight load. He pawed one underneath of himself as a toilet for pee. I mean the complete wrapped bale!

[NRB]

I don't hunt, (I event and trail ride) but this is an interesting topic. In my BP trailer I used the velcro ties:
http://www.sporthorseproducts.com/tie-safe-trailer-tie.html

I sometimes (but not often) find my horse or his buddy untied. they pick and grab at each other over the hay (these 2 are turned out together and clown around a lot) So since I know that they can brake the ties with a quick pull, I'm pretty certain that they would give way in a bad situation (like a trailer fall). To the OP did you have thses ties? And they didn't break? I do hope your horse is fine and none the worse from his experience.

FWIW I use a thick bedding of sawdust as my horse (and the buddy) will pee in the trailer, sometimes they pee twice. I use enough bedding so that it soaks up the urine completely and I don't have to pull matts.

as to to tie or not to tie:

The buddy horse was in a 2h bp once and left to stand untied while his owner went to look at a few horses. The divider was slanted over, so the horse turned around and jumped out of the parked trailer. Got scraped up a bit but was fine. For that reason alone I don't suspect that she will ever trailer this horse w/o tying him.

I do tie, but I give enough room for them to lower their heads (not to the floor), and reach each other. I can put up a barred head divider if I didn't want them to pick at each other, or if I hauled horses who were not used to each other. I suppose that I give them enough freedom with the ties tha maybe I shouldn't tie at all, but I'd like to think that the tie will prevent them from trying to turn around.

[atr]

Several years ago, My poor old mare fell in the trailer (3 horse slant) on the way to the vet's office and got well and truly jammed in there. We were going to the vet because she was 3-legged lame and we needed x-rays and emergency treatment, so she had a hard time getting up once she was down.

It was very traumatic for all concerned. I'll admit I was a complete, useless basket case. It took me a while to feel comfortable trailering after that.

And that's why I love my current trailer which has a great big window in the front of it so I can see what's going on back there while I drive along. I'm happy to sacrifice a tack room for that!

And I always use a decent bed of shavings in my trailer. They don't blow around.

[cyberbay]

Not to be alarmist, but the reason I would tie a horse's head is so that he keeps his head in front of him at all times. Vs. having the option to bend/turn his neck and look behind him ... and then the driver has to hit the brakes hard, and the horse is thrown fwd while his head is now tucked behind him with the neck jammed in a U.

[BigMick]

Also, to the main topic...I don't tie my horse in the trailer. She self loads, I put up the butt bar and we are done.

Does anyone else do this? I always figured if I was in a wreck I would not want her tied up (even though she has a breakaway halter).


This summer, I loaded my horse in the trailer first but didn't tie him up right away. As we were loading up his buddy, he tried to turn around and look at him. When he did, he got his head stuck against the window (he's a BIG horse), panicked, and almost went down entirely. When he did manage to free himself he ended up slicing himself badly above his eye which required 14 staples.

So now I make sure to tie him immediately. The tie has a safety snap and is attached to bailing twine - not directly to the trailer. It will easily break under enough pressure.


To the OP, I've encountered issues with my horse leaning on the butt bar when he's tired. The padding on the butt bar rotates around the butt bar itself which actually will roll my horse under the butt bar! I figured this out after hearing him scrambling, checking on him and finding scrapes on the top of his rump. I need to figure out a way to rivet down the pad so it doesn't roll. The butt bar pad in my last trailer didn't freely roll and I never had a problem. So maybe check your butt bar and see if that could be happening.

[marta]

my trailer is one big stall. no divider, no dressing room. window in the front that allows me to see her at all times. when we're moving she travels at a slant with her head behind the driver and her rump on the passenger side. when we stop she moves around, looks out both sides, rarely turns around unless she sees me out of the truck moving around.

works for us.

i hauled her in friend's slant load few months ago. she was pretty unhappy about it although she was in the first stall, the one closest to the ramp. i didn't realize how squished they are in there. and those metal dividers flexing back and forth making that horrid metal sound echoing through the trailer. i didn't like it and she let me know in no uncertain terms that it wasn't her favorite either. she did load and got her head clipped and we had to snug the tie up b/c she tried to peek behind the head divider to 'visit' the other horse!

[Bogie]

To the OP, I've encountered issues with my horse leaning on the butt bar when he's tired. The padding on the butt bar rotates around the butt bar itself which actually will roll my horse under the butt bar! I figured this out after hearing him scrambling, checking on him and finding scrapes on the top of his rump. I need to figure out a way to rivet down the pad so it doesn't roll. The butt bar pad in my last trailer didn't freely roll and I never had a problem. So maybe check your butt bar and see if that could be happening.

Interesting observation. I know my horse does lean on the butt bar and I will check the padding to see if it rolls.

I have been shipping this horse in this trailer for 8 years without any incident, so this came out of left field. I use Velcro cross ties, a leather halter and had shavings. I'm just glad there wasn't another horse in there; most of the time when I hunt I bring someone with me. That would have been a disaster!

[Beverley]

Not to be alarmist, but the reason I would tie a horse's head is so that he keeps his head in front of him at all times. Vs. having the option to bend/turn his neck and look behind him ... and then the driver has to hit the brakes hard, and the horse is thrown fwd while his head is now tucked behind him with the neck jammed in a U.

I usually tie for this very reason. I have had one get his head stuck looking backwards- didn't cause a wreck, but it was the devil to get his head turned back around so we could unload.

My tack is likewise covered by homeowners' insurance. And the one time a horse went down in a trailer when I was hauling, it was a partition which did not go all the way down- which type I generally prefer in a two horse bp so they have more room to spread.

[talloaks]

I would still like to know if anyone has had a horse go down when they have had a full "to the bottom" partition in place and secure. Any answers???? I have a full partition in my Kingston and have looked at new ones that only have a partial partition and that is why I an so interested. We have been lucky for the over 30 years plus never to have an incident but have always tied the horses head and used the full partition. Knock on wood!!;)

[J Swan]

I haven't - it seems the newer trailers do seem to only have a partial partition. When I bought my GN - the guy said that I could make a full partition if I wanted to - but that the half partition allowed the horse to spread its legs for balance - and it wouldnt' end up underneath the partition.

I'm like - ok yeah right anything to sell a trailer. So I never checked to see if that was true. I've always thought the darn things were deathtraps anyway.

On the other hand, I did know someone who had to put their horse down because the two horses got into a fight after being loaded and one horse kicked the other - under the partition. Broke the other horse's leg.

Just stories - no conclusions. Sorry.

[Acertainsmile]

Just wanted to say that I always tie my horses up with safety ties... one on each side, no matter what! I keep them short enough to keep them from picking on the horse next door and long enough to reach the haynet.

I think it does help with their balance in the trailer also.

[Beverley]

I would still like to know if anyone has had a horse go down when they have had a full "to the bottom" partition in place and secure. Any answers???? I have a full partition in my Kingston and have looked at new ones that only have a partial partition and that is why I an so interested. We have been lucky for the over 30 years plus never to have an incident but have always tied the horses head and used the full partition. Knock on wood!!;)

Yes, as I mentioned in my last post, I have not had a horse go down in a full partition, only a partial.

[Bogie]

I don't hunt, (I event and trail ride) but this is an interesting topic. In my BP trailer I used the velcro ties:
http://www.sporthorseproducts.com/tie-safe-trailer-tie.html


Those are the ties I have. I'm surprised they didn't break. I have them as cross ties, too and those have always worked like a charm.

[CC]

Yes, I've had a horse go down with a full partition. Well, it was my truck/trailer but my sister was using it to move her gelding. But if I remember correctly, he got up and seemed just fine. And loaded right back on the next time.

[talloaks]

Thanks for all the replies. I think now IF or WHEN I order a new Kingston trailer I will have the divider full to the floor instead of the short partitions. If this style has been safe for me for over 30 years with different trailers along the way, I think I will stick with what works for me. Thanks all!;)

[Snow Princess]

I find two horse trailers and slant load trailers very dangerous. I never tie a horses head into a trailer . In my trailer if they do fall down ... they just get back up.. l I learned this lesson the hard way when a large thbd gelding i had fell down in a slant load and every time he tried to get back up he whacked his back on the partition. He thrashed around like a crazy nag trying to get back up many times until he tired and then when he was exhausted i was able to get into the trailer and undo the slant load partition. People won't understand the dangers of the partitions until they endure one of these incidents.
I now have a gooseneck 20 ft Exiss stock combo ( which means looks like a fancy horse trailer with a tack room but functional like a stock trailer ) Each horse rides loose so basically it's like travelling in a boxstall. When left to their own choice of how to travel they all end up standing kiddy corner in the box with their butts jammed into a corner .. NOT with their head jammed into a corner so they can feel every whack and bump on their nose if you have to brake suddenly or jam into the chest bar. If you were a horse how many times would like to do that?
I often buy horses from people who say they won't trailer.... well fact of the business is that they have learned not to get into these small confined spaces where they feel unsafe. They all load and travel just fine in my trailer. Take a ride around in the back of a bumper pull two horse sometime and see what it's like.

[mjrtango93]

Ok for the stock trailer, being loose works......but what happens when you have to take more then 1 horse? Do you let them all loose in there together???

[Snow Princess]

My trailer has a gate in it so you can make two stalls. I have also had 4 horses in it loose and all worked well...... of course these were not tacked foxhunters on the way to the hunt, or foals in with studs or any other silly combination.

[Acertainsmile]

I find two horse trailers and slant load trailers very dangerous. I never tie a horses head into a trailer . In my trailer if they do fall down ... they just get back up.. l I learned this lesson the hard way when a large thbd gelding i had fell down in a slant load and every time he tried to get back up he whacked his back on the partition. He thrashed around like a crazy nag trying to get back up many times until he tired and then when he was exhausted i was able to get into the trailer and undo the slant load partition. People won't understand the dangers of the partitions until they endure one of these incidents.
I now have a gooseneck 20 ft Exiss stock combo ( which means looks like a fancy horse trailer with a tack room but functional like a stock trailer ) Each horse rides loose so basically it's like travelling in a boxstall. When left to their own choice of how to travel they all end up standing kiddy corner in the box with their butts jammed into a corner .. NOT with their head jammed into a corner so they can feel every whack and bump on their nose if you have to brake suddenly or jam into the chest bar. If you were a horse how many times would like to do that?
I often buy horses from people who say they won't trailer.... well fact of the business is that they have learned not to get into these small confined spaces where they feel unsafe. They all load and travel just fine in my trailer. Take a ride around in the back of a bumper pull two horse sometime and see what it's like.

I can also make two box stalls in my trailer, but it can also be set up as a 2 horse straight load...depends on the situation as to which I prefer...

I have hauled horses around for many years...and knock on wood have never had a horse fall and get stuck...

I will not tie in a box stall, but as I said earlier, always in a straight load...and I have ridden in the back of a 2 horse bumper pull, and I admit it's not much fun... but then again... we have two legs, not four to balance on... and nothing to lean on.

I'm also a cautious driver when pulling a trailer...I understand that things happen... but for the most part my horses get a nice smooth ride...:winkgrin:

[SLW]

[QUOTE=JoZ;2830617]
I have a question for those of you who bed (shavings/sawdust) over mats -- actually two questions. (1) Are all of you in climates where pee or other moisture could FREEZE on the mats and (2) since I am just a visitor to this forum, not someone who hunts -- is it likely that a horse would need to pee after a day of hunting? QUOTE]

My daughters rodeo mare always peed in the trailer as soon as we loaded to head home. That got us to thinking "would she pee in the trailer in between events if we loaded her?" We tried it, she peed. From that day on we would always put her in the trailer at some point during the day to pee. Guess she had a shy bladder.

I take the hay which has fallen out of the hay feeder and rake it to butt wall on my slant load trailer. Then I add a couple pitchfork's full of shavings to the pile. This will catch urine and make manure removal easier while keeping the front hooves on good rubber mats. And yes, everything can freeze once it's been on the trailer floor awhile.

[SLW]

On the subject of hauling horses and keeping them comfortable.....when I'm hauling and it's dark outside I always leave the horse compartment light on because that reduces the strobe light effect from the lights of passing autos and illuminated parking lots, etc.

[Acertainsmile]

Yep, I keep the interior lights on as well!

[Beverley]

Yep, I keep the interior lights on as well!

Me too, principally because that way I can see their busy little heads munching hay (or dozing) the rear view mirror.

[TalkIsCheap]

I would still like to know if anyone has had a horse go down when they have had a full "to the bottom" partition in place and secure. Any answers????

Yes, while parked at a show. Horse happily munching hay....banging and scraping started, got worse and then silence. He broke his halter, dented the full divider pretty good, and somehow in his twisting and bucking ended up reversed and was looking out the back end. We reckoned he was stung by an insect.

We do not like leaving horses on the trailers unattended these days.