Question on trailering

[EventerOP]

I have a two horse hawk trailer and in the winter or when its cold I shut the back doors/windows, but I have never had a two horse trailer before (only a 6 horse) and I dont know if people usually leave the back windows/doors open when its warmer out?

I was thinking about the high way, I wouldnt want things to fly in and hit the horses.

What do you do? Open?closed?
Any experiences?

Thanks in advance!

[Laurierace]

Mine are always open unless its wicked cold out. I have a two horse so its only the back that is open. I have screens on all the windows. The only way anything could possibly fly in there is when I was standing still and even then it would have to have help ie be thrown by someone.

[MelShiloh]

I have a similar situation. We have a 2-horse Sundowner that's a ramp load w/ upper doors/windows (not sure exactly what to call them). I'd like to keep them open during the summer but im afraid that at highway speeds the "holder" wont hold them and they'll slam shut. Can you remove your upper doors or do they fasten back?

Thanks for this post!

[Fancy That]

I have a similar situation. We have a 2-horse Sundowner that's a ramp load w/ upper doors/windows (not sure exactly what to call them). I'd like to keep them open during the summer but im afraid that at highway speeds the "holder" wont hold them and they'll slam shut. Can you remove your upper doors or do they fasten back?

Thanks for this post!

Out here in CA, an open, airy trailer is best, so I always take the storm doors off of my trailer for most of the year.

It has "holders" to keep them open but I would never trust that they would work while traveling. So my honey just removes them. They are easily removeable - though a tad heavy.

Horses like having an open, airy environment in the trailer - versus all closed/sealed off anyways. Especially if it's warm!

[EventerOP]

Thanks everyone!

What do some other people do?

[Foxtrot's]

I took the back top doors off my trailer once to go for a longish trip in the heat of summer. Trouble was there was an inch of dust on their backs when we got there from a 23k gravel road. Lord knows how they could breathe in there. Now I travel wit them closed and all other windows open. What I do believe makes my trailer bearable is the inch of foam insulation spray.

[Highflyer]

We take the top doors off in summer. The trailer we had when I was a kid didn't even have them. Never been a problem, and if we need to haul a mare and foal we just stick em back on.

[deltawave]

I used to leave the back doors open, but have begun closing them if I'm going any farther than the 3 miles to my trainer's place. I took a ride back there once with the doors open and just going "road speed" it is much noisier, but more importantly there seemed to be more fumes, and a whole lot more crap/dust/debris flying around with the doors open. So now they are shut, with all available windows and vents open to keep the air moving. My next trailer will have vent windows in the back doors as well.

[IsolaBella09]

We keep ours closed. They are isntructed to stay closed when traveling. They have holders, but I'd rather have the doors closed then them becoming unlatched and swinging around on the freeway.

[Hannahsmom]

I have windows in my storm doors so leave them shut and open the windows. I used to sometimes open the door on the non-horse side (if I was only hauling one horse) when I lived in the south and leave the door on the horse side closed (with window open).

I don't mind hauling with both doors open on basic roads, but don't like them open on highways with big semis driving up behind them.

[ryansgirl]

Always closed - they are not designed to be left open while traveling. Just imagine if one of the latches let go and what would happen next. It's also very noisy with them open. Years ago (mid 70's) when the top doors were made out of that fabric material (and not solid like today) we had a pony jump out the back when we were stopped - she broke her neck and died right there. Don't remember how she came untied but it wasn't a pretty scene :no:. Remove the doors is you want to leave them open but don't rely on the latches to keep them safely in place.

I always close mine - always.

:)

[Laurierace]

I guess anything is possible but three different pieces of metal would have to give way for my door to come unhooked when secured to the side of my trailer in the open position. That is a risk I am willing to take.

[mkevent]

Unless it's pouring rain or wicked cold, I trailer with the doors open. If I had windows in my top doors, maybe then I'd travel with the doors closed. It just seems to me that with the doors closed and even with the windows open, there's still alot of condensation on the inside of the trailer. I don't know-I do see both sides of the argument. Great, now I have something new to obsess over!!

[EventerOP]

Thanks everyone for all of the responses!!!!

keep em' coming:)

[magnum]

I have screens on all windows, which are left wide open in summer, and partially closed in winter.

There is also a roof vent over each stall (pretty standard) which serves as an "Air scoop." I shut that in winter, and open it in summer. I have had switch-operated fans installed in ALL of my trailers upon ordering them.

FWIW -- Open windows w/no screens... not always the best idea. A friend once pulled up at a stop light with her rear doors half open. Kids in car nearby jumped out and threw lit FIRECRACKERS in with her horses .... not only did they pop off, panicking her horses, but the charges also then instantly began to smoulder in the shavings on the floor!

... She instantly hit her flashers and jumped out ... and was able to leap inside the trailer, and stamp out the smouldering shavings ... talk her horses down a bit ... ... and wait for police to assist. Witnesses were very good about I'D'g. the car, but no one got the plate, so the offenders were never located.

While I'd LOVE to trailer with open windows (sans screens), the thought of eye wounds, and this isolated incident stay my hand on that matter. While I know horses would PREFER to have windows open and they'd get better air circulation AND cooling ... I do compromise on having the screens instead to protect them.

Magnum

[wildlifer]

Always always always haul with open windows on the side and back. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or overheating with insufficient ventilation is just too great. I personally won't buy an enclosed trailer and always buy stock sides for exactly that reason. Unless it is below zero, your horses are PLENTY warm in that trailer.

[EventerOP]

wildlifer,

Do you ever worry about how loud it is? Or anything ever flying into the trailer?

[feather river]

I took the back top doors off my trailer once to go for a longish trip in the heat of summer. Trouble was there was an inch of dust on their backs when we got there from a 23k gravel road. Lord knows how they could breathe in there. Now I travel wit them closed and all other windows open. What I do believe makes my trailer bearable is the inch of foam insulation spray.

that is because of the air turbulence that happens at the back of any trailer--you just noticed it because of the gravel road, but it happens on all roads. You will notice the rear inside of your trailer will be dirtier than the more forward inside part of the trailer if you leave these doors open--and yes it is blowing and settling the road dirt on the horses.

[asterix]

I have windows with screens all along the sides and in the back top doors.

If you haul with wide open windows (that is, no screens), please, please put fly masks on your horses. I know someone whose horse had a horrific eye injury from debris flying around the trailer with open windows.

[JumpWithPanache]

I keep all doors closed but open the sliding bus windows (with screens) and the vents above their heads.

[NEEDS A NAP]

We have the 2 horse Hawk also, and paid an extra $300.00 to have the windows w/screens put in the top of the rear doors. Always leave those open, but never the doors.

We live in the South where it gets really hot in the summer, so the extra windows were a must.

[katie16]

I close them. I ship a variety of horses and find that the vast majority are more nervous with them open. I cannot blame them with all the scary traffic that zings by!

[Griffin]

I have a 2 horse Hawk too and I always close the doors. I open the front and side window on the opposite side of the horse and open both roof vents. The Hawks are well insulated and stay cool. The reason for closing the doors is to keep road debris from flying in the back.