Need a trailer with a light ramp

[trafalgar]

I am looking for a new 2 horse bumper pull. An important feature for me is a ramp I can lift by myself and my back is somewhat weak. Any suggestions? Of course I would also like a trailer which is well built, comfortable for the horses, reliable and mostl important safe.

[Flypony]

I have a two horse featherlite. The ramp is an option on it , I love it , nice and light. Ihave back issues and it gives me no touble.

[ChocoMare]

Any EquiSpirit trailer (here's mine-The EquiBreeze: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569863361yFLROR )

The ramp is so light, I can raise and lower it with two fingers. Truth!

[marta]

in my experience horses seem to like those better anyway and no ramp for you to contend with.
i have a gore step up.

[JohnDeere]

I watched a horse refuse to load in a ramp trailer. Took like an hr & drugs to get him on.

Ive never seen a horse refuse to load in a step up. Getting off may be a problem but slants take care of that to.

[ChocoMare]

I watched a horse refuse to load in a ramp trailer. Took like an hr & drugs to get him on.

Ahem, it has nothing to do with the ramp. It's a training/leading issue. My mare refused to load too when I got the trailer. Two hooves on and that was it. Three days, three hours each day with a lunge line connected from her head, run around the escape door and down the side to my hands, plus annoying tapping on her hip saw her safely and happily loaded. Loads 100% of the time every time since that day.

[JohnDeere]

Not douting you at all. Horse was somewhat crazy. :yes: You had to be there to see a horse flip over instead of loading. :rolleyes:

But the ramp really seemed to bother him. Hed get 2 feet on it and not want to go any further. BOs now have multiple trailers with step ups. Maybe there choice or maybe just happened that way.

[marta]

i've heared before that horses prefer step ups to ramps.
it really makes sense if you think about it (and i'm not saying that b/c i have one, i just happen to get a step up, that was not a key factor in my purchase decision back then). b/c a ramp is a lot like a bridge. it makes a hollow sound when they step on it. it flexes. it's not surprising that a horse would hesitate to walk on ramp.


so maybe horses who are more inclined to hesitate when loading respond better to step ups b/c there isn't that additional fear factor?

[cj30080]

I have a 2 horse BP Hawk with dressing room and the ramp is very light and easy to lower and lift. With escape doors on both sides, the trailer is open and inviting. I haven't had a horse refuse to load.

[Maya01]

I watched a horse refuse to load in a ramp trailer. Took like an hr & drugs to get him on.

Ive never seen a horse refuse to load in a step up. Getting off may be a problem but slants take care of that to.

I have seen a horse refuse to load on a step up. In fact I have seen several horses refuse to go on a step up. It is all in what the horse is used to! :yes:

I like the Hawk trailers. I have one myself and I would never get anything else. The ramp is really easy to lift :)

[paintlady]

Ive never seen a horse refuse to load in a step up. Getting off may be a problem but slants take care of that to.

You haven't met my mare then... she refused to get on my former barn owners step-up. It took us forever to load her. She hated getting off it too.

I have a Hawk 2-horse with ramp... no problems getting my mare on and off it. Plus, the ramp is super easy to lift up and down.

[Drive NJ]

Ramp 'weight' is really about the spring assist. The actual ramp needs some weight to be safe for the horse to be on. If you have back issues... be sure to note when the ramp starts to become an issue and have the spring checked/replaced.

I agree with Chocomare, its the training not the ramp/step-up. Also knowing that if horse is used to one you do need to give him a chance to learn how to do the other.

We had one that preferred the step-up to the point he would try to come in from the side of the ramp to avoid it as much as possible. My problem is, over the years I've seen too many who stepped down and slid in the mud, so I personally prefer a ramp.

[marta]

We had one that preferred the step-up to the point he would try to come in from the side of the ramp to avoid it as much as possible.

that's what my mare was trying to do the other weekend when loading into friend's 2 horse trailer w/ a ramp. not sure how she thought she was going to make that turn????

[AKB]

I love my Sundowner. I can lift the ramp with 1 hand.

[KnKShowmom]

I also have a Hawk - great inside and outside lighting (came in handy when we had to unload at 9 pm on Saturday!) and super springs make the ramp easy to lift with one hand.

As far as loading, I have had more problems with step ups then ramps but as said earlier it is all what they are trained with/used to but I have found an even bigger factor is the interior - my trailer has a white interior with a side ramp so even "bad loaders" will get on because it is open and inviting. Some horses (esp TBs) are claustrophobic and won't get on a dark, deadend looking trailer.

[dbts]

Brenderup trailers have hydraulic assist in the ramps. They are extremely easy to use. Mine is light to lift.

[cdalt]

Love my Trail-et BP two horse w/dressing room. I have a bad back (3 surgeries) and it is very easy for me to lift the ramp. My old trailer did not have the "spring" assist (or whatever it is called - no visible springs like some of the older trailers) and I could barely lift it - had to squat down and make like a weight lifter to get it up shoulder height and then push it closed. Very difficult and probably contributed to my back problems! Trail-ets are well made, very inviting for horses to load into and I'd buy one again in a heartbeat!

[jn4jenny]

Brenderup trailers have hydraulic assist in the ramps. They are extremely easy to use. Mine is light to lift.

I have a B'up too, but I'd imagine it wouldn't be hard to get those hydraulic assists installed on any trailer ramp. Try calling your local horse trailer repair shop, preferably one that also works on boat trailers, and see what they say. I'd bet they can put those on quite cheaply, and that would really widen your shopping range.

[MunchkinsMom]

I just bought a Shadow all aluminum Stablemate 2HBP and the ramp is soo easy to lift, I can do it with one hand.

If you are not in a rush, your best bet is to either go to the dealers and try them all out, or if there are any equine trade shows coming up in your area, go to those and most of the major trailer dealers will be there.

[Callison]

I have a Trail-Et LWT and the ramp is very easy to get up alone. they are also nice a roomy inside too!

[Griffin]

I can lift my Hawk ramp with one hand

[gottagrey]

I vote for an EquiSpirit, I think I read somewhere in their product brochure they designed their trailers with the knowledge that a vast majority of horse owners (thus trailer owners) are women. Hence a lighter, spring actiion type ramp - also sits lower on the ground so safer for horse.

Alternatively, for a person doing a lot of trailering alone, I think i would also look into a stock trailer (with a tack room). No ramp, just a door, easy in easy out.. Alot of people don't like step up because of having to back horses out of them, if you trailer one horse, in a stock trailer = just turn them around.

Now that I think of it, I wonder if you could have a step up with a front off load?