Trailer safety

Trailer

•       Check your trailer brakes, lights, tires and hitch to ensure everything is working properly.

•       Be familiar with your trailer before you load a horse in it.

Loading Your Horse

•                Load with a helper. The helper can snap the butt-strap and secure the rear door while you stand outside the forward escape door holding your horse’s lead.

•                Load your horse one step at a time.

•                Lead or drive your horse into the trailer. Once your horse is in, keep hold of your horse’s lead, and wait for your companion to snap the butt-strap in place and secure the rear doors. NOTE: ALWAYS SECURE THE TRAILER HARDWARE (DOOR/GATES) BEFORE TYING THE HORSE.

•                Once your horse is loaded, the choice to tie or not is yours. Tying can make handling the horse upon removal from the trailer easier, but it can impair a horse’s ability to keep his balance.

•                Secure windows and consider screens to prevent things from flying into the trailer and hitting your horse.

The Drive

•                At each rest or refueling stop, double check that your hitch, safety chains, brakes and lights are connected correctly.

•                Give yourself extra time and distance when stopping. This is important for two reasons: the weight of your tow vehicle, trailer and horses will require a longer stopping distance, and your horses need the opportunity to shift their weight in preparation for stops. Stay at least the length of your vehicle and trailer behind the vehicle in front of you, and use lower gears when traveling down hills.

•                Turn corners and change lanes slowly to allow your horse to steady themselves.

•                Try to park where you can leave the space by simply driving forward.

Unloading

•                When you unload, always untie your horse.

•                Unload your horse one step at a time. If possible, do not allow him to rush out of the trailer.

•                Only unload your horse at a horse-suitable location, not gas stations, roadside, etc.

REFERENCE: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/horse-behavior/tips-trailering-your-horse

REFERENCE: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/horse-behavior/tips-trailering-your-horse