Trailer Tips
By Lisa Doubleday

Since we first published this book, we have spoken to hundreds of horse owners who are either planning to travel for the first time with their horse, or owners who are going to be traveling a longer distance than they have before.

A lot of the questions are the same:

How far should I travel in one day?
(It depends.)

And some new ones:

Can I leave my horse in the trailer while going through a car wash?
(Definitely not a good idea.)

I have written some helpful hints here but if there is any question that is not answered, please feel free to call and ask us! The keys to traveling with a horse trailer are practice and preparation. If you are hauling horses for the first time, do not wait until you have a horse on board to "try it out." There is much to learn and become familiar with before risking an accident with your horse on board. Driving with a trailer is very different. Visibility is drastically affected as are turning ratios, braking, and driving in reverse. I suggest you hook up the trailer, empty, and drive to a large shopping center or open area in the early morning when you will encounter few cars. Practice turning and backing up. Slow, gradual turns on the wheel will work better than severe, sharp turns. Get to know the turning radius of your truck and trailer, and find out what they will and will not do.

Inevitably in your travels, you will pull into a gas station, parking lot, or rest area and be forced to negotiate an unexpected and difficult turn. That is not the time to learn. If you have the time, take your empty trailer on a drive on the road surfaces you may encounter on your planned trip, such as an interstate highway (practice passing and changing lanes), narrow roads, unpaved and rough road surfaces, etc. Before the trip, practice with the horse on board. Take your horse for some local trips, gradually taking longer ones. It never hurts to reward a horse with both treats and praise for being so brave. Again, do not have your horse's first trip on a trailer.

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