How To Trailer A Horse

Introduction

Trailering a horse can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. When done correctly, trailering is safe and fun for you and your horse. Trailering is also the most popular way of transporting horses. So whether you’re trailering your horse to a show or taking him on vacation with you, follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth ride for all.

Get a trailer that’s the right size.

The trailer should be the right size for your horse.

Your horse should be able to stand up, lie down and turn around in the trailer.
Your horse should be able to turn around inside the trailer.
Your horse should be able to walk around inside the trailer.

Make sure your trailer is safe.

Before you begin to load your horse, make sure the trailer is safe. This means checking for leaks and cracks, rust or corrosion, damage to the floor, missing hardware and parts, loose lights and tires.

Make sure you have the proper license and insurance.

If you’re going to be driving a trailer, it’s important that you understand your requirements as a driver. You need a license to drive any vehicle on the road, and this extends to trailers as well. If you don’t have the proper license for your state, then you may find yourself in trouble if an accident were to occur.

Additionally, if a horse is hurt or killed during transport because of driver error (and not for any other reason), then the owner could seek compensation from the driver in court. If self-insured but still uninsured and found guilty by a judge in civil court, penalties can include fines and jail time depending on where you live.

Practice driving with a weight similar to your horse.

The first step to learning how to trailer a horse is practicing. You should try practicing in a parking lot or other open area that is safe, without cars and pedestrians. Make sure there are no curbs or hazards you could hit while backing up or turning. If you have access to a field, that’s great too!

Practice driving forward and backward until you feel confident with the process of shifting gears and putting your foot on the gas pedal at different speeds. Practice turning right, then left, then right again—all while keeping an eye on your mirrors so you don’t hit anything behind you (or in front). Pay attention to how quickly the trailer begins moving as well as how much gas it takes for this movement to occur; these details will help later when taking off from a stop light or pulling into traffic on the highway.

Once comfortable with these skills under normal conditions (i.e., without anything pulling), begin adding more variables into your training regimen: practice driving with larger vehicles around (trucks and SUVs) so that when hauling horses down public roads or parking lots at horse shows there won’t be any surprises when encountering larger vehicles than usual; practice backing up while also letting go of one hand so that only one hand remains free for steering purposes instead of two hands being used for both tasks; practice stopping near obstacles such as curbs where there might be danger lurking below if tires roll over them; finally, practice backing up slowly at different speeds until nothing feels rushed anymore—this may take some time but eventually everything should feel natural again!

Do not tie your horse in the trailer or you could injure or kill it.

The most important thing to remember when loading a horse into a trailer is that you must make sure the horse cannot become entangled or injured by its own movements. Never tie the animal’s head to an object, and never tie it’s tail or legs to anything either. If your horse is going in with other animals, make sure they are all loaded in safely without being able to injure themselves on each other or any part of the trailer.

Back into the trailer first if possible, since backing out can be a problem for drivers in a panic.

Please back into the trailer first if possible, since backing out can be a problem for drivers in a panic.

Backing up is much more difficult than driving forward, so it’s important that you get used to driving in reverse before you attempt to trailer your horse.

If you find yourself out on the road and unable to turn around, try one of these options: Make sure there are no cars behind you and pull off the road as far as necessary so that other vehicles won’t hit you when they pass by; if there aren’t many cars on the road, try pulling over onto a side street; if there isn’t another side street available, just wait for someone else to stop (you’ll need help).

Close the tailgate first when unloading, so the horse doesn’t escape.

When you’re unloading the horse, close the tailgate first. That way, you can’t forget to do it and the horse can’t escape when you open the trailer door. If you leave the tailgate open while opening the trailer door, your horse may panic and jump out of fear. You’ll want to stay calm during this process so that he or she doesn’t get spooked further.

Do not leave your horse unattended while trailering.

It is crucial that you are present and supervising your horse when it is being loaded into the trailer. If you are loading a new horse, it is especially important to be there as this is the first time that your horse will be placed into a trailer. Your presence will reassure both you and your animal that everything is okay.

If you need to leave your horse unattended while trailering, make sure someone else has learned how to properly load the trailer or has been taught by another experienced person who knows how to do this safely.

Trailering your horse can seem scary, but it’s easier if you follow these tips.

Make sure your trailer is properly ventilated. Ensure that there are holes in the walls and roof, so that air can circulate easily and prevent suffocation.
Do not overload the trailer with other horses or livestock unless they are close friends with each other. This prevents injury from fighting during the trip, as well as ensuring that everyone has enough food and water for themselves during travel time (you should bring some extra feed along anyway).
Bring plenty of cool water for your horse when you begin traveling; if possible fill up before loading them onto the trailer so that they don’t overheat while sitting still on hot pavement

Conclusion

Trailering your horse isn’t as scary as it may seem, and it can be a fun experience for both you and your horse! By following these few simple tips, you can help prevent any accidents or injuries that could arise during trailering. Trailering your horse doesn’t have to be overwhelming with the right preparation, so get out there and start practicing!