On the Road With Your Horses
By Bob Kingsbery
It was late at night and the highway was empty, except for a pickup pulling a horse trailer, headed home from a roping. The driver and his passenger were dead tired and in a hurry to get home. Going a few miles over the speed limit.
Two miles down the road, a small car was stopped on the side of the road with a flat tire and no lights on. Just as the pickup was about to pass, the car’s driver stepped out to wave for help, startling the pickup driver. He swerved and braked too hard, causing the trailer to whip around, blow 2 tires and tip over.
The trailer came loose and skidded on its side for a couple hundred feet. Fortunately, the 2 horses survived, banged up a little but nothing broken. It was a while before either horse would enter a trailer easily.
Trailer-related accidents are becoming more common as more people take part in horse-related activities. More people with minimal trailer-pulling experience are on the road these days, but even drivers with lots of trailer experience often run into situations that can result in injury, or worse, to horses and people.
Common sense tips
Taking a few common-sense steps can help you and your horses reach your destination safely.
The first rule is, don’t pull a trailer unless you are wide awake and completely sober.
Most trailer accidents involve a single vehicle and driver error; going too fast around curves and corners, not having enough time to stop, and failure to properly hitch the trailer are the main causes of a trailer-related tragedy.
Always drive five or 10 miles below the speed limit when pulling a trailer. Remember that driving 55 miles per hour will only take a little bit longer to arrive than going 70 miles per hour.
The second rule is to double and triple check everything before you hit the road.
Make sure the hitch is secured, the safety chains are attached, the lights are working, the tires are properly inflated and all trailer gates are securely latched. Check your trailer brakes before you get on the highway. Pull over after a few miles to check everything one more time.
Don’t phone or text while you are driving and check your rear-view mirrors frequently. Pulling a loaded trailer increases your stopping and slowing distances significantly so don’t be distracted. When backing up a trailer have someone to guide you and make sure no one else is in the way.
Train your horse to load and unload
Many trailer-related problems occur during loading or unloading. Horses need to be trained to enter and exit a trailer before you hit the road.
The floor should be clean to prevent slipping, which is sure to panic most horses. Rubber floor mats make for sure footing and reduce fatigue during long trips. Introduce your horse to the trailer slowly, letting him walk around the trailer a few times before loading.
Horses prefer open spaces and naturally don’t like to enter enclosed places. Let your horse put his head in the trailer without any pressure. Putting some hay or feed just inside the door can help.
Let your horse put a hoof in the trailer and then back him out. Once he realizes you aren’t going to force him, he will be more comfortable with the idea of entering the trailer.
Clinton Anderson of Downunder Horsemanship in Stephenville says horses can learn to like trailers as places of rest. He recommends loading them into a trailer for a rest after riding or lunging.
Trailer shapes and sizes
Trailers come in all sizes and shapes. The easiest to load are those with doors that drop down to make a ramp. Wider trailers let you turn and lead your horses out head first. Walk-through trailers let you open the front doors to make the space more inviting to enter (a chest bar prevents the horse from exiting).
Whichever trailer you choose, make sure your vehicle has enough power to pull it safely and that you are comfortable pulling it in less than ideal conditions. A Ford F-150 or large SUV is okay for a basic 2-horse or 4-horse trailer. Larger trailers require a bigger truck.
Trailer maintenance
Like all equipment, trailers need to be maintained properly. Always check tire pressure and make sure the lights are working before you leave.
Sweep or wash the trailer out after each use to prevent corrosion and manure buildup.
Replace tires every 3 or 4 years regardless of mileage. Carry at least 1 spare trailer tire and a jack capable of lifting your trailer.
Coggins test
When taking your horse to an event where other horses are present, you will need a negative Coggins test report. Texas, Oklahoma and most states require testing for equine infectious anemia when horses mingle. A Coggins test must be done by a veterinarian and is good for 12 months. Bill Curry, with the Texas Animal Health Commission, says most inspectors will accept a legible photo of the test report on your smartphone.
Mike Alexander, CEO of Equine Express of Aubrey, says a Coggins test takes several days and will cost you anywhere from $30 to $100.
“Plan ahead, even for short hauls,” he advises. Alexander’s company has been transporting horses across the country since 1986. His drivers, all experienced horsemen and women, have loaded and unloaded thousands of horses under every condition you can imagine.
For trips longer than an hour, Alexander stresses the importance of making sure your horse has had plenty of water.
“We recommend giving them electrolytes for several days ahead of a long trip. Our drivers stop and give them water every 4 or 5 hours to make sure they don’t get dehydrated.”
Another mistake is tying their heads too high. He says a horse needs to lower its head below its shoulder to clear its sinuses frequently. For short hauls, Alexander says it isn’t how far you drive but how long your horse is in the trailer. Stopping for lunch and errands adds up and increases the chance of dehydration. Making sure your horses drink is the most important thing you can do when transporting horses.
Once your horse is loaded, Coggins test results in hand, you are ready to hit the road.
Trailers are noisy and horses don’t much like the sensation of moving.
Start out slowly to give them time to adjust to the noise and motion. Stop after a few miles to see how your horses are doing. Check their ties and make sure all latches and hitches are secure. Drive at a reasonable speed to give yourself plenty of time to stop without braking hard. Slow down for turns so your horses can brace themselves in time.
Taking a little extra time to prepare, and a little longer to get where you are going, could save you a lot of time and trouble down the road. ❚
“Safe Horse Transportation” is excerpted from the November 2017 issue of The Cattleman magazine.