At some point or another in owning horses, travel and trailering horses is necessary. For some of us, it’s a constant occurrence. For others, it may only happen every once in a while.

Some of us might have a trainer or friend who is the expert in trailering and they are your appointed trusted person to trailer your horse from point A to point B. If (and when) you find yourself in a situation where you need to travel with your horse in a trailer, it’s best to do so in a safe manner. That means knowing your truck and trailer, how to identify potential safety issues with your trailer, and doing what is necessary to keep your horse comfortable and as safe as possible. 

Safety list checklist 

Every time I trailer a horse, I always do a trailer safety check. I do this regardless if I’m driving down the road or across state lines. A quick safety check, that might take 5 minutes at most, can save you from some real hazardous and life threatening situations. In my 2 horse slant load trailer, here is what I look for:

• The ball hitch connected to my truck is secure and the pin is not loose
• The drop hitch of my trailer is correctly fitted on the ball hitch and all safety chains and pins are in the proper place. 
• The trailer brakes and light connector is securely attached to the truck receiver
• Trailer brake lights, running lights, and turn signals work
• Tires of the trailer are in good condition
• Trailer tack room door is locked (I’ve made the mistake of not checking this and having the tack room door open up while driving on the road! Luckily I didn’t lose anything!)
• Trailer door closes and latches correctly
• Floor boards are in strong condition (I don’t check this every time- this is a once every 6 months check to ensure the wood floorboards of the trailer are not weak and at risk of breaking)
• Calibrate trailer brakes to the truck brakes if needed

Fresh wood shavings 

If I plan on trailering my horse over a long period of time, usually anytime over an hour at a time, I make sure there is a fresh layer of wood shavings on the floor of the trailer. This helps absorb urine and moisture from manure that can help prevent my horse from slipping on the rubber mats of the trailer floor.

Equipment for the road 

You can consider a few different pieces of equipment to put on your horse when traveling to help keep them safe. Some horses will kick and paw at the trailer walls, or some horses might be known to throw their head up when in the trailer or backing out of it. Understanding your horse and the risks you’re willing or not willing to take will help determine what, if any, items you put them on when trailering. Here is a list of possible items you can use on your horse to help them stay safe:

• Trailering boots: padded boots to help prevent injury from kicking or accidentally stepping on their own legs
• Poll cap: sits on top of the poll to help to protect it from injury if the horse raises its head up violently when in the trailer or backing out
•  Trailering halter: more padded than a normal halter and designed to be more comfortable to the horse during long travel time
• Fly Mask: some people choose to put a fly mask on the horse during travel if the trailer is a stock trailer and there is open air coming in. This could possibly help prevent things from getting into the horses eye, even keeping dust from the shavings in the trailer from causing irritation to the horse
• Stable sheet: In cold months and with skinny horses, I will put a stable sheet on the horse to help break the wind and keep them warmer. Not all horses need a blanket since the act of trailering should be considered an athletic event for a horse and they will be burning calories in order to stay balanced during the trip.

Anytime I travel, even if it is just down the road, I always have full hay nets in each trailer stall for the horses to munch on if they choose to do so. Keeping hay up in a net while traveling eliminates the need for the horse to lower its head to the floorboards in order to eat hay. This may assist in helping the horse stay balanced during travel. Some owners choose not to provide hay as it is a potential choke hazard while traveling, but I’m of the opinion that the benefits of giving the horse the option to eat is greater than the risk while traveling. 

Why I don't tie my horse 

Depending on the configuration of the trailer and the personality of the horse, I typically choose to not tie my horse to the inside of the trailer. This is a little unconventional, and I only do this with horses I know well and have been trained to be relaxed and comfortable in a trailer.

I choose to not tie because for me personally, if a horse slips and falls while in the trailer (which is a rare but life threatening situation), I would much rather that horse have control of their head than to have their head tied up to where they are unable to get back up. I also like the idea of allowing the horse to have full control of how high or how low their head can be while traveling so that they have the ability to adjust their balance as needed. 

Trailers affect how you drive 

When in the act of driving with a trailer, it is most important to remember that it takes more time to slow down and stop than it does without a trailer. Always be proactively driving and accounting for more slow down time. A trailer full of horses is capable of pushing a truck forward even when brakes are applied on the truck. Sudden braking actions of the truck can slam horses forward into trailer dividers and walls and make for a very stressful environment of the horse. Slow and steady is always the best pace to keep when trailering. 

Plan for stops 

With traveling long distances, it is necessary to plan for stops along the way in order to provide a break for your horse and to offer water. In my experience, most horses will refuse water or drink very little when traveling, but it is still very important to offer it and encourage water consumption. A break also provides the horse with time to eat if they are not comfortable eating when the trailer is moving. Some horses won’t defecate or urinate when moving and a break will allow them to do just that. A break also provides an opportunity to assess the horses and make sure they are looking and acting normal. Injuries while trailering can occur and addressing them sooner rather than later can make recovery time quicker. 

Train on loading and unloading 

Before you trailer your horse, you should first make sure your horse is comfortable and trained in loading and unloading into a trailer. Spending time working with your horse to load in and out without stress will save you in the long run.

Sometimes we have to quickly load our horse into a trailer in a high-stress environment, such as an evacuation or veterinary emergency and it will save you precious minutes if your horse already knows what to expect when being asked to load up. Work with a trusted trainer if you’re having issues loading and unloading your horse. The money spent establishing this necessary skill set in your horse will be invaluable in the long run. 

Regardless if you’re a road warrior with your horses or brand new to the idea of trailering, it is crucial to slow down and make sure everyone is safe. We can’t protect ourselves and our horses from other travelers on the road, but we can proactively keep ourselves and our horses prepared for what might occur when traveling. 

What if my horse is scared to travel? 

One odd tip for those of us who sometimes trailer with just one horse: If your horse appears to be uncomfortable in the trailer by themselves (kicking at the walls, whinnying, etc), install shatter-proof mirrors on the trailer door. The reflection of themselves in the mirror can sometimes be enough of a “comfort” to let them think they’re not alone in the trailer and travel more comfortably. I purchased 4 square 12”x12” mirrors that stuck to the the door wall of my trailer and it solved about 95% of all my horse's issues when traveling.