It's time to hit the road with your horses. Whether you're going for an overnight trail ride, an open fun show or a long road trip, adventures await you and your horses once you clip the chains and release the parking brake of your horse trailer.
Before you hook your trailer to your truck, though, it's important to go through a checklist for safety precautions as well as a checklist to make sure you have everything you need when you get to the trails or horse show.
Team members from Tough1 share their tips for packing the trailer, trailer safety and more:
Maddie (Sales Rep, Multi-Discipline Lesson Instructor):
Before Hauling: I check my floorboards and pull up the mats often.
I train all my horses to self-load, as I feel safer that way, rather than crowding in that confined space with them. I always use a sliding tie ring or breakaway halter to tie, or I will haul loose, to avoid a horse from hanging or breaking their neck if they slip and fall under a divider.
I like to use an extra-grippy mat in the back of the trailer, where the horse first steps up, to provide extra traction for wet hooves coming in at an angle. A stall mat turned upside down and anchored in place works well.
What I Pack: I always keep a spare halter and lead, a whip and a first aid kit that includes a tranquilizer in case we get stuck unloading somewhere dangerous. A knife in case someone gets stuck in a feeder. I like to keep a separate set of brushes, pitchfork etc. in the trailer to make it easier to going places without packing a whole lot.
Trailer Tip: I hitch up by myself, the old-fashioned way, getting out and checking until I get it right. Lots of practice has made me quick, as I developed a feel for it! I’ve always wanted to try the pool noodle trick, though!
Katie (Purchasing/Product Development, Barrel Racing & Pole Bending Competitor):
What I Pack: Personally, I always have general first aid products for both horses and people.
Trailer Tip: I have seen some people use a pool noodle on their gooseneck ball to help line up, as well as a similar device on a bumper pull.
Meredith (Brand Manager, Hobby Farm Owner & Casual Rider):
What I Pack: Some type of emergency light or cones in case you get stuck on the side of the road. Make sure you have a GOOD spare tire & jack suitable for the weight of the trailer. Keeping the spare tire inside the trailer's tack room can increase its lifespan as it won't be exposed to the elements.
Before the Tow: Check that your plate registration sticker is not expired, and check that all lights work before leaving. I use my trailer sporadically, so before every trip, I lift my rubber floor mats and check that the wood boards are not compromised. Practicing loading your horse well before the day you need to load them to prevent issues day-of.
Trailer Tips: I always load up my supplies and tack before loading my horse to limit the time they spend in the trailer as much as possible. Also, invest in a trailer tongue/lock to prevent theft.
Crystal (Sales Manager, Horse Racing Owner & Trainer):
What I Pack: Our trailer always has: extra halter, lead chain, training flag, shovel, first aid kit (Tough Flex, wound spray, Wonder Dust, standing and no bow bandages, cotton/felt, and electrical tape), water bucket, and double-end snaps, twine, wheel chocks, impact drill, and road caution flags if we break down.
Trailer Tip: When we took long trips to other tracks, we would bring water from home and administer electrolyte paste to the horses before and after. It saved us several times when there were accidents on the interstate, and we were sitting for a long time.
Megan (Digital/Social Media Manager, Horse & Mini Farm Owner):
What I Pack: I keep a heavy-duty jack and four-way lug wrench for changing tires, as well as my spare tire, in my tack room. I have two sets of grooming tools—one for the barn and one for the trailer—so I don't have to worry about needing a tool that I forgot to pack.
Before the Tow: After I hook up the trailer, I pull it up forward into the driveway to provide a clear area for loading our horses and to do a quick brake check on the trailer. I will check all of the lights, including turn signals, and the tire pressure (even on the spare tire). Depending on the weather, I’ll open the windows and vents to provide adequate airflow. Even if it's chilly, I'll open the windows at least halfway because it can get warm inside the trailer during the trip and you want to keep your horses comfortable.
Trailer Tip: Even if you're hauling to your veterinarian, check the road conditions before you leave and plan your route accordingly. Each time we haul the horses, even if I know where I'm going by heart, I will check Google Maps and/or Waze for any construction zones, traffic accidents, etc. This way, I can plan ahead if I need to take a detour and won't get caught needing to make tight turns with a horse trailer.
My dad made a tube out of PVC pipes and attached it to the inside of my tack compartment in my trailer to keep paperwork safe and dry. We keep the trailer registration, insurance card and horses' health papers in this tube so that way, no matter whose truck we use to haul the trailer, we had everything in one place.
Other Trailering Tips
Have annual trailer maintenance checkups performed by a professional to ensure that your trailer is ready for the road, especially if it stays dormant over the winter. Routine maintenance will not only ensure the trailer is safe and road-ready, but it'll also prolong the lifespan of your investment.
After every trip, clean out your trailer. Remove any used bedding and scattered hay, throw away trash and reorganize your tack compartment. Doing this will make the next trip easier because it’s already done.
Once you've removed the used bedding, wash and disinfect the inside of your trailer often to prevent any communicable diseases your horse may have picked up in his travels. Once you've done that, allow your trailer to air out for a day before placing fresh bedding and hay.
Be Road Ready
When you're making your travel and show plans this year, also make your packing and planning checklists. This will allow you extra time to thoroughly think about what you will need and what you may need to purchase before the hustle of packing begins. Perform a Google Search for trailer packing checklists to see the variety of things you should consider packing and then create your own list to use.
Safe travels!
