| Horse Trailers are a fact-of-life for anyone involved | | | | using as well as the weight of the cargo load. |
| with horses, whether riding, training, showing, buying | | | | 3. Slant Load or Straight Load - A slant load |
| and selling or all of the above. For anyone who has | | | | horse trailer has stalls that are slanted from right to |
| ever dealt with transporting horses, or who plans to | | | | left to accommodate 2 or 3 horses riding at a time. |
| in the future, we've put together this guide to help | | | | This configuration allows for transporting more horses |
| you prioritize some of the important factors when | | | | without adding to the width of the trailer. A straight |
| considering purchase of a new horse trailer. | | | | load trailer loads 1 or 2 horses straight into the trailer |
| Horse Trailers are available in a variety of styles and | | | | and generally gives the horses more room. |
| sizes with any number of add-ons and accessories. | | | | Depending on the manufacturer, both slant load and |
| You can find basic 2 Horse Trailers to 4 Horse | | | | straight load trailers have dividers to separate the |
| Trailers with Living Quarters, trailers with tack rooms, | | | | stalls and may have tack storage rooms for the |
| saddle racks, storage, and feed doors, and with a | | | | horse's equipment. Choosing between slant load and |
| bumper pull slant load, bumper pull straight load, or | | | | straight load really depends on how many horses you |
| gooseneck hitch. With all of the styles and features | | | | will be transporting, the size of the horses, and the |
| available from leading manufacturers, it's important to | | | | load capacity of your vehicle. |
| get an idea of what you need and expect from your | | | | 4. Living Quarters - Some trailers are equipped |
| trailer. The following 5 tips can help make sure you | | | | with Living Quarters to accommodate the driver or |
| get the most out of your trailer for your intended | | | | owner or caretaker during overnight or longer |
| purposes. | | | | expeditions. Living quarters may be a necessity if |
| 1. 2 Horse, 3 Horse, or 4 Horse Trailer - First you | | | | you plan on regularly transporting the horses on |
| need to consider how many horses you will be | | | | longer trips. This feature will make the trip more |
| transporting at any time. Here you need to think | | | | safe, restful, convenient, and economical overall. |
| about your plans for the future and your goals with | | | | Depending on the manufacturer, you can expect a |
| your horse business. If you know that you have a | | | | bed, wardrobe, shower, and kitchen area with |
| smaller operation or a side hobby with your horses, a | | | | stovetop, sink, and microwave. Sounds a lot better |
| 2 horse trailer might be ideal for the foreseeable | | | | than trying to catch some shut-eye in the cab of |
| future. However, if you intend to grow and expand | | | | your truck! |
| your business, or breed your horses, you might think | | | | 5. New or Used - In your search for a horse |
| about getting a 3 or 4 horse trailer to accommodate | | | | trailer, you will find many options on the resale |
| future needs (or current needs if you already have | | | | market as well as all manner of new trailers. Here |
| more horses). Also, many trailers allow you to | | | | you want to consider whether you want customized |
| remove the stall divider if you are transporting fewer | | | | options and what warranties are available. These |
| horses than the trailer can accommodate. | | | | might be the deciding factors in choosing new over |
| 2. Bumper Pull or Gooseneck Hitch - Horse | | | | used. For example, a new Sundowner horse trailer |
| trailers can be found with either bumper pull or | | | | comes with a 3 Year Hitch to Bumper Warranty as |
| gooseneck hitches for your vehicle and here you | | | | well as an 8 Year Structural Warranty. The 3 Year |
| need to consider the configuration of your | | | | Warranty even covers most items in the Living |
| transporting vehicle as well as the size and weight of | | | | Quarters units. You'll want to weigh in these factors |
| your load. Bumper pull trailers are used with vehicles | | | | when shopping for your trailer while also considering |
| that have a ball hitch and the trailer is attached to | | | | the source of the trailer (respected dealer, personal |
| the rear of the vehicle. Gooseneck hitches are used | | | | sale from the classifieds, etc). |
| with pick-up trucks and are generally considered to | | | | As you can see, shopping for a horse trailer requires |
| be much stronger. The gooseneck hitch is located in | | | | some homework and smart planning. Let these 5 |
| the truck bed above the rear axle and the trailer is | | | | factors provide a starting point in your process to |
| then secured to it. The horse trailer in this case has | | | | successfully choosing a trailer. It is a big investment |
| a front end protrusion that extends beyond the main | | | | and takes into account the safety and comfort of |
| structure of the trailer. The type of hitch you | | | | you and your horses as well as reliability, durability, |
| choose depends largely on the type of vehicle you're | | | | and affordability. |