The Horse Trailer
Page Created by Amanda Nimick
Penn
State’s Equine Science
Program uses this “Custom Fab” trailer to haul its American Quarter Horses and
its ponies. The aluminum stock type trailer was manufactured by Altmeyer’s
Fabricating LTD with dimensions of 20 feet in length, 7 feet 10 inches wide
and 7 feet tall (inside measurements). Usage for this trailer includes
frequent, very short distance trips such as transporting the 2 year old
horses to the Agriculture Arena for the Horse Handling and Training course,
as well as less frequent trips such as taking the animals to the local
hospital or on rare occasions a long road trip to pick up a donated horse or
pony.
The Exterior
Features include:
 DOORS
The
trailer has two doors. One large swinging door on the back, used for horses
and one smaller door on the passenger side near the front used only for
people. Having one large door on the back helps in many ways: 1. the width is
visually appealing for the horses; they are not as frightened as with a small
dark opening; 2. a foal could easily walk in simultaneously with a mare who
is being led in; 3. there is not a bar in the middle for the leader to have
to maneuver around when loading, they can simply walk in with the horse; 4.
the door itself may help guide the horse into the trailer more easily; 5. the
width allows room for the horse to enter without bumping into any edges
causing him to spook or an injury.
 LATCHES
The
latches on both doors include several safety features. To open the door one
must remove the wire from the pin by pulling it down and out, and the pin
will then be free to pull out of its slot. The top bracket that held the pin
is spun clockwise to allow space for the handle bar to be raised out of the
bottom bracket. This latch is preferred because it is simple to operate, yet
very safe. The wire attached to the pin will not allow the pin to wiggle
loose, preventing the door from opening accidentally.
HITCH
The
hitch is standard gooseneck hitch that connects in the bed of the pick up
truck. It includes standard safety chains as well as a Tekonsha Shur Set III Breakaway System. If the trailer separates
from the towing vehicle, a small cable snaps, activating emergency brakes. A
bumper hitch is another option in trailers; however it is not possible for
this trailer because the size and weight to be pulled is too great.
The Interior
Features include:
COMPARTMENTS/CAPACITY
The
trailer is separated into two compartments by closing the middle partition,
which should always be done as a safety precaution. Capacities include: 4
mares or 5 yearlings or 6-8 ponies, depending on sizes of the animals. They
are tied to the driver’s side wall using their halters and lead ropes. It is
important to have the majority of the weight on the left side of the trailer
because roads are sloped toward the berm. Facing the horses to the passenger
side may increase the chance of the trailer tipping on some roads. Because
there is not a divider between each horse, it is important to choose which
horses stand next to each other to prevent fighting.
 FLOORING
Rubber
mats are used as a soft, non-slip floor. Other options include; 1. Wood
boards, but they can become slippery, warped or they may rot when they become
wet; 2. Bedding, it is also soft and absorbs liquids, but it must be replaced
frequently. The mats can be removed for easy cleaning and drying, which should
be done regularly. It is also important that the mats fit properly, so there
are no bumps or edges that may cause a horse to stumble.
 Ventilation
Ventilation
is provided through two open slots that run the entire length of both sides
of the trailer as well as two circular vents in the front that are
approximately chest high for the horses. To protect the horses in extreme
cold, the slots are covered with boards in the winter allowing enough air to
ventilate but not make the animals cold. Other options for ventilation in
other trailer models include side windows that slide open and close and
ceiling vents, both of which introduce plenty of light into the trailer as
well as permitting adequate airflow.
Other Features:
Lights/Spare Tire
The trailer is also equipped with
two interior lights that can be used when there is not enough natural light.
This can help handlers see as well as horses, which will lower their fear of
the trailer. There are also brake lights on the back of the trailer to inform
other vehicles when it will be changing direction or stopping, as required.
There is a storage compartment above the hitch that is accessible from the
inside and outside or the trailer. The spare tire is mounted on the front of
the trailer under this storage area.
RAMPS
Many trailers are equipped with
ramps to make it easier for horses to enter; however Penn
State chose not to have
one. The disadvantages may include: raising and lowering the ramp with each
load and unload of the horses, which is tiring and time consuming; and
second, the risk of an animal slipping off the side, especially when spooked.
The Penn State
trailer is low enough for all of the animals to easily step onto it, so the
advantages of having a ramp do not outweigh the risks.
An Idea for
Improvement:
PADDING
One aspect that might be nice to
alter in the future is to place padding on the protruding metal supports on
the inside of the trailer. For instance, there is a small six inch wall where
the middle partition latches shut. Horses can run into this wall and might
get small bumps or cuts. Also, there are small support beams that run along
the ceiling that protrude slightly. Since these edges are not sharp, there is
not a high risk now, however, placing padding on these two areas would
decrease that chance of injury to animals just due to blunt force. The pads
may also decrease clanking noises that would startle the horses.
The
main aspects to be considered for horse trailers are safety, size, and
ventilation. Horses are more afraid of entering trailers that are small,
dark, noisy, or likely to sway when loading, so it is best to minimize all of
these unwanted features. The trailer at Penn
State possesses all of
the desired features.
References And
Suggested Readings:
1.
American Youth Horse Council. "Tack and
Equipment." Horse Industry
Handbook.1999.
- Altmeyer’s Fabrication Limited. 651
Pittsburgh Road, Butler, PA
16002 (724)
586-2878
- “Breakaway
Systems and Accessories” <http://www.Tekonsha.com>
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