How to Safely Pull a Horse Trailer

Pulling a horse trailer requires being aware of your tow vehicle, the horse trailer, and the horse that is riding inside the trailer. To safely transport a horse, you must practice road safety and remember to take your time. You must always be aware of the horse passenger that you are hauling. Read the laws in your state for pulling a horse trailer. Each state has different laws governing how to legally and safely tow a horse trailer.

Things You'll Need

• Towing vehicle (rated for trailer)
• Gooseneck trailer or bumper pull horse trailer hitch
• Vehicle with a Class 3 hitch
• Brake light hookup
• Fresh hay
• First-aid kit

Instructions

1. After the horse trailer is hooked up to the tow vehicle, walk through the trailer to make sure the roof vents are adjusted for the weather of the day. Check any safety releases to make sure they are operating with ease in case you need to reach your horse fast. Replace any old hay with new hay. Make sure there are no wasp or bee nests inside the trailer. Check the floor of the trailer to make sure it is stable with no rotten spots, and verify that there is nothing that will damage the horse's feet.

2. Place a leather skull cap on any horse that has never been transported so it does not damage its head if it should rear up. Load your horse on the left side of the trailer if it is a two-horse trailer and you are pulling one horse. When pulling more then one horse, place the heaviest horse on the left side of the trailer. Roads are crowned in the middle so having the heaviest horse or single horse on the driver's side will allow the trailer to pull safely. When hauling a horse in a slant load trailer always place the heaviest horse first in the front. The main weight should be on the front of the trailer.

3. Secure the horse with enough slack in the rope so there is no danger of the horse hanging itself in an accident. Make sure there is not too much slack in the rope, however. Moving around in a trailer will cause the trailer to sway and could prove dangerous. Use a quick-release knot in the lead rope to secure the horse. If using trailer ties, make sure the ties have a quick-release snap. Close all trailer doors and make sure storage doors are secure and locked.

4. Pull your horse trailer for a few blocks and then pull over to make sure the hitch is still secure.
   Starting and stopping distances will be greater because of the added weight of the horse and trailer, so give yourself plenty of room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you when on the road.

5. Drive at five miles under the speed limit. Use your signals when changing lanes and take it slow to avoid accidents. Keep your forward motion steady so you always maintain tension on the hitch to prevent any loss of control. Should the trailer sway, do not apply the vehicle brakes. Apply the hand-control brakes on the trailer in quick succession to stop the trailer sway. Take turns slowly and do not regain your speed quickly after a turn. You will need to gradually increase your speed after turns so your horse will be able to adjust its balance and maintain its footing.

6. Use a lower gear when pulling up steep hills. If the hill you are ascending is long, downshift your vehicle and keep your speed down. Apply the handbrake to slow the trailer when going down steep hills. If your trailer should begin to skid or jackknife then you will need to apply your vehicle brakes hard. Look into your review mirror and if your trailer is going into the opposite lane, let up on the brakes to help your trailer regain traction. Do not use the trailer brakes because they are more than likely what have caused the skid to begin. The wheels will need to regain traction so that the trailer will straighten out.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid parking on grades. If you must park on a grade then apply the brakes and chock the wheels.

• Avoid traveling down bumpy or rough roads. Horses often have a hard time balancing in a trailer so try to maintain a smooth trip.

• Breakaway brakes are required in a few states.

• Forty-six states require safety chains for a pull trailer and 29 states require safety chains for a gooseneck trailer. Please check your state's laws.

• Horses often become agitated and begin to kick or even rear up when being pulled down the road inside of a trailer. If this should occur pull over immediately to calm the animal before an accident can occur or the horse injures itself.

References

• horse trailers

Resources

• Horse Trailering Safety