One of the great things about working at Bulletproof Hitches is having the chance to speak with a variety of customers who use their trailers and hitches in several different ways.
Some of our most frequent shoppers, for example, include men and women who need to trailer horses.
For the safety of both your horses and your vehicle, it’s crucial to ensure you understand the “right” way to trailer your horses. More than just trailering them correctly, however, it’s vital to keep them safe during transport.
If you’re looking for the best safety tips when trailering horses, we’ve done the research for you! Here are 5 great tips that will make your driving experience better.
1. Choose the Right Vehicle for Your Horse Trailer
While it would be nice to throw your horse trailer behind any vehicle, this isn’t a safe option. Each unique vehicle has its own towing capacity that must be met. To determine your car, truck, or SUV's towing capacity, several different factors should be considered, such as:
- Engine Size
- Transmission
- Axle Ratio
If you’re confused about whether your vehicle can handle your horse trailer, be sure to review the manufacturer’s towing vehicle guide.
2. Use Modern Horse Trailers with Advanced Safety Features
Compared to previously available options, today's horse trailers are fully-equipped with outstanding safety features to better accommodate your equine companions. They include various safety elements, such as screens, window bar guards, proper insulation, and mats.
Many horse trailers can also be revamped to include state-of-the-art options, such as fans, air-ride suspension, security cameras, or A/C.
3. Horses are Properly Positioned in the Trailer
This might seem like an obvious suggestion, but it’s critical to ensure your horses are properly positioned when loaded onto the trailer. This idea includes finding positions that will help minimize the stress of your horses during travel.
Researchers have found that things such as trailering horses at a 45-degree slant or allowing them to face backward during movement reduced the amount of stress they experienced while being transported.
4. Ensure Your Trailer Has Good Ventilation
To help ensure your horses' respiratory health, having proper ventilation during travel is essential (even if you’re not trailering them very far!) If you want to ventilate your trailer correctly, choose one with plenty of windows slats, and roof vents.
5. Find the Right Trailer Hitch for Your Trailer
In speaking with our customers at Bulletproof Hitches, we’ve heard one thing time and time again relating to equestrian activities—the importance of leveling out your vehicle and trailer while transporting your horses.
That’s where having the right trailer hitch comes in handy! Thankfully, our industry-leading adjustable drop hitch is the ideal solution.
It can be easily maneuvered to ensure your vehicle and trailer are evenly lined up for the best safety situation for your horses.
If you’re interested in learning more about how our hitches can help you while you’re traveling with your horses, give us a call today at 941-202-1290. Or, you can fill out our online form to speak with a friendly customer service representative.