chicks2 - 2015-10-26 9:59 PM I have a friend with a big TB, about 17 hands.  He's a very nice dressage horse.  Don't take offence here, but I find folks that ride English, are a bit different than their western counterparts.  We buy the 4500, pull the Bloomer, and still drive the 4500 as our around town vehicle.  They tend to have the nice 'city car' and an older truck and trailer to get around.  



She came home from her lesson the other day, and as she pulled into the pasture, felt a little jostle, but thought nothing about it.  When she got out and went to the back, the door was open and there was no horse in the trailer, he was out in the pasture...after he had apparently busted out of the back gate.  She hauls him in an open 3 horse gooseneck because he has a history of trailer issues, so no slant protection or butt bars.  He apparently had sat back, and blasted through the back door.  It was a one piece door, he bowed out the hinges, and the side latch had just pulled away from the latch.



Thoughts, experiences?  Many thoughts come to mind, put the slant dividers back in, put extra reinforcement on the back, buy a better trailer.....



I'm thinking a guy this big and strong, may need more than a run of the mill trailer.



All advise and opinions welcome.





 

chicks2 - 2015-10-26 9:59 PM I have a friend with a big TB, about 17 hands.  He's a very nice dressage horse.  Don't take offence here, but I find folks that ride English, are a bit different than their western counterparts.  We buy the 4500, pull the Bloomer, and still drive the 4500 as our around town vehicle.  They tend to have the nice 'city car' and an older truck and trailer to get around.    

  I disagree with this statement. I'm having a hard time getting past it to even answer your question. I think the situation you described was just an accident and could have happened no matter what discipline you ride or what you drive or pull. As the saying goes.....sh*t happens.

She came home from her lesson the other day, and as she pulled into the pasture, felt a little jostle, but thought nothing about it.  When she got out and went to the back, the door was open and there was no horse in the trailer, he was out in the pasture...after he had apparently busted out of the back gate.  She hauls him in an open 3 horse gooseneck because he has a history of trailer issues, so no slant protection or butt bars.  He apparently had sat back, and blasted through the back door.  It was a one piece door, he bowed out the hinges, and the side latch had just pulled away from the latch.

Thoughts, experiences?  Many thoughts come to mind, put the slant dividers back in, put extra reinforcement on the back, buy a better trailer.....

I'm thinking a guy this big and strong, may need more than a run of the mill trailer.

All advise and opinions welcome.


 

GraciousLegacy - 2015-10-27 10:24 AM  
^^^^^ THIS ..... it always amazes me when non-relevant information, which is meant to enflame, is added to a post....and then the words...."don't take offense".....

chicks2 - 2015-10-26 9:59 PM

I have a friend with a big TB, about 17 hands.  He's a very nice dressage horse.  Don't take offence here, but I find folks that ride English, are a bit different than their western counterparts.  We buy the 4500, pull the Bloomer, and still drive the 4500 as our around town vehicle.  They tend to have the nice 'city car' and an older truck and trailer to get around.  

She came home from her lesson the other day, and as she pulled into the pasture, felt a little jostle, but thought nothing about it.  When she got out and went to the back, the door was open and there was no horse in the trailer, he was out in the pasture...after he had apparently busted out of the back gate.  She hauls him in an open 3 horse gooseneck because he has a history of trailer issues, so no slant protection or butt bars.  He apparently had sat back, and blasted through the back door.  It was a one piece door, he bowed out the hinges, and the side latch had just pulled away from the latch.

Thoughts, experiences?  Many thoughts come to mind, put the slant dividers back in, put extra reinforcement on the back, buy a better trailer.....

I'm thinking a guy this big and strong, may need more than a run of the mill trailer.

All advise and opinions welcome.


 

alp341 - 2015-10-27 11:35 AM


I dont think the OP meant that in a negative way, but meant that the horse being able to open the door and fall out could be related to the trailer being older and therefore not having the newest safety measures, and with such a big horse with past issues trailering, and somewhat expensive if hes "very nice"... maybe the friend needs a taller and more secure trailer. Although i agree with the its not the rig you pull up in its the horse... Just think the OP was making an observation that some english riders seem to have the funds but not spend it on rigs the way the western world tends too. But had that happened on the road could have been a huge ordeal with horse possibly dying and being hit by a car injuring the drivers etc.. not something youd ever want to happen again

Red Raider - 2015-10-27 12:18 PM Before she looks into buying a new trailer, she should probably take the old one to a reputable trailer repair shop/dealership to have the hinges and latches looked at.  The only way I could see a horse -- unless it's a Clydesdale weighing over 2,000 pounds -- being able to do that much damage (and she not feel like the trailer is being shook apart) is that the latches/hinges were severely rusted or already damaged.  You don't need an expensive, fancy trailer to haul even the biggest TB or bigger QH.  In our area, people haul their 2500-2800 bulls in older rigs without them being able to bust out trailer doors when they lean on them going down the road or even fighting and pushing one another around in a trailer.  If you have a bad, rusted-out frame or set of hinges/latches, anything can bust a trailer door open. 

Just Plain Lucky - 2015-10-27 10:45 AM

I didn't realize most western riders could afford the 4500/Bloomer combo. I'm way farther below the equestrian poverty line than I originally thought! Lol wut.  

winwillows - 2015-10-27 6:37 PM There is a difference in how different disciplines haul. My daughters had a 4Star dealership. They took an Outlaw LQ with a big mid tack room and a big Warmblood sized straight load in back to The Pebble Beach Dressage show. You would have thought that they had brought a space ship. Most people were amazed by that trailer. Most of the riders did not haul their own horses to the show, their trainers hauled the horses for them. Those that did haul had very simple trailers behind a Suburban or other SUV. There was only one LQ in the parking lot. Most western discipline horse people haul their own horses, and would love to own a nice LQ. I remember one woman at that show saying that she could easily own her own trailer for what she paid her trainer to haul her horse, but had never really thought about it.

Runninbay - 2015-10-27 6:41 PM

This whole thread is a good representation of our society.

You people are getting offended over NOTHING. Good lord. 

Just Plain Lucky - 2015-10-27 8:33 PM I'm offended that you're offended that everyone else is offended.  

cranky B4 10am - 2015-10-27 9:39 PM  

Just Plain Lucky - 2015-10-27 8:41 PM The rum's gone, cuz I drank it. 

Just Plain Lucky - 2015-10-27 9:33 PM I'm offended that you're offended that everyone else is offended.  

cranky B4 10am - 2015-10-27 7:39 PM  

mtcanchazer - 2015-10-27 10:43 PM

 

Fairweather - 2015-10-28 9:08 AM Rule #1: Never ever tie a horse in a trailer if they're not locked in..



Rule #2: Tie long enough they can reach the butt bar



Rule #3: Don't open the butt bar/divider until they're untied.



The reason is they pull back when they're not comfortable with being in the trailer and if they get to the end of the rope they panic even more. 

winwillows - 2015-10-29 12:11 PM I think I can top this. Years ago, when my daughters were small we used to haul to get our cutting horses on cattle about four days a week. My wife took the pickup and trailer to one of the girls basketball games in town one night because they were late getting back from riding and did not take the time to unhook our old Charmac steel gooseneck from the truck after they unloaded the horses. I met them at the game. When it was over I left about five minutes after they did and caught up with them down the street standing behind the trailer looking at a wide open space. The trailer had one big back door, and it was gone. Now, it is hard to lose a whole back door. I had driven down the same street and did not see it anywhere. It turned out that when the trailer tires hit a pot hole a block earlier the badly worn latch and loose hinges had simply bounced the door up and off of the back of the trailer. The door then slid on the street and stopped up against the curb. A Mexican gentleman, who was extremely drunk, drove up and PARKED his Ford Pinto on top of the door, got out and went into his house. We had to get him to come out and move his car to get our rear door back. He was so drunk that he moved his car, left it running and went back inside. I shut off his car and put his keys in his mailbox. I put the door back on the back of the trailer and bought a new latch for it the next day. The only damage were some scrapes to the inside of it where is slid on the street. Beat that story. I swear it is true.