How to Tow a Horse Trailer

Transporting your horse from point A to point B requires a well built hauler and a sturdy towing vehicle to handle the weight of the horses. Safety is the key issue in animal transport. Choosing the right hitching equipment to match the towing vehicle is important when carrying horses. You must calculate the trailer weight, weight of the horses and the towing vehicle to avoid equipment failure during the trip.

Things You'll Need

  • Tow vehicle
  • Horse hauler
  • Hitching kit
  • Lug wrench
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Instructions

  1. Hitching and Loading

    • 1

      Inspect the trailer after it has been connected to the tow vehicle. Do a complete walk around to check all of the safety releases on the trailer are working properly. Should be carrying a horse at the time, make sure you have fresh hay and water for the trip. Check the flooring of the trailer so that is sturdy and stable during the transport of the animal.

    • 2

      Load the horse to the left side if you are hauling a single horse. Should you choose to haul two horses, place the heavier of the two on the left side. It is important to have the weight in the trailer evenly distributed as possible. The majority of roads are crowned in the middle which allows a trailer to pull safely when hauling a single horse.

    • 3

      Secure the horse with the proper gear. Tie a rope around the horse's neck and tie it off to the trailer. Allow enough slack for the horse to move but not enough for the horse to move about freely during transport. Check the trailer doors are securely locked and bolted shut.

    • 4

      Connect the wiring for the trailer lights to the rear of the towing vehicle, Start the vehicle and perform a test of the brake lights and the turning signals. Have someone check each side of the trailer and tow vehicle as you perform the test.

    • 5

      Connect a pair of safety chains to from the front end of the hauler to the rear hitch of the tow vehicle. There should be one hole on each side of the trailer ball where to connect the chains. Inspect your braking system by activating the emergency brake. Check that the battery has a full charge. With a lug wrench, tighten all the nuts on the tires of the tow vehicle and hauler.

    Towing

    • 6

      Drive the trailer for a short distance to test drive the stability. Make a right turn then a left turn. Park and inspect the trailer hitch to check that it is securely fastened. Inspect the lights once more so that no connections were lost during the test drive.

    • 7

      Drive the posted speed limit of the highways or at least five to 10 miles an hour less. Allow yourself a greater amount of space for braking with the amount of weight you are hauling. Always use your turn signals and allow proper spacing to change lanes safely. If the trailer begins to sway, take your foot off the gas and allow the vehicle to regain control. Pull on the hand-held trailer brake to help stabilize the trailer.

    • 8

      Put the tow vehicle in low gear when moving uphill. Once you have reached the peak of the hill, downshift the tow vehicle and maintain a slow speed. Use the hand brake as needed to avoid the trailer from jackknifing or skidding. Check your mirrors on both sides and the rear view for any signs of instability.

    • 9

      Make turns slowly to make sure you clear the curbs. Never accelerate the tow vehicle during the turn to maintain speed. Slowly regain the hauling speed so that you do not jeopardize the balance of the trailer.

    • 10

      Have someone help you back into a space to park the trailer. If you are alone, get out of the vehicle and measure the amount of space you have to work with. If the space is not wide open, you may need to unload the horses first. Slowly put the vehicle in reverse and ease in backwards. You may need to get out periodically to check on how much room you have left.