How to Select a Horse Trailer

Horse trailers are an essential part of horse ownership and transport. Horse trailers come in a large range of sizes and types, from small one-horse models to massive 10-horse vans. Horses are large animals and can be very difficult to move, but selecting the proper horse trailer will make your transit needs much simpler to tackle.

Things You'll Need

  • Truck
  • Valid driver's license
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin your search for a horse trailer by determining what size of trailer suits your needs. If you are only hauling one or two horses, a smaller model trailer is appropriate. However, if you are hauling three or more horses, you will need a larger trailer.

    • 2

      Determine if you need a trailer with enclosed living quarters. Horse owners who travel to distant shows or are frequently on the road benefit from living quarters, as it allows them somewhere to stay while they are traveling. If you only make short day trips with the trailer, than living quarters are not necessary.

    • 3

      Create a list all of the features you want in a horse trailer. Many people are partial to trailers with ramps and some people like trailers with padding. Trailer options are all a matter of personal choice, so figuring out what features you want in a trailer before visiting dealerships will save you time and frustration.

    • 4

      Evaluate your truck to make sure that it has enough power to pull your chosen style of horse trailer. Your truck must be powerful enough to pull your fully loaded trailer with ease and large enough to stop the trailer without difficulty. The TrailerHitches.com website (see Resources) has an in-depth guide with towing and hitch guides to help you determine your truck’s towing capacity.

    • 5

      Visit trailer dealerships and see the trailers in person. Different brands of trailers offer a wide variety of features, so examine trailers in the styles you’ve selected to decide which you like best.

    • 6

      Test drive the trailer of your choice before purchase. Make sure that the trailer hauls well behind your truck, that it rides well down the road and that it has all of the features you want in a horse trailer. Evaluate it completely before buying, as most trailer sales are final.