Can any of you more horse savvy people explain to me what in blinged-out spurs kind of trailer this is? I have never seen one of these on the road. It was used to haul some horses for my mom and aunts for a trail ride in California, including My Boy's equi-cousin Jesse, the third horse from the left. What would be the pros and cons of hauling horses in this kind of trailer?
This is just a stock trailer - you're more likely to see cattle being hauled to auction in them. They typically don't have rubber mats on the floor or rubber-lined walls, so some horses get a little rattled from all the noise when you load them. If I were hauling horses in one of these, I'd just make sure they were all wearing fly masks to protect them from anything flying up off the road.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 7msn. Looks like a stock trailer. It is probably one of the only ones my daughter's stubborn gelding would get into however. I too would protect their eyes since it is so open. Also, since it is so open what if it started raining? I notice the horses are tacked up. That would make for a wet butt not to mention a big clean up job for the tack.
ReplyDeleteYep - I've seen similar skeletal beasts occasionally, some with optional canvas covers fastened on them. They're lighter for hauling, but I'd definitely second the7msn's comment on fly masks.
ReplyDeleteSomeone around here owns one, but I think they use it mostly for short local hauls. It still looks really odd to me, though.
Stock trailer it is.
ReplyDeleteThey're a lot cheaper to buy than a regular trailer and easier to load the horses into. I don't think it looks strange at all. I've seen some crazy trailers. And non-trailers. When I lived in Oklahoma, someone had a horse in the back of a pick-up truck and he was driving right down the middle of Main St. That's when I knew I was in the wild, wild west.
ReplyDeletewww.GreenerPastures--ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.com
Yes that is a stock trailer. Mostly for cows who wouldn't come up that high in it. I agree, I would put masks on the horses to protect their eyes from bugs flying into them. When we were in Arizona on a trip that's how they hauled all the horses for our excursion, all tacked up, thankfully there was no rain. I've also seen people haul horses in the back of a pickup with wooden rails built around them. Very dangerous but around here some people just can't afford a real trailer. At one appy show this man hauled in with two horses on the back of a big truck. When it came time to load them he backed up to a small hill and told them to jump on and they DID!!!! Never have seen anything like it before or since!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey're more popular in warmer climates as they (obviously)allow more air flow to keep livestock cooler.
ReplyDeleteIt's just the non-covered version of a stock trailer...you usually see them covered in canvas as another person commented before.
ReplyDeleteI owned an enclosed stock trailer (has a solid roof) and absolutely LOVE it.
I don't know anything about horse trailers, however my first novice thought was sunburn, followed closely by rocks flying up off the road to bean someone in the head. Although, I'm sure it's nice & cool, the horse version of a convertible I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI assumed this was a trailer designed more for hauling cattle or livestock. I have seen "stock" trailers for hauling horses but nothing quite this open. In some way I like it's openness because it probably helps a horse feel less claustrophobic, but I would also worry about debris. And, if a horse were to struggle or become agitated, it seems there is more of a chance of him thinking he could get "out" of this trailer and getting a leg caught up in one of the rails or something. Although maybe that is just my worrying side kicking in! ;)
ReplyDeleteI actually when I watch animals cops, the texas ACO's have a similiar trailer that they haul all kinds of animals in including horses. Personally I shudder at the sight of an open trailer like that. Here in Maine we have weather of all kinds and with rocks and things being kicked up from tractor trailers and such I see it as a big time hazard. My trainer has a stock trailer that we trailer 6 horses in, but it's enclosed and has rubber mats and such. Whenever Possum rides in it I try and put a fly mask on to keep debris from getting in his eyes. I know stock trailers are a lot cheaper than "horse" trailers, but safety is a concern as well. JMO
ReplyDeletestock trailer, really pretty common on working ranches here is the NW. Not many can afford to have both a stock trailer and a horse trailer so this works for both. As for the comments about horses in the back of trucks, we always did that growing up and you still see it a lot in Eastern oregon. Horses fully tacked cruising down the road in the back of Pickup!
ReplyDeleteAs sidetracked mentioned you see a very similar trailer on Animal Cops (Houston).
ReplyDeleteThose kinds of trailers are apparently very popular in the more southern states.
I would definitely recommend eye protection such as a fly mask.
Looks like everyone has already answered your question Pony Girl. Hopefully, kwdhorses stops by-her hubby just bought her one of these and she loves it.
ReplyDeleteAs for an enclosed stock trailer not being as safe as a "horse" trailer-sorry guys-that's not true. I see people with fancy horse trailers going down the Interstate all the time with the horses heads hanging out the open windows. Now that is NOT safe-even with a fly mask on!! In all the decades that my family has hauled horses in enclosed stock trailers, up and down gravel roads-LONG before the invention of fly masks, we have never had a horse get an eye injury.
My grandfather had a stockrack for his pickup and I can remember him hauling cattle to the sale barn and his paint gelding to other pastures to check cows. Chief was trained just like Midlife Mom said about the Appy. We thought that was so cool, so my brother and I trained our POA to load up in the back of a pickup too.
Some of these comments are bringing back old memories...memories of open stock trailers and horses riding in the back of trucks...something I have not seen in a long time!
ReplyDeleteI think that we live in a very wealthy area PG, and that equates to $55,ooo horse trailers, when in reality, they are probably just as safe in a stock one.
I will admit though, that I prefer an enclosed trailer, because that is what I am used to. They just seem safer, but the horses probably prefer the simpler version...lol!!
Oh and BECG...I totally second the whole "horse hanging its head out the trailer window on the highway" thing!!
I have also seen people let their horses heads hang out the trailer window. It really makes me mad. I have drop down windows on my trailer and do use them but the bars ALWAYS stay up so they can't get their heads out! And they are still getting fresh air without having to hang their heads outside!
ReplyDeleteNever have seen one of those....interesting.
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ReplyDelete(I type way too fast not to make spelling errors. sorry!)
ReplyDeleteAt least the stock trailer on Animal Cops has a roof. This one does not look safe with those metal pipes across the top. What if a horse gets twisted up with another horse, they rear up, get their neck, reins or saddle caught up in those metal bars?
I think it would be safer without the metal bars, actually.
And I prefer a roof for many of the other reasons suggested. Out here in New Mexico, a horse would bake in the sun, if on a long drive, without a roof.
We also have pretty brutal windstorms, too. I suppose horses are smart enough to just shut their eyes in case of one, though.
Stock trailer without a tarp on top. It's the only kind of trailer we have. We use it for cattle mostly but haul horses in it too.
ReplyDeleteI'm here BECG and PG! Sorry been busy the last few days!
ReplyDeleteOkay it is a stock trailer with no canvas top on it. We have a 28" stock trailer and my new 20" catch trailer. Our 28" stock trailer has a canvas top on it and we use it to haul our horses and haul cows when we are day working. I love hauling with it, we never put fly masks on our horses and hauled years in a stock trailer-no eye injuries. My new catch trailer is a half top with canvas and the back portion is left open. It is used when you may have to pull a cow into the trailer. I did a post about the new trailer with pics if you want to check it out! I love hauling with the stock trailers, they are lighter and the horses stay cooler. When I haul to play days, events, I can leave them in the trailer under cover and not have to tie them in the heat. And it is also lighter to haul than our 4 horse slant trailer that we have. (which btw is for sale). I will have to say they are just as safe as a horse trailer is. I have seen horse trailers with the windows down and the horse's head hanging out. We have never had trouble with our horses loading or hauling in stock trailers. Of course we haul ours already tacked up and ready to go. I really like that, no having to do it when you get there!
Hope this helps. I love my stock trailers and hauling them!
Just an open stock trailer. Usually see those used for cattle.
ReplyDeleteOh I am so behind on my reading, I have company in town. But like everyone said it's just a plain jane stock trailer. We have a lot of those down here where it is so dang hot and humid. Great for those days when it's 110 degrees and 100% humidity. Our enclosed slant load gets really really hot so it's nice to use our stick trailer. We have one that I call the red cage. We haven't had any eye injuries. Those trailers really come in handy when working cattle and horses. You can load anything into them.
ReplyDeleteWhile we were in Hawaii (Big Island, lots of ranches there) that was the only kind of horse trailer I saw. They just hunkered down in there with their saddles on, heading to the next place to round up cattle I guess. I would think it would be good for a hot climate with little rain.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this would be very safe for the horses sake.. flying debris and all. If you had to only go a very short distance and this was the only trailer around I guess hauling in a stock trailer like this would be ok.
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