Do you need a horse trailer?

You’ve made the leap. You’ve decided to buy your horse! One of the first things you’ll need to decide is how you’ll transport your horse from its old digs to its new home with you. When we bought Sky we arranged for her to be trailered to us by her previous owners. We were willing to pay for that service, but luckily they were happy to bring her for free.

If you plan to house your horse on your own property, you probably will need to purchase a horse trailer (and have a truck powerful enough to tow it.) Emergencies happen, and you need to be able to rush your horse to a vet if necessary. Or in the case of a natural disaster, you’d want to be able to move the animals quickly. You’ll also need one if you plan to regularly show, unless your horse can hitch a ride with others. But if you board at a local barn, you may not have to indulge in this expense since most barns will be able to trailer your horse (for a fee) if you need it. And once you make friends at a barn, you’ll most likely find that others are willing to help you if need be. Later when we moved Sky to a different facility we were blessed to have a friend with a trailer who was willing to take her for us.

Trailering a horse can have its dangers, so consider buying a horse helmet for your horse. (It will protect its head if it rears up.) Many people advocate shipping boots, which protect the legs from cuts and scrapes when loading and unloading, as well as if the horse loses its balance while you’re driving. Even if you only use these once, it is worth it to have them.

It takes skill to safely transport a horse, but my friend Beth shared with me some practical advice. A horse can handle stops and it can handle turns, but it can’t handle both at once. She suggested thinking of your horse as a big milkshake in the back. You don’t want to spill it.

If you decide to purchase a trailer, make sure it’s sturdy enough and big enough to safely transport your horse. There are as many options in trailers as there are in horses, from ultra-light models to stock trailers. You may want to check the safety records and reviews for any trailer you are interested in.