Shopping For A Horse Trailer? Important Tips For Finding The Safest Ride For Your Favorite Ride
Sharing your life with one or more equine buddies is a great way to enjoy the companionship and excitement of riding. But caring for any large animal comes with certain responsibilities that can make the relationship difficult. A good example of this is when a horse becomes ill, injured, or in need of veterinary care. In many areas of the country, veterinarians no longer routinely make farm calls, leaving horse owners with the problem of how to get their horses safely to the clinic and back home after the appointment. For this and many other reasons, their owners should make sure they have a well-built, comfortable horse trailer to make transporting their animals as safe as possible.
Start by inspecting the flooring
Horses are heavy, with their weight centered over relatively small feet. In fact, the average adult horse weighs anywhere from a thousand pounds to more than twice that for heavier draft breeds. In order to safely transport these heavy animals, the floor of any horse trailer you are considering must be up to the task.
When shopping for a used horse trailer, start by paying particular attention to the material of the floor, which in most cases will be either wood or some form of steel. Remove any mats or bedding on the floor and look closely for any signs of wood rot or rust that could weaken the flooring and allow the horse to fall through the floor during transport. This type of terrible accident occurs far too often when being hauled in older horse trailers and usually results in horrible injuries to the animal that may force owners to euthanize them, including broken legs and spine injuries.
Check the supporting framework for the trailer
If the floor is in good condition, prospective buyers should then look at the supporting framework for the trailer. Areas to pay particular attention to include:
- the trailer hitch and safety chain or locking system to prevent accidental hitch failure
- the beams that support the floor, side, and end walls, checking for rust or weakened areas
- the door or end gate, to ensure that it securely closes and locks into place and will not be able to come open during transport
Additionally, buyers will want to also look for jagged edges or sharp pieces of metal that could cause lacerations to the animals during transport.
For more information on choosing a safe ride for your favorite ride, take time to visit with a reputable horse trailer dealer in your area. There you will be able to carefully examine several models and find the perfect one for your equine buddy.
For more information, contact companies like Lakota of Ohio.