Horse trailers
Comfort is key for horse owners when it comes to trailers. With hundreds of trailer manufacturers in the U.S., you'll have lots of choices when it's time to buy. Here's a guide to help in the search.
When it's time to travel, Tammy Fenne thinks first of her horses. The three things she wants most in a trailer: airflow, smooth ride, and lighting. If the horses aren't comfortable, she isn't, says Fenne, who owns 20 acres, five quarter horses, and a riding arena outside New Prague, Minnesota. After the horses are riding in style, then she looks for plenty of storage space for tack and clothes to take on her trips to horse shows.
When choosing a horse trailer, first make sure it has been manufactured in compliance with all federal safety regulations, says Norm Helmke, immediate past president of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) and director of administration with Featherlite trailers. Horse trailers should have the correct configuration of tires with proper load ratings, wheels, and axles to carry the intended load. Lighting should be installed in accordance with federal regulations.
A good way to ensure that those items are met, says Helmke, is to look for the red, white, and blue NATM compliance decal on the trailer. The organization is instrumental in compliance with federal trailer regulations, certification, and standards. Check the NATM Web site, www.natm.com, to obtain a list of manufacturers that have passed a compliance audit and are eligible to display the decal.
You can also use the NATM Web site to do a search by trailer type (i.e. horse) and then by state to find a manufacturer that produces horse trailers in your area.
to keep her quarter horses comfortable
and safe as she travels to horse shows.
What's hot in trailers
According to Helmke, the hottest features on livestock and horse trailers right now are slam latches on center gates, sliders on center gates and rear gates, and a tapered (aerodynamic) nose.
Donahue Trailers
The Donahue Stock/Combo Trailer is equipped with a 5' nose compartment with windows, room for a full-size mattress for overnight trips, slant wall divider, lockable tack room door, three-tier saddle rack, and halter hooks. Standard equipment includes 7' inside width with no fender wells, 6'9" inside height, 1Ú8" steel lower sidewalls, galvannealed material in the highly corrosive areas, and slam latches on the center and rear gates. Smooth exterior sidewalls and LED lighting. Price starts at $6,741 for basic model.
800/457-7406
Double D Trailers
This fancy Double D horse trailer is fully loaded with just about everything you could want. It features a 28' two-horse slant load with full facility living quarters, roof-mount hay rack, and directional onboard satellite. The model shown here sold for $44,000 to a horse owner in Texas. For more options, call Double D Trailers in Pink Hill, North Carolina. A wide range of trailer models is available, including styles for under $10,000. Rugged stock trailers for hauling cattle are also available.
800/435-6274
agriculture.com/go/5320
(M.H.) Eby Trailers
Eby's Classic SL Series horse trailer is designed and built to provide superior performance to the casual or serious equine enthusiast. It has an all-aluminum chassis. The three-horse model is shown. The trailer is 17'4" long, 6'11" wide, and 7'3" high. Features include double rear doors with sliding windows, sealed camper door with screen door into tack room, window on each side of nose, drop-down feed window, and interior lights in horse area. Estimated retail price: $16,000 to $17,500. Custom models with room for up to 15 horses are also available.
800/292-4752
Exiss Aluminum Trailers
Exiss Sport ES 300 aluminum horse trailer features a solid roof-to-floor wall separating the dressing room from the horse area. Features include a single-piece aluminum roof, tapered nose, 7'6" gooseneck length, 7' inside height, and 6'103Ú4" outside width. The horse area has insulated side walls, lights, rubber floor mat, roof vents, double rear doors with cam latches, windows, escape door with cam latch, and saddle racks. Price: $13,595.
877/553-9477
Featherlite
Featherlite's 8546 horse trailer is ideal for horse owners desiring comfort and space. Available in two- to six-horse models. Equipped with 6' short wall in dressing room, drop-down feed doors, cushion floor mats, slam latch dividers, rubber-coated tie rings, lockable safety latches, and LED light bar. Optional living quarters package with bed, cabinets, refrigerator, stove, bathroom. Price of basic four-horse model: $21,581.
800/800-1230
Gooseneck Trailer
The Gooseneck 24'x6'8" aluminum stock trailer features two 7k axles, three standard crossgates, five-plank solid sides, escape door, 6' enclosed sloped nose, and full aluminum top. Backed by limited five-year warranty. Gooseneck trailers built in Bryan, Texas, for more than 40 years. Retail price: $13,428.
800/688-5490
Hillsboro Trailer
Hillsboro Endura horse trailers can be customized to meet your needs. Lengths from 16' to 34', plus a range of height and width options. The Endura double-wall aluminum construction combines attractive and durable design with the ultimate in protection. Priced from $24,000 to $124,000, depending on size and options.
800/835-0209
Kiefer Built
Genesis three-horse, slant load, gooseneck trailer is 18'5" long, 7' inside height. Tapered nose, sliding windows, carpet, dome lights, bridle hooks, drop-down feed doors, rubber kick mat, adjustable-post saddle rack. Interior side wall lined and insulated. Price: $14,200 for basic model.
888/254-3337
Sooner Trailer
Sooner's Ranch gooseneck trailer has triple hollow-core sides with double-wall construction for reinforced strength and a smooth interior for easy cleaning. Available in 16', 20', and 24' lengths. 6'6" interior height. Standard model without dressing room retails for about $12,000.
800/256-6668
Sundowner Trailers
Sundowner 727 slant load, aluminum gooseneck trailer has a three-year warranty. It is 6'9" wide and 7' tall with a steel superstructure. Dress area features slider window, crank-up roof vent, bridle and blanket bars, and carpeted floor, nose, and breastplate. Horse area features 42" stall width, escape door, drop-down feed doors, padded dividers, floor mats, spring-loaded butt bar, and more. Price not provided.
800/438-4294
Titan Trailer
Titan horse trailers have 6'8" inside width and 7' inside height. Dexter torsion EZ Lube axles, with 16" 10-ply tires. Cross members are on 16" centers. Double-wall lining with galvanneal sheet metal. Baked-on Sikkens paint. Five-year limited warranty. Lengths of 12' to 38'. The 22' Titan Renegade II (shown right) sells for about $13,500 depending on options.
866/294-4514
Trail-et
Trail-et has been manufacturing horse trailers for over 40 years in Wisconsin. All models have galvanized steel frames, aluminum side walls that are triple insulated, pressure-treated wood floors, and fiberglass roofs. The 2005 New Yorker Spirits (shown) retails for between $10,000 and $11,000 depending on options.
800/344-1326
Turnbow Trailers
This Turnbow three-horse van converts to two box stalls. 7'6" height, 7'6" wide. Double-wall construction. Aluminum floor with 20-year guarantee. Padded stalls, interior lighting, and seven drop-down feed doors. Dressing room walls and ceiling insulated and lined. Suggested retail price: $35,000.
800/362-5659
Wilson Trailer Company
Wilson's Roper trailer features fully riveted aluminum construction. Embossed side panels add strength, dent resistance, and curb appeal. 24' long. Includes optional driver's side tack door, driver's side additional door, and window in nose. Price: $12,500 to $15,500 depending on options.
800/798-2002
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