Horse trailers

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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.