In This Chapter
- Discovering alternative disciplines
- Competing outside the show ring or just having fun
- Taking a horse on trips
In previous chapters, I cover
three of the most common ways to ride a horse: Western, hunt seat, and
dressage. I also describe the most popular equine activities available to
riders, such as trail riding (Chapter Don’t
Fence Me In: Trail Riding) and horse shows (Chapter Show
Off: Riding in Competition). But the
horse world is a diverse one, and people who enjoy riding have options besides
the standard fare.
In this chapter, I tell you about
other ways to ride and other interesting activities you can pursue on
horseback. I also give you advice on how to get your horse where you need to go
when you become more involved in these wonderful events — or when you just want
to take a trip with your horse.
The Road Less Ridden: Trying Other Disciplines
If you like riding Western, hunt
seat, or dressage but think you may want to try something a bit different,
consider experimenting with another, more unique discipline, such as those in
the following sections. You don’t have to give up your main discipline — just
add one or two riding styles to your repertoire. Of course, if you try an
alternative discipline and like it better, you can give up the tried and true
and just be different!
If you decide to try a new way of
riding, make sure you do so with a qualified instructor. If your current
instructor isn’t familiar with the discipline you want to learn, seek out
someone who is. (See Chapter School’s
in Session: Taking Riding Lessons for details on finding a good riding teacher.)
Holding on with bareback
Before stirrups were invented in
Central Asia back in ancient times, everyone rode bareback. Feet dangling and
upper thighs gripping the horse for security, soldiers went into battle on
horseback with nothing to hold them onto their horses other than talent and
sheer will.
Centuries later, I grew up riding
bareback on my little bay mare, Peggy. She roamed all over the hills of
Southern California with me clinging to her back like a monkey. Although my
bareback riding was borne out of not being able to afford to buy a saddle, the
experience ended up being a blessing in disguise. I figured out how to stay on
a horse using balance. When the time came to ride with a saddle, I was ahead of
the game.
Tip
I don’t recommend that you initially try to learn to ride without a saddle; however, riding your horse on occasion with just a bareback pad, which is a cloth pad held onto the horse’s back by a cinch, can help your seat and balance — after all, you don’t have a saddle to support you. (You can see a rider using a bareback pad in Figure 23-1.) Bareback pads are available at tack and feed stores, in catalogs, and on the Internet — see the Appendix for some resources to get you started.
Figure 23-1: An equestrian
uses a bareback pad when riding without a saddle.
Bareback riding is enjoyable for
a couple of reasons:
- Getting your horse ready for a ride is easier when you’re going bareback. No saddle to haul out of the tack room — just put on the bareback pad and you’re set for a ride. You can also ride without a pad, but be aware that your horse will sweat where your legs touch him. This sweat can leave you with big, embarrassing, horsehair-covered sweat marks on your seat and the back of your legs!
- Riding bareback makes you feel at one with your horse. No leather comes between you and your mount. You experience the movement of the muscles in your horse’s back and sides as you ride. You also feel a bit wild sitting up there without a saddle to hold you or stirrups for your feet.
You can ride bareback in any
discipline. If you normally ride English, you can use the same bridle and cues
on the horse even though you’re riding without a saddle, and the same goes for
Western. If you’re a Western rider and are so inclined, you can even compete
with your horse in bareback classes at horse shows (see Chapter Show
Off: Riding in Competition for info on
showing).
Remember
When riding bareback, make sure your pad is tightly cinched and doesn’t slip as you ride. And be sure to wear a helmet in case you and your horse should happen to part company.
Your instructor should give you
the go-ahead to ride bareback before you try it. You have less to support you
when riding bareback, so you need to be skilled enough to stay on the horse on
your own. Your instructor can tell you when you’re ready.
Getting your kicks in saddle seat
The English discipline of saddle
seat is the youngest of the three styles of English riding. Developed in the
Southern U.S. during the 1700s, this type of riding was created to give
plantation owners a comfortable way to ride when supervising their large tracts
of land.
Saddle seat riders sit deep in
the saddle, and they sit farther back on the horse to help elevate the animal’s
front end. This setup is in part the purpose of saddle seat riding: to allow
the horse to lift his front legs high, producing a showy action.
In saddle seat, you can ride a
horse with a single rein bridle or a double bridle (see Chapter Getting
a Heads-Up on Bridles for more on
bridles). The double bridle is unusual in that it has two bits, whereas most
bridles have one. Riders using a double bridle have to figure out how to use
each bit by manipulating the reins on each side individually.
Saddle seat riders may ride for
pleasure, but most are into showing. They compete on gaited horses such as the
Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horse and on other breeds with showy action,
including the Arabian and the Morgan. (Chapter Head
to Hoof: The Mind and Mechanics of a Horse has details on all these
breeds, and Chapter Step
Up: Riding Gaited Horses discusses gaited horses.) Check out Figure 23-2 to see a
saddle seat rider in action.
Sidesaddle: A feminine tradition
One of the most interesting
styles of riding is sidesaddle, a discipline that started during medieval times
during an era when gallant knights rode forth into tournaments and battle to
impress their ladies. In order for these women to truly appreciate the heroics
of their knights, they needed to follow them on horseback. Sitting astride a
horse was considered unladylike — and impractical given the elaborate dress
women wore back then — so someone conceived the notion of riding with both legs
to one side instead of straddling the horse.
It wasn’t long before women
throughout Europe were riding sidesaddle. It became a popular pastime among the
well-to-do women of Europe over the next several centuries. These women brought
the discipline to the United States, and the tradition became a part of
American culture as well.
Figure 23-2: Saddle seat riding,
which features high stepping, was developed in the Deep South during the 18th
century.
Today, sidesaddles are made in
all the same styles as traditional astride saddles, including Western, hunt
seat, and dressage. Each of these saddles is used in its respective discipline,
just as if it were an astride saddle. Sidesaddle riders can even compete in
most of the same events as astride riders — and not always in special
sidesaddle classes. Sidesaddle riders sometimes show up in regular classes at
shows, although they are rare.
Not too many riders use a
sidesaddle, which is designed very differently than a traditional saddle is.
The saddle has only one stirrup, on the left side of the horse, and it has two
pommels instead of one. The top pommel is curved, allowing the rider to hook
her right leg on it.
Riding sidesaddle uses very
different muscles than traditional riding does because riders need to balance
in the center of the saddle with both legs on the left side of the horse. This
balancing act can be challenging at first because your body wants to list to
the left. You need muscle strength to keep your pelvis pointing directly
forward. Figure 23-3 shows a sidesaddle rider.
People who ride sidesaddle love
this discipline. I tried it and really liked it. It’s a whole different way of
riding! The good news is that you don’t need a specially trained horse for this
discipline. All you need to know is how to sit in a saddle with both your legs
on one side.
For more information on
sidesaddle, contact the International Sidesaddle Organization, listed in the
Appendix.
Figure 23-3: A rider keeps
both legs on the left side of the horse in sidesaddle.
Horseplay: Surveying Sports, Exhibitions, and Other Equine Activities
If you’re the kind of person who
loves to get involved with activities and wants a horse to be part of your
experience, you’re in luck. A whole slew of equine activities are out there for
horse owners (and even non-horse owners) who want to spend quality time with
horses.
If you’re the competitive type,
you’ll find plenty to do outside the show ring to keep you busy. If you just
like to do horse stuff for the sheer fun of it, you’ll find no shortage of
events to choose from. Whatever your style or preference, chances are there’s a
horse activity out there for you, as you can see in the sections that follow.
Tip
Most of these events are geared toward people who own their own horses, with the exception of vaulting. If you don’t own a horse, consider leasing one you can use for your activity of choice. Just be sure the horse’s owner is okay with what you intend to do. See Chapter Taking the Plunge by Buying a Horse for more information on leasing a horse.
Taking part in trail events
In days of old, most horseback
riding took place out in the wilderness, on trails that had been forged by
mounted travelers or migrating game. Riding on these trails was both exciting
and challenging, and only the toughest horses and riders survived the harshest
journeys.
Decades later, horse people who
appreciate this legacy developed two events that celebrate trail riding while
also adding a competitive factor: endurance riding and competitive trail
riding. The following sections look at both of these sports. (And Chapter Don’t
Fence Me In: Trail Riding can tell you about riding on trails just for the fun of it.)
Endurance riding
The sport of endurance riding has
grown in popularity over the past 20 years. Its most noteworthy event, the
annual Tevis Cup, takes place in Northern California and receives international
coverage. Hundreds of smaller, local events are also conducted around North
America every year.
The object of endurance riding
is to cover a given number of miles on horseback in the shortest amount of
time. Endurance competitions often consist of 25- to 100-mile-per-day rides or
multiday rides that usually cover 50 miles per
Remember
Endurance riding calls for a horse-and-rider team that’s extremely fit and athletic. The team has to undergo serious training in the form of conditioning over a period of months before it can compete in an endurance ride. This rigorous type of riding calls for a horse who’s extremely well-conditioned and comfortable on the trail. Riders must be very fit, too. Imagine sitting in the saddle for 100 miles with only a few short breaks in between. Achieving that kind of muscle strength and stamina takes considerable work.
All lighter-weight horse breeds
can participate in endurance competitions, although Arabians dominate the sport
because of their great capacity to travel long distances (see Chapter Head
to Hoof: The Mind and Mechanics of a Horse for
information on Arabians). Horses in endurance rides wear any type of tack that
the rider prefers, although most people use specially made endurance saddles
and halter/bridle combinations. Figure 23-4 shows an endurance rider in
competition.
The American Endurance Ride
Conference (AERC) can provide you with more info on endurance riding; see the
Appendix for contact information.
Figure 23-4: Endurance rides
cover anywhere from 25 to 100 miles in one day.
Competitive trail riding
Competitive trail riding is for
those riders who enjoy conditioning their horses for trail riding and want to
hone it to a fine art. Competitive trail events consist of approximately 25- to
50-mile-per day rides through various terrains. Unlike endurance riding, competitive
trail events are not races; instead of using time as a determining factor,
judges evaluate horses primarily on their physical condition, with their
obedience to the rider along the trail also a factor in many events. Speed is
not important, as long as the horse and rider complete the ride within the
minimum and maximum time limits. A veterinarian and a lay judge periodically
examine the horses throughout the ride to determine their fitness as the day
progresses.
Remember
In order to compete successfully in competitive trail rides, horses must be comfortable being ridden on the trail, in excellent physical condition, and well trained and obedient. Riders need to be in good shape, too, because even a 25-mile ride can mean a minimum of five straight hours in the saddle.
The rider determines the type of
tack, although most riders use endurance saddles and halter/bridle combinations.
Just about any breed can participate in competitive trail riding.
The North American Trail Ride
Conference (NATRC) has more details on competitive trail riding; head to the
Appendix for contact information.
Playing polo, the sport of kings
Although the fast-paced sport of
polo is thought of as a contemporary activity, this game is actually thousands
of years old. Historians believe that polo originated in the Middle East around
500 BC — amazing that this sport is still played today!
Nearly everyone has heard of
polo, but few people know how it’s played. Like soccer on horseback, polo is
a team sport with the objective of scoring goals against the opposing team.
Riders use a long-handled mallet to drive a ball into a goal. Four riders make
up a polo team, although many riders have more than one horse so they can trade
off mounts throughout a game — hence the notion that wealthy people play polo
with a “string of polo ponies.”
Although the mounts used in polo
are called ponies, they’re not actually ponies at all. (Ponies are a
type of small equine that measures 14 hands or less.) Just about any breed of
horse can be used for polo, but the faster and more athletic the mount, the
better.
You don’t need to own a string of
polo ponies to play polo. In fact, you don’t need to own a horse or even know
how to ride at all. Polo schools are available throughout the country, and they
provide riding and polo lessons to adults at costs that run about the same as
skiing or scuba diving lessons. Contact the United States Polo Association for
help in finding a polo school in your area. You can find their contact
information in the Appendix.
Vaulting into gymnastics
I love watching the gymnastics
competition at the Olympics every four years, which is probably why I get such
a big kick out of vaulting, too. Vaulting is basically gymnastics on
horseback.
In vaulting, participants perform
a number of actions on the back of a moving horse who has been fitted with a
special surcingle, a leather strap with handles that goes around the
horse’s barrel (see Figure 23-5) and gives the vaulter something to hold onto.
Rider movements include
- Basic seat: The vaulter sits on the horse with arms held out to the sides.
- Flag: The vaulter jumps to his or her knees on the horse’s back and extends one leg out straight behind with arms extended.
- Mill: This move is equivalent to the work done on the pommel horse in gymnastics. The vaulter swings his or legs and body into different positions while holding onto handles on the surcingle.
- Scissors: The scissors requires swinging into a handstand on the horse’s back as the legs scissor out to either side.
- Stand: The vaulter stands on the horse’s back with arms held out to the side.
- Flank: In this complicated series of movements, the rider holds onto the vaulting saddle and swings his or her legs up and through the air. Eventually, the vaulter lands next to the horse in the finale of the movement.
Vaulting is done competitively
and also for exhibition. In vaulting competition, you can participate as an
individual or as part of a pair or team. You start off competing at the trot
and work your way up to the canter. Some therapeutic riding programs also use
vaulting maneuvers to help the physically and mentally impaired gain balance
and muscle strength. Vaulters learn their craft a on a barrel horse (a
fake horse) first before graduating to using a real horse.
To get involved in vaulting, join
a local vaulting club. You can find a club by contacting the American Vaulting
Association, listed in the Appendix.
Figure 23-5: A rider performs
in vaulting, a form of gymnastics on horseback.
Drilling on horseback
If your favorite scenes in
Hollywood Westerns feature dramatic footage of the cavalry coming to the
rescue, drill team riding may for you. Drilling is having a group of
riders perform maneuvers together as a rider who sits alone calls out
directions. Drilling on horseback is tons of fun, and it gives riders an opportunity
to meet and socialize with others who enjoy the same activity.
Drilling on horseback is a very
old activity, one that goes back all the way to the Roman legions and possibly
before. In the olden days, when horses were the primary vehicles of war,
drilling was used to train mounted soldiers to follow commands with precision
and obedience. Today, drill team work is for fun. Riders who enjoy drilling get
together and form clubs that practice at least once a week. They perform their
precision drill work in parades, at county fairs, and during horse shows.
Most drill teams consist of ten
to twelve horse-and-rider duos, sometimes more. A drill caller gives commands
that horse-and-rider teams follow. Each command requires a specific movement,
and when several horse-and-rider teams perform these moves in conjunction, the
group ends up moving as a unit. Figure 23-6 shows a drill team working
together.
Remember
Because of its military foundation, drill-team work calls for discipline on the part of the rider and obedience on the part of the horse. You need to memorize each maneuver and have your horse execute it at the moment you hear the command. In drilling, you rehearse exhibition drills, and after a few practices with your group, you know exactly what’s coming from the drill caller. The choreographed drills you perform at exhibitions, horse shows, and drill team competitions are the same drills that you and your team have practiced at home (or in the arena) many times over.
Most drill teams use Western tack
and apparel, although English saddles and breed-specific tack (such as
traditional saddles made especially for the breed being ridden) may also make
an appearance.
You can locate a drill team in
your area by asking at your local tack and feed store for a referral. Or try
looking in your daily newspaper or regional horse publication for notices of
exhibitions or drill teams seeking new members.
Figure 23-6: Drilling is based
on military movements from the mounted cavalry.
Riding in parades
If you’ve always wanted to
participate in a parade but you can’t walk and play the sousaphone at the same
time, then a horse may be just the answer. Maybe you can ride and play the
sousaphone, instead! Then again, maybe not, but have you ever seen a parade
without horses in it? Horses and parades go hand in hand. And as an equestrian,
you automatically qualify to move from parade watcher to parade participant.
Riding in a parade can be
tremendous fun. You and your horse are in the spotlight (along with your
mounted comrades), and all you have to do is look good and wave!
The equestrian units you see in
big parades are part of organized riding groups. The riders may be members of a
youth riding club, representatives of a breed organization or local riding
club, or part of a horseback drill team group (see the preceding section). The
group’s theme in the parade usually represents whatever the club is all about.
For example, if the club is a military-style riding group for youngsters, the
kids wear their uniforms and most likely carry flags. If the riders represent a
local palomino horse club, all the horses are palominos tacked up in their
finest garb.
To participate in a big parade,
you have to be a member of an organized riding group (unless you’re a local
celebrity and can justify participating on your individual merits). In many
smaller towns and cities, however, the parades are small and informal enough
that individual riders can also sign up.
Tip
If riding in big parades is for you, your first step is to join a local riding group. Of all the different kinds of riding groups, pick the one that best suits your age group and riding interests. Your parks and recreation department should be able to provide you with some names and numbers of riding groups in your area.
Reenacting history
If you like to watch period
films, particularly those set during the Civil War or Native American wars,
you’ve no doubt seen reenactors in action. Although the vast budgets of today’s
motion pictures may lead you to believe all those soldiers and cowboys you see
on the silver screen are professional actors, in reality, these characters are
usually mounted reenactors who dress up in period garb and ride their own
horses in mock battles on a regular basis, whether cameras are present or not.
Reenacting famous battles has
been the hobby of thousands of horsemen for decades, as well as of non-horsemen
who play the part of foot soldiers in this mock warfare. These people live in
all parts of the country and recreate battles from a variety of wars and
periods. Civil War reenactments are the most
Tip
Getting involved with reenacting first means joining a reenactment group. These groups aren’t hard to find if you have Internet access. Putting “reenactment” and “horse” and your state in any of the popular search engines should give you a list of groups near you.
After you find the reenactment
groups in your area, you can decide what type of person from the past you want
to portray. If the Civil War intrigues you, you need to decide whether you want
to be on the Union side or the Confederate side. If you like the idea of
reenacting U.S. cavalry battles, you have to decide which role you’d like to
play. After you join a group, you find out all about how reenactments work and
how you can incorporate your horse.
Traveling with a Horse
You may have been riding long
enough to have bought a horse of your own, or you may be leasing one (see
Chapter Taking
the Plunge by Buying a Horse for more about purchasing or leasing a horse). If you think having a
horse at home is fun, wait till you try traveling with your equine companion!
With the help of a horse trailer, you can get your horse to just about any
destination you choose, whether it be an equine vacation spot or just a special
trail an hour’s drive away.
Explore the possibility of
traveling with your horse with the information I provide in the following
sections. Not only can you get more from your horse hobby, but your horse may
also appreciate the change of scenery.
Tip
Before you head out, make sure you know the rules of the place you’ll be visiting. You may need reservations and/or health papers for your horse, including proof of a negative Coggins test, which shows that the horse doesn’t have equine infectious anemia (swamp fever). If you know you’ll be traveling with your horse within the next month, consider contacting your vet about getting these documents.
Field trips: Exploring faraway trails
If you’re an avid trail rider,
you may like the idea of loading up your horse and going off into the great
wide open to find new and exciting trails to ride. You can find equestrian-use
trails all around the U.S. in a variety of terrains and environs. You obviously
want to seek out trails that are easy to get to, although
Here are some places to consider
when looking for a trail riding adventure (see Chapter Don’t
Fence Me In: Trail Riding for more
information):
- State parks
- National Forests
- National Parks
- Designated national wilderness areas
Vacationing with your mount
If the idea of going on vacation
doesn’t involve getting away from your horse, consider taking him with you! The
practice of taking a horse along on vacation is becoming more and more popular
every year. People are discovering that having their horse along on a trip —
when they can do more than weekend riding — is just plain fun.
You can take your horse on
vacation with you in one of two ways:
- You can go camping with your horse in specially designated horse-camping campgrounds or in the backcountry (where the paved roads don’t go).
- You can trailer your critter to a horseback vacation resort that allows you to bring your own horse.
Horse camping
If you love regular camping, then
you’ll really love horse camping. Few things are as wonderful as waking up on a
dewy morning in your tent and hearing your horse munching his hay just outside.
Horse camping is not a new
activity. Before the days of cars, plenty of people on long journeys were
forced to horse camp. Today, horse camping is a recreational activity and an
enjoyable one.
Horse camping has all the same
elements as regular camping, except your horse comes with you and you get to
ride him on your camping trip. You can do horse camping the same way as car
camping, in which you drive up to your campsite, or the same way as
backpacking, in which you hike (or in this case, ride) to your campsite.
Some people bring RVs along when
horse camping so they can have a bit of luxury in the great outdoors; however,
many people think that the best horse camping comes when you sleep in a tent,
with your horse tied or corralled outside. When you tent camp, you stand a
better chance of hearing your horse moving around through the night. Not only
are you able to keep watch on your horse, but you also get neat, regular
reminders that he’s out there. Sure, if you’re a light sleeper, you won’t get a
really good night’s rest this way, but knowing your horse is okay is better
than sleeping like a rock.
The biggest reason people take
their horses camping is so they can go trail riding. (Chapter Don’t
Fence Me In: Trail Riding can tell you
more about trail riding.) Although most campers hike on camping trips, horse
campers ride. Coming out of your tent in the morning, feeding the
horses, cooking up your breakfast, and then heading out on the trail is a great
feeling.
To find places to camp with your
horse, check with regional and state parks and National Forests in your area.
Many such places allow horse camping. The cost varies from place to place,
although fees are usually minimal. If you decide to go camping with your horse,
be sure to pack the following:
- Enough feed for the time you’ll be gone
- A blanket for your horse if you’re traveling to a climate that’s colder than where you live
- Your horse’s grooming equipment (see Chapter Exploring Horse Care for details)
- A bucket for water for your horse
- A manure fork for cleaning up after your horse
- Any health papers for your horse that the park requires
If you’re new to horse camping,
make sure you go with a seasoned horse camper and take horses who are used to
this activity.
Horse resorts
Horse resorts are places
of rest and relaxation with facilities and activities that are horse friendly.
They’re usually located in wilderness areas, and they feature homey, country-,
or Western-style themes. Many offer organized trail rides, riding lessons, and
other horse activities. Many also offer a number of wonderful luxuries for
non-horsy human guests. Prices range from a few hundred dollars a night to a
few thousand for a week to ten days.
Tip
Before you pick a horse resort for your vacation, do some research. First, figure out how far you want to drive to get there (remember, your horse will be in tow). Then start scoping out the horse resorts that are within driving distance by looking on the Internet or perusing the ads in horse publications.Ask a lot of questions about each vacation spot and get referrals from other guests to make sure the vacation destination lives up to its hype. Then pack your boots and your helmet and go have some fun!
You can also consider shipping
your horse ahead of you by using a horse transportation company and then flying
to the resort yourself. This method costs you a bit of dough, though, so be
prepared.
Moving your horse with a trailer
You can’t just toss your horse in
the back seat of the Buick when you need to take him somewhere. If you want to
move him, you need to put him in a horse trailer.
Tip
If you plan to compete with your horse or take him to parades, trail rides, vacations, and other activities away from home, consider investing in a trailer. But before you do, find out how to hitch up a trailer, change a tire, load a horse, and drive with all that weight behind you. A horse person who has done plenty of trailering can be a terrific help in teaching you the ropes. In the meantime, the following sections have the basics.
You can buy a trailer from a
horse trailer dealer (similar to a car dealer), rent a trailer from a dealer,
or pay someone (such as your instructor) to trailer the horse for you. Remember
that if you buy or rent a horse trailer, you need an adequate towing vehicle to
pull it. A pickup truck or SUV with a minimum of 5,000 pounds towing capability
is required to pull a two-horse trailer.
Just visiting: Spending vacation with other people’s horses
If you can’t take your horse with you or would rather
not go through the hassle of transporting your equine buddy (or if you don’t
own a horse yet), you can still have a horsy vacation. In fact, if you want
to combine horses with your holiday, you have a plethora of options to choose
from:
- Some horseback vacations take place at resorts, where riding is only one of several activities you and your family can participate in. - Others are intensive adventures where you ride for days on end while you see the countryside. Spending time on a horseback vacation is a great way to learn to ride, provided you choose the right kind of vacation. A weeklong, training-intensive vacation at a horse resort that specializes in providing this service can provide an incredible opportunity to learn while you get away from it all. - If you just want to enjoy some new scenery on horseback, you can go to a dude ranch or other riding vacation facility where daily trail rides are the main activity. |
Examining types of trailers
Horse trailers come in two basic
exterior styles — bumper-pull and gooseneck:
- Bumper-pulls: The most common type of small horse trailer, bumper pulls are so named because they attach to the bumper of a tow vehicle with a hitch. Bumper-pulls are sometimes called standards or bumper hitches. These trailers tend to be smaller and less expensive than gooseneck trailers.
- Gooseneck trailers: These trailers get their name from their shape. Unlike a bumper-pull, which is essentially a box-shaped container hauled behind a vehicle, goosenecks have a front section that fits over a truck bed, where the trailer is hitched. Some people prefer gooseneck trailers because they’re easier to handle when turning.
The other significant design
difference in trailers concerns the interior. Horse trailers essentially come
in three loading styles: slant, straight, and stock:
- Slant-load: Slant-load trailers feature partitions that position the equine occupants at an angle to the front of the trailer. Instead of facing the back of the towing vehicle, the horses stand at a nearly 45-degree angle to the front of the trailer. Slant-load trailers can hold anywhere from two to four horses, sometimes more, depending on the design. Some people prefer slant-load trailers because they believe balancing in them is easier for the horses.
- Straight-load: The most common trailer type, the straight-load trailer has partitions that separate the horses and make them face the direction they’re traveling. These structures are the most popular horse trailers around, and they usually come in two-horse trailer designs. Straight-loads are usually less expensive than slant-load trailers, and according to some people, they’re easier on the traveling horse.
- Stock: These trailers are essentially open boxes without partitions that allow the horse to stand in just about any position. Most people tie their horses in a stock trailer and position them so they’re at a 90-degree angle to the front of the trailer. Others allow the horses to stand loose, which permits the horses to choose their own positions while traveling. Stock trailers are the least expensive of all trailer types.
Loading your horse
It’s a fact of life that a horse
won’t load into a trailer unless he chooses to. You simply can’t force 1,000
pounds of horse flesh to climb into a small metal box. The horse has to want to
do it.
Most horses are cooperative at
trailer loading. Assuming your horse is accommodating — and that’s something
you want to be sure of before you attempt to take him to an event on a Saturday
morning — you should be able to just lead him into the trailer and tie him to
the hitching ring.
Loading a horse into a trailer
can be tricky, so do it with the help of an experienced horse person before you
attempt it on your own. If the horse you’re loading is an “easy loader” (he
goes into the trailer without objection), here are the steps you need to take
to get him inside:
1. Lower the ramp (if the
trailer has one) or open the trailer doors.
2. Lead the horse, who’s
wearing a halter and lead rope, up to the open trailer door.
Let him look at it and sniff the floor if he wants to. (See Chapter Working from the Ground, Saddling, and Bridling for details on haltering and leading a horse.)
3. When the horse is standing
quietly, lead him into the trailer by stepping in first yourself and asking him
to follow by putting gentle pressure on the lead rope.
Be sure you don’t stand directly in front of him in case he decides to rush quickly into the trailer. The horse may need some coaxing to get in, so you may have to cluck to him with your tongue. If the horse doesn’t move forward, ask someone to stand behind but off to the side to likewise encourage the horse by clucking at him.
4. Immediately secure the
“butt bar” or chain that hooks across the back of the horse so the horse can’t
try to back out.
Warning!
If the horse refuses to go in after several attempts or becomes unruly, get a horse trainer to work with the animal to get him into the trailer. Don’t attempt to deal with the problem yourself — you may get hurt!
To help make things easier and
safer for your horse while on the road, follow these guidelines after loading:
- Put some hay in the manger of the trailer stall.
- Tie your horse to the inside of the trailer, using a safety knot (see Chapter Working from the Ground, Saddling, and Bridling for steps on tying this type of knot). Be sure the lead rope is long enough to let your horse lower his head but not step on the rope.
- Open the windows of your trailer to allow your horse the optimum amount of ventilation.
Warning!
Don’t open the windows so wide that your horse can stick his head out, which is dangerous for horses.
Driving safely
Tip
Driving a trailer takes special skill for several reasons. Here are some ways hauling a trailer can (or should) affect your driving:
- Maneuverability: Simple driving maneuvers such as backing up and parking are a whole new experience when you have a trailer hooked to your vehicle. The trailer doesn’t move in the same direction as the back of your vehicle when you turn and back up. Spend some time behind the wheel with an experienced trailer hauler in the passenger seat so you can get advice and hopefully acquire some skills with an empty trailer before you add your precious cargo.
- Turning, accelerating, and braking: You need to move relatively carefully when horses are in your trailer. If you aren’t clear why, think back on times when you were on a bus or train. Remember how your body lurched and you nearly lost your balance every time the vehicle stopped, started, or turned? Although horses have two extra feet, sudden moves can cause them to lose their balance — and their willingness to ride in a trailer. Turning, accelerating, and braking should all be done slowly. Braking is also harder on you because of the heavy weight behind you, so leave plenty of distance in front of your vehicle.
- Speed: With freeway or highway driving, travel mostly in the right lane at a slow pace, perhaps just below the speed limit. Traveling to the right when hauling horses is also safer, just in case you need to pull over quickly in the event of an emergency.
Tip
Practice driving with your trailer, sans horse, for as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable. Before you put your horse in the trailer and drive off, make sure handling the towing vehicle and trailer feels like second nature to you.
Unloading
When you’re ready to unload the
horse, follow these steps:
1. Park the trailer in an area
where you can safely unload the horse.
Make sure no obstacles will be in the horse’s way when he steps out of the trailer, and be sure you’re out of the way of traffic.
3. Untie the horse’s lead rope
and give it a slight tug backward to cue the horse to back up.
Remember, horses can’t see directly behind them, so let the horse go slowly to find his way with his feet.
4. Back up the horse until all
four feet are on the ground.
The horse’s back feet touch the ground first. (If you’re using a step-up trailer, the horse needs to take a step down before he comes into contact with the ground.) Continue backing him up until his front feet are on the ground, too. You can then turn the horse and walk away from the trailer.
Warning!
If you’re unloading a horse from a two-horse or slant-load trailer, don’t allow the horse to turn around and exit the trailer head first — this move is dangerous because he can run you over. However, you may need to let the horse walk out head first with a stock trailer if the trailer has a very steep ramp that’s dangerous to back out of. Ask an experienced person for advice on unloading with the trailer you are using.by Audrey Pavia with Shannon Sand
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