EquusLoco

Center for Equine Awareness

Trailer Safety

Close call

Not to long ago a horse fell out of the back of a trailer and got dragged behind on the highway. Fortunately the accident was observed by someone who stopped the driver, redirected traffic and flagged down an oncoming vehicle. This car luckily contained a vet student who provided first aid on the horse which then was taken to an equine hospital

The horse was seriously hurt, sustaining injuries to both his back legs, grievous deep wounds extending from his midsection beyond his hip to the tail.

Theses photos were taken two weeks after the accident:

To see more photos and follow the recovery of Shiloh please follow up here.

The horse's positive attitude and immediate professional help is the key reason why he survived. He will need extensive daily treatment which is very painful. But in spite of all this he's in good spirits!

Sadly enough there are other accidents where horse's legs have gone through rotten floor boards and have been broken or ground down to stumps leaving horses in unparalleled agony with no option other than to be euthanized.

These accidents may sound like urban legends but unfortunately they DO happen with distressing frequency and are the driving force behind this article.

We PEOPLE took the horse out of its natural environment, and by doing so it is now our RESPONSIBILITY to insure the safety and wellbeing of our equine companions.

For all the hours of pleasure that our horses give to us we at least owe them the time it takes to run the few safety checks listed below:

Before loading

Flooring:
		It is essential to check your trailer floors regularly, whether they are wood, aluminum or any other material. Pull out the mats and check for rotten or dubious looking spots. Just a simple screwdriver is a helpful tool - if it goes easily in or through the floor, it is time for some serious overhauling. Horse urine is very potent when it comes to rotting the floors. Putting shavings or straw into your trailer helps soak up urine and also offers a more pleasant and safe footing and encourages your horse to maintain a healthy urine and fecal turn out. Keeping your trailer clean and pulling the mats back to let the floor dry out after use will prolong the life of your trailer floor.

Protrusions:
		Check the trailer for any protruding objects like bolts that have come loose or anything else that may potentially cause injury.

Tires:
		Check air pressure, tread and for bold/flat spots. These flat spots can occur from turning tightly or from heavy braking. If your trailer is left standing a lot, check the walls for cracks - the tread may be good but the tire may not. Move your trailer forward so you can inspect the previously unseen portion of the tire. Don't forget to check the spare tire and the tires of the pulling vehicle.

Brakes:
		Trailer brakes should be checked by a professional at least annually.

Lights:
		Always make sure that your indicator and brake lights are working, even before the shortest trip. There are many ignorant people who overtake a horse trailer at any cost and accidents on those left turns do happen.

Hitches:
		Always make sure that the safety pins are in place and keep all mechanical devices lubricated. Hitches do wear over time and might need replacing.

Latches, doors, windows, partitions:
		Check to make sure they close and latch easily. If they are hard to close or open, they need fixing. Keeping them lubricated helps.

Ventilation:
		Make certain that there is adequate ventilation and that all available vents are in working order.

Tying:
		If you have to tie your horse in the trailer, tie him to something that will brake. A piece of bailing twine will do if you don't have brake away halters. Attach a loop to the tie ring and tie your lead rope to it. Make sure your horse is able to lower his head, so he can drain his nasal passages. A horse tied too high can become severely ill.

You and your truck

Are you both roadworthy?
		Have your truck serviced regularly! Check tires, fuel, oil, etc before you haul your horse. Breakdowns are not only inconvenient, they are dangerous!

How is your driving?
		This is not a boat you're hauling, it's a live animal! Don't close in too much on other vehicles, always give yourself enough room to brake gently, take curves and corners very slow and don't accelerate before your trailer is lined up with you again - otherwise you throw your horse out of balance. It's a good idea to let someone else drive while you ride in the trailer - you'll see things in a different light!

And remember: tiredness kills!

You noticed that we were mentioning to check for adequate ventilation in your trailer. The following incident that regrettably happened to me will explain the importance of that:

I lived in New Zealand for several years at a very beautiful place in the Marlborough Sounds. You could get there by boat easily but the long drive on the narrow coastal road was dangerous.
I just had bought a brand-new two horse trailer which had been shipped from the North Island to Nelson. At the time one of my horses was staying at a friend's place in Nelson as well. So I picked up my trailer, checked it for safety, took it for a test drive without a horse and the next day my friend and I loaded up Rocky and drove to my farm. The first part of the trip from Nelson to Havelock went fine. We stopped several times to check on the horse who was doing great.
In Havelock we had to turn onto the narrow and winding road to Waitaria Bay. From there on we could not go faster than approximately 30 mph and it would have been too dangerous to stop anywhere on the way. 2½ hrs later we arrived at my place. What a terrible shock! The trailer had turned into a sauna, when we opened it steam came blowing out; my poor horse was frothed with foam and could barely stand! He staggered out of the trailer, legs buckling underneath him.
During the slow and winding drive the horse had to work hard, shifting his weight to stay balanced. He got hot and sweaty and for such conditions the ventilation in the trailer was not enough. It was a good trailer otherwise and with normal driving conditions everything would have been just fine.
Needless to say, I enlarged the vents and disposed of the back flap.

Rocky recovered quickly with no permanent damage.But it still gives me the shudders thinking about what could have happened if I had driven any further...

Other articles available on the subject of trailer safety can be found at the following links: http://www.tarryall.net/