RC: slant load vs straight load

["Nancy Mitts" <mitts_n@hotmail.com>]

Nancy,
Our horses seem to prefer the slant loads also. You seem to be comparing 2 
particular trailers, though. Perhaps you could find a slant load with some 
of the other features you would prefer.
Nancy Mitts

>From: Farafix@aol.com
>To: ridecamp@endurance.net
>Subject: RC:  slant load vs straight load
>Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 21:56:52 EST
>
>Ok Ridecampers, what's your collective wisdom on the virtues of a 2 horse
>gooseneck slant vs a 2 horse gooseneck straight load?  Now that I've sold 
>my
>old 2 horse trailer (with ramp) I'm shopping for a new trailer that will 
>give
>me some more storage.  The straight load has more room (length, height, &
>width) for the horses, it's the type of loading my horse is accustomed to,
>and I can keep a couple of bales of hay dry on the trailer in front under 
>the
>horses' noses.  I've heard the slant load is easier traveling for the 
>horses
>(altho I think Tempo will like the rubber matting after travelling on a 
>wood
>floor), but the space for the horses is smaller, and I guess you have to 
>tie
>& untie the horse from the window -- no room to get on the trailer with the
>2nd horse, unless you take down the little rear tack area, which would be a
>pain.  There wouldn't be room to store any hay if loaded with 2 horses.  
>The
>slant load is a backup - step down.  Tempo is used to an unloading ramp 
>going
>forward off the front, but he has learned to back off my friend's straight
>load with ramp.  He was quite nervous the first time he had to back off the
>trailer (having learned to unload with an unloading front ramp) and was
>actually trembling as he got off, but took it slowly & carefully, not 
>wanting
>to stay on if his buddy had gotten off.  On subsequent trips he backed off
>much more confidently.  While I'm concerned about is his reaction to 
>backing
>off a step-down, but I can avoid that potential problem by adding a ramp.
>I will also have to confess that I trained Tempo like I trained his mom ---
>to follow me on the trailer, which I guess is a no - no.  This is what
>concerns me about the tight space on the slant load, esp with the 2nd stall
>(esp as we often take his dam on trips & she loads the same way he does ---
>following someone on).  They are both good loaders (we take it nice & easy 
>&
>non-chalantly), but I don't like the idea of not having the easy escape as
>you do on the straight load (with escape doors on either side & a chest bar
>that can be lowered for loading).  And then to make it interesting, Tempo 
>is
>a stallion & has trailered with other horses, but it does add an extra
>element of risk when loading.
>Thanks for any input!!!!!
>
>Nancy & Tempo (I like the idea of the rubber mats, but the step down?????)
>Md
>

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