RC: slant load vs straight load

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

Jennifer,
In our experience that "airiness" is what makes horses want to ride 
backwards. While horses sometimes like to face into the wind, it is 
important that they be able to get their faces out of it too, it can really 
dry their eyes & cause irritation.
I would also caution people that trailers at the inexpensive end of the 
scale are the ones we see too often for repairs. (Such as bent axles, broken 
floor supports, etc.).
Nancy Mitts
CIW Trailers

>From: David LeBlanc <dleblanc@mindspring.com>
>To: ridecamp@endurance.net
>Subject: RC:    slant load vs straight load
>Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 00:12:50 -0800
>
>This is Jennifer, not to be confused with David!  We own a four horse
>Ponderosa stock trailer (step up).  Our horses have always loaded easily
>into it, and they prefer to ride facing the rear of the trailer.  This
>would be difficult if not impossible in a slant load.  They also like to
>unload by walking forward out of the trailer.  The open slats at the top
>make the trailer very airy and well ventilated, which was a BIG concern in
>the hot and humid Southeast where we used to live, but not necessarily
>important in the wet, relatively cool Pacific Northwest where we now
>reside.  In all fairness, it can sometimes be a pain when we trailer in the
>cool, wet winter, however, if we were planning on trailering long or often
>in those conditions we could (and would) have plexiglass inserts made for
>the openings.  We also use our 4-horse trailer as a 2-horse trailer most
>often - it allows for each horse to have the equivalent of a box stall when
>travelling by just closing the middle partition.  The times that we have
>hauled 3 or 4 horses and they've had to 'share' their 'stalls' have been
>uneventful - I agree with whomever it was that mentioned they like to feel
>another horse instead of a metal divider.  Another important point is that
>I believe that this type of trailer is closer to the inexpensive end of the
>scale.  I also suggest rubber mats on the floor of whatever trailer you use
>- never plain wood since wood is a slippery surface.  Of course, everyone
>has their own opinions on this subject, and these are simply mine. . .  ;-)
>
>At 04:38 PM 1/15/00 -0800, you wrote:
> >"Wisdom" has it that slant loads are best for the horses but I'm not so
> >sure.  We have a 4 horse stock trailer, straight load, no ramp.  All of
> >our horses have always been easy loaders and good travelers.  I think
> >how you drive is really the most important issue.  I don't like those
> >rear tack rooms.  They make getting in and out a real problem and
> >several of my friends or their horses have been hurt by this kind of set
> >up.  A stock trailer is light and airy and you can always take the
> >dividers out if you want to loak on a slant.
> >
> >
>David LeBlanc
>dleblanc@mindspring.com
>

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