Re: RC: Ramp vs Step

[Jim Holland <lanconn@tds.net>]

Terry...

First, you shouldn't buy a trailer based on what your horse "likes or
doesn't like". You can teach a horse to load on anything. In fact, you
SHOULD do this.  What if your horse is injured somewhere, your trailer
is broken, etc. You may HAVE to load on all kinds of things in an
emergency.  I "practiced" with my horse Sunny on all kinds of trailers,
with ramps, without ramps, etc. I also practiced with the trailer
uphill, downhill, leaning left or right. What if you have an accident
and the trailer is in the ditch? (I haven't tried it, but I think he
would hop into the back of my pickup) <grin> But training is another
issue.... 

That said, I have owned both a ramp and no ramp.  IMHO, forget the ramp
unless you are a show person and unload in a "nice" area all the time.
You can't put the ramp down in an uneven area. This complicates getting
your horse off in an emergency. You should always BACK your horse off a
trailer, not lead off. (Unless maybe it's a open stock trailer with no
stalls...even then, I would teach it) You can buy all kinds of trailers
with ramps, by the way. You might want to look around a little more and
talk to some more dealers.

In addition, the springs tend to get weak or break on ramps, and it's
one more thing you have to maintain. As to horses sliding under the
trailer, I'm sure it's happened, but I've never seen it.  Biggest chance
of this happening be on something slick like pavement, but normally you
would not unload there. (Teaching your horse not to rush off the trailer
also prevents this)

I owned one trailer with a ramp...no more.  Just a pain. Good luck!

Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic

guest@endurance.net wrote:
> 
> Terry Emmitt terryemmitt@msn.com
> I reviewed the archives (all 64 pages on trailers) to see if I could find
> some discussion on this subject, and didn't find anything to satisify my
> question, so I'm posting for some opinions.  Here goes:
> I have a big TB mare.  She's been in slant loads alot, but always has to
> go in the last stall, crammed in kind of sideways.  To unload, she has to
> shimmey back and forth a couple of times to get straight enough to back
> out. (There's a rear tack area to get around). The whole 'turning around
> to unload' bit doesn't seem possible (or desireable).   She's also been
> loaded in straight loads, but HATES the ramp.  I hauled her in a 'jalopy'
> recently and for the next two weekends couldn't even get her loaded back
> into the thing... the big problem is LEAPING over the ramp.
> Having that history, I decided to get a 2H, straight load with van doors
> (ie, step up).  When I called around looking for used ones, I was told
> that set up is 'special order' only and would be hard to find.  It seems
> like the ideal solution to my situation... but I'm wondering if I'm
> missing something?  Is there a reason you don't put a step up on a
> straight load?  That I can tell, backing off and stepping down is no
> different in a slant than straight load (well, in her case, easier.).  The
> dealer said horses can sometimes slip under the trailer if they raise
> their head and panic getting off, but that can happen in a slant load as
> well.
> Please post any concerns I should have about this setup...  I already put
> down a deposit and am having a little buyer's remose panic!
> 
> Thanks for the help.
> 
> Terry
> 
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-- 
Richard T. "Jim" Holland
Three Creeks Farm
175 Hells Hollow Drive
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
(706) 258-2830
FAX (706) 632-1271