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I've got an 18ft gooseneck stock trailer (1988 Moritz, wide, 6'8").
Two questions:
1. When hauling a horse by himself, is it better to put the horse
in the front of the trailer (in front of the mid gate) or
in the back of the trailer (behind the mid gate).
Why?
2. Is it better to tie them, or to leave them untied?
Why?
I ask because my old boy has always been shipped in straight
load stall-type trailers and doesn't look at all happy about
riding in the stock trailer. I rode with him on a short
pilot cruise. We had him in the rear, loosely tied. (I was
planning to use the front of the trailer for equipment
storage.) I was surprised at how bumpy it was, and how perfectly
easy it would be to bounce him off his feet--any kind of a short
stop or quick start would do it, no trouble at all. Left to
himself untied (which we tried next), he turns 3/4s to the rear,
and wedges his butt into the corner. But he still has no side
supports to steady him against lateral forces, and nothing
in front of him to lean on against sudden starts. Would
tying him in that 3/4 rear position give him any added
support? Or would it just give him a way to wrench his
neck if he did fall? Is the ride smoother toward the front
than in the back? Seriously, I wonder how any horse travelling
in one of these things for hours at a time at any speed much
over 35 miles an hour manages to stay on their feet against
all the random sudden forces that will *inevitably* occur!
worry, worry, worry,
Linda B. Merims
lbm@ici.net
Massachusetts, USA
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