Slant Load Trailers

[Samm C Bartee <bartesc@mail.auburn.edu>]

I have a three horse slant load trailer. I like it ok, but I have noticed
that sometimes the horses will present to the pre-ride check in with sore
loin on one side only.  There is a vet here in the SE that has noticed
that many horses hauled in Slant loads show sore loin on one side.  
My older mare has the most trouble in a slant load, and this is probably
due to her being lazy and a leaner.  
After a brief warm up ride, the loin soreness goes away.  And so far,
there has never been any back soreness that has lingered or showed up
during the ride in any of my horses.  

Hauling to Old Dominion this past weekend, I let Coujur ride in the
trailer with the back partition open, thus giving him two stall to stand
in.  He quickly told me, in NO uncertain terms, that he wanted to stand
facing backwards!!  he was adamant about it too!  When we got there, after
a long, long drive, he had no loin soreness and wasn't stiff at all!  

On the way to the Tevis, we will employ the same trailering techniques.  



Samm Bartee
SE Region
#9432

Team Coujur--Tevis Bound