This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Trailers, Trucks, & Trailering Horses » Horse Trailer, Hitch, and Towing Vehicle Selection »
  Discussion on Slant - Straight - Stock: box size, backing horse on, stability
Author Message
Member:
Chip

Posted on Thursday, Apr 10, 2003 - 5:45 pm:

Hi,

I am looking for a 2-horse gooseneck trailer (never owned one before). I plan on towing with a 2003 Ford 250 diesel. I have a 16.3 draft cross. Hes quiet and trailers well, but he is a big and wide boy. I am wondering, slant load vs straight load vs stock.

I see a lot (really lot) of slant loads when I check web sites (looking for a new trailer). Sometimes I think they dont even make straight load anymore. Slant loads seem to be the market (and manufacturer) preference. I understand that horses are supposed to ride better on a slant, but I am concerned about box size for the larger horse. A book I got on trailers said that slant loads were a disadvantage in that the real size of the box (length I think) is limited by the legal width of the trailer. Any comments?

Straight load Im pretty sure I can teach my horse to BACK on to a straight load (with ramp) so that he would be riding backwards. Ive read that that is a safer orientation for the horse but I wonder if that would screw up the weight distribution (more weight on the backend of the trailer). If Im pulling a 2-horse gooseneck with a ton diesel, would the weight distribution for two horses be a problem? [Why dont they make trailers where the horse can ride backwards?]

Frankly, I like the idea of leaving my horse lose in a stock trailer. Then he can stand however he wants. Some concerns though stock trailers must subject the horse to more road noise, fumes, etc. Are they really just for short hauling? Anyone use a stock and then move to a traditional horse trailer and notice any difference in the horses reaction or recover from the haul? If the horse really does move around in the open stock trailer does that raise stability issues for the rig?

Thanks for your help.
Mary S.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Apr 10, 2003 - 6:03 pm:

Mary, I am learning about trailering, too, but if you want to ask someone who hauls drafts and recently got a new slant load with draft sized stalls, plus can make a box stall in the trailer, contact Ronnie Knott at rjhorsetransports@onemain.com I think he can tell you more about how draft horses fit in slant loads and how they haul. I don't know what kind of trailer he had before he got the new one. I do know that he said, without fail, ANY horse that he has trailered in the stall, ALWAYS turns and rides backwards.
Holly
Member:
Kari

Posted on Thursday, Apr 10, 2003 - 6:29 pm:

I've hauled with straight loads, slant loads, and stock trailers. I've not noticed any adverse reactions to the horses on any of the loads. If you are going to haul in the winter you will probably prefer to haul in an enclosed trailer either straight or slant unless your climate is warm all year. I have a slant load now but am considering selling it for a stock trailer since the only hauling I do is to take mares to be bred back or to the vet. I remove my partitions when hauling mare and foal so there is more room and the stock trailer is perfect for this. My experience has also been that if the horse is untied, he/she will usually turn and ride backwards, however I usually tie my horses so they don't have this option.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 11, 2003 - 5:36 am:

Concerning stock trailers and road noise and fumes, Barrett makes a stock type horse trailer that has removable slats so the trailer can be completely closed up or partially open. With a 3/4 ton and a very good trailer it may be OK, but I am a little concerned about a 1400 lb plus horse shifting around too much. I don't have experience with this.
DrO
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004 - 6:57 pm:

I know this is coming in quite late, but I hauled a mare from Western WA to central Idaho to be bred and left her untied in the back of our 3 horse slant. She would turn around and ride backwards at a slant in the center of the trailer right over the axle. Also she didn't move much at all even though we had a hay bag for her. Most horses don't move around a lot since they're too busy maintaining their balance.

I've had more problems with horses scrambling in straight load trailers than I've ever had with a slant. I also take the dividers out of the slant loads so the horses can spread their legs more. And, if you get in a wreck, you don't want those dividers jamming if you have a horse trapped underneath one scrambling to get out.
New Member:
Nalcaras

Posted on Friday, Dec 30, 2005 - 4:04 pm:

I am a new horse owner and am confused about natural versus traditional training. There are both at my ranch but my trainer is traditional and doesn't like natural. From what I've seen the natural methods look much more gentle and seem to make sense to me. I do need to have my mare respect me though.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Friday, Dec 30, 2005 - 4:42 pm:

Natalie,
What kind of actions demand YOUR respect? If someone hits you, yells at you, ties you down, makes you stand for hours tied to a post without water, etc., will those things gain your respect? . . . or fear? . . . or resentment?

There are many different kinds of training, and they all get results . . . it's just that some kinds of training get results out of fear and intimidation, and some kinds of training help the horse WANT to perform out of trust.

Firmness, confident fairness (not bravado), humility, courage, knowledge, humor and compassion are the some of the qualities I look for in a trainer.

Read as much as you can; study written, filmed and "in-person" training methods; . . . and work with and listen to your horse . . . and follow your heart.
Member:
Klhanson

Posted on Friday, Dec 30, 2005 - 8:10 pm:

Natalie,
This isn't really in the thread being posted, but...I train my horses with Parelli, but any "natural" training will do. My thoroughbred and quarterhorse respect me because I understand a little about their psychology, and I do not need to do anything but "play" horse dominance games with them. I am not plugging Parelli per se. I have owned horses for only a year and a half, and my thoroughbred was terrified when working with "traditional" training (he is a rescue from a slaughterhouse auction, and is now 4 years old). I needed a program that I could understand, as a new horse owner, and there are home study programs with Parelli. Lyons, Dorrance (not sure of spelling), or any other "natural" training people would be equally helpful. Try working/training your own horse and you will win her trust and respect with "love, language, and leadership (Pat Parelli). "A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care" is another favorite Parelli statement of mine. Good luck, and I agree with Holly. Read, study, and follow your heart.
My thoroughbred will load into anything, but my quarterhorse loads and rides best in a straight trailer. I suspect it is simply what they are used to doing.
Member:
Alden

Posted on Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 - 10:59 am:

Natalie,

You should have started a new thread, but what the heck it's Christmas time.

I think from my observations and reading that “traditional” horsemanship is what we are seeing, in the last few years, as “Natural horsemanship”. I think that many native American horseman and the Spanish vaqueros used similar techniques. I think a vast amount of horse knowledge was lost when horses went from life or death necessities to pleasure animals. Just look at the great horsemen that are remembered and they all have/had gentle approaches. A great horse trainer used to be mystical because the average Joe or Jane didn't understand what was happening.

The information age is reducing the mystery, even a dummy like myself can find and put to use information that once was the domain of legends. There are many good approaches that get similar results. IMHO the key is this, if what you're doing results in a gentle willing partnership then you're doing it right. It's our good fortune that forgiveness is the horses' nature and a good horseman uses that to our advantage when we make mistakes.

At the present time there is Pat Parelli, Clinton Anderson, Chris Cox and many others that are doing a good job. I'd put Tom Dorrance in that list but I don't think he's with us any longer, but his books are available.

My advice is to watch and listen to your horse (much easier said than done by the way), if it makes sense to your horse it's good.

What makes you think your mare doesn't respect you now?

Good day,
Alden
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC