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Discussion on Proper horse trailer height??
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New Member:
vera
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 12:11 pm:
I have a 16.1 hand Trakehner and I am currently looking for a trailer. Would a 7' trailer be alright to haul him in? What are the recommendations?
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Member:
babychop
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 12:23 pm:
I always borrow my friend's stock trailer that's about 7'. My Anglo Trakehner is 16.2 & she does fine. Just to be on the safe side I'd put a head bumper on him.
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Member:
dwinans
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 12:49 pm:
Angela,
I recently bought a 7' trailer for my 17hh t-bred. I wouldn't want it to be any shorter but it is fine for him.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 12:53 pm:
Is the trailer a step down or ramp? I bought a 7'3" or 6" step down for my 16HH mare. Like most warmbloods, her neck is set higher up, than say a QH. I've noticed that although she has plenty of room in the trailer, when she backs up and steps down with the hind legs, and her head comes up as she does this, she comes close to bonking her head on the way out, before her front legs step down. As Andrea recommends, I've purchased a head bumper, just in case...
If the trailer is used, ask the current owner if you can "try it on" for fit. I did with mine, but unfortunately, was more concerned about how my horse fit on the inside and didn't notice how close she comes to hitting it on the way out. A trailer with a ramp might prevent the horse from coming up with its head.
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New Member:
vera
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 1:19 pm:
Thank you guys for the great and prompt responses. Unfortunately the trailer that I'm looking at does not have a ramp. It's hard to find an affordable 7'6"/7'4" trailer. I guess that people think that if you have a big horse that you must have a big paycheque Has anyone heard anything about Travalong horse trailers?
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Member:
dwinans
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 1:35 pm:
I did a lot of research before I bought my trailer. It is a 1994 7 ft straight-load step-up. My 17hh thoroughbred and a 16.2hh warmblood fit in it together just fine. I paid $3500 for it. I have not had any issues with my horse hitting his head.
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Member:
babychop
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 3:01 pm:
I agree with what Fran says about the head going up with a step up trailer (as is my friend's). If you can't afford a taller one & your horse will mind his manners you might be okay with 7' & a head bumper. The heaDrOom seems a little tight but it's functional. The issue for me would be when you trailer out & he's at a new place, does he get uppity & put his head halfway to heaven? I'd just hate for him to bonk his noggin, they've got such small brains, it's a shame to injure them!
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New Member:
vera
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 6:10 pm:
I don't have much experience taking him places so I'm not sure about him raising his head extremely. I should probably wait until I can find a cheaper ~7'6", but I'm just so anxious to get a trailer for possible emergencies. I'm at home with my horses for the first time.
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 6:11 pm:
I meant that my horses are at my home with me for the first time
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Member:
stevens
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 6:18 pm:
It's always better to have more room than you need. It's alot more inviting to the horse if there is plenty of room.
My trailer is 7'6" tall and my 17.2 warmblood pretty much fills it up.
Any chance you could load your horse in the trailer you're looking at to check it out?
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2008 - 11:25 pm:
No, I don't think that it would be possible to try it out. I'm feeling hopeless now.
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Member:
stevens
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Posted on Friday, Jul 4, 2008 - 1:11 am:
Has your horse been successfully trailered before? If so, see if you can find out how tall that trailer was; the 7' may be just fine.
Remember that we only measure the horse's height at the withers. Depending on how the horse is built and where the neck ties into the chest, there can be a pretty wide variation in head height.
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Friday, Jul 4, 2008 - 2:02 am:
When the big warmbloods with high heads are used to the trailer they will take care they lower their head. As we are in Europe we only know big trucks and small vans and we always used the vans for shorter rides[not for the horses but because trucks come with a driver which is handy when you go far]
We hauled real big broodmares [1.74 m ] and dressagehorses [biggest 1.80 m] but started slowly to get them used to it and with some food in it they learned quickly to keep their head low[er] We did always have a ramp but they put up their heads too and learn fast how far they can put it up.
The thing in Europe is not the size of the van but with the enormous weight of these big horses to have a car strong enough to keep the combination safe, which I suppose will not be a problem for you
Jos
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Friday, Jul 4, 2008 - 11:28 pm:
OK, so I drug my husband out to the barn tonight to measure Charlie's height with this weight tape that has hand measurements. He actually measures about 16 and a half hands and his neck is not set as high as some of the other warmbloods like the Danish or Swedish, etc. I've attached a photo 
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Member:
babychop
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 6, 2008 - 10:33 pm:
I feel your pain about having a trailer for emergencies, I had to tie my mare & foal behind my truck & trot them 2 miles down the road to the vet during the Poomacha fire. Fortunately that was a viable option, we were evacuated & the fire burned up to the edge of our property & through some of my neighbors houses. My mare loads easily into the borrowed stock trailer where she balks at others, unfortunately it isn't always here. I believe someone suggested asking to test a potential purchase with your horse, if you're going second hand that should be an option & that will answer your question. If he's 16h & change he should be fine.
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Monday, Jul 7, 2008 - 12:28 am:
Andrea, I think of you guys often when I hear of the fires out west. Thank you for your comments.
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Member:
babychop
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Posted on Monday, Jul 7, 2008 - 4:30 pm:
Thank you Angela, it's a constant worry. My idiot neighbors (renters) were setting off fireworks Friday with the sparks floating down towards the brush in the gully, I was so mad I could spit. You just can't fix stupid.
Good luck on your trailer, I plan to buy one myself as soon as I can afford it & will probably go with a stock trailer, my colts will probably mature to 16.2 & 17 respectively but I'm sure it will work out. Stock trailers IMO are just easier, they see all that room & just step in.
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Member:
stevens
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Posted on Monday, Jul 7, 2008 - 5:42 pm:
Hi Andrea,
No, you can't fix stupid, but you can call the police. Given the fire situation in CA, I imagine they'd come out quickly on such a call.
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Member:
babychop
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Posted on Monday, Jul 7, 2008 - 6:11 pm:
Funny, that's the first thing I did. 
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Member:
stevens
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Posted on Monday, Jul 7, 2008 - 10:06 pm:
Good for you!!! Too many people are afraid to appear unreasonable by confronting such stupidity.
Here's to you!
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Member:
babychop
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 8, 2008 - 10:38 am:
Why, thank you Chris! I look at it this way, we have 3 horses, 3 Great Danes, a cat, 2 motorcycles, 2 trucks & an old Bug to get out of there (they boyfriend & I can only do so much) and I don't have a trailer so my animals come first, their safety is my priority. Besides, our home is our sanctuary - we moved out to the country to get away from the idiot fringe. Didn't plan on them renting next door. You've got to stand up for yourself or get trampled on by today's rude culture.
(sorry Angela, didn't mean to hijack your thread)
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Member:
cgby1
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 9, 2008 - 3:10 pm:
Hi Angela,
I have a suggestion, spend some time teaching your horse to back up while at the same time keeping his head down. I have a 7' trailer and my horses were throwing their heads up as they stepped down from it. Even though three of them are 15 hds. they still came too close to hitting the door frame. I worked with them so that I would have a cue in place as I back them out. It will also help keep him calm as he exits, a lot of horses get excited and rush back to get out.
Cynthia
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Member:
vera
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 9, 2008 - 3:49 pm:
Thanks Cynthia. I will do that. I will also make sure that I always put a bumper on his head.
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Member:
cgby1
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 9, 2008 - 8:06 pm:
Hi Angela,
I also try to use a bumper on them but I have not had much luck keeping them in place. The one I bought has a loop on each side but none in the middle and they always manage to shake it completely off to one side. It looks funny but does nothing to protect their heads.
Cynthia
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