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  Discussion on Removing divider in a straight load trailer
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Member:
stek

Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 4:54 pm:

We have a 2 horse straight load step up, extra tall extra wide, and are picking up a new horse tomorrow who is extra extra tall (17.2). I was thinking of moving over the center divider (it will come out completely but I just want to swing the back of it to one side) so he can get a little more room if he wants, but this will leave me with no butt bar.

Any thoughts/opinions/recommendations?
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 5:33 pm:

Hi Shannon,

I have a two horse 2005 Brender-up Horse Liner trailer (with a ramp). The butt bars in this trailer broke about a month after I bought it. I could have had them replaced but chose not to do so, since I felt that the butt bars cut the internal space about 5 inches. At the time I had a huge mare I was racing and the Brender-up was a regulation size. I also felt I needed some type of butt bar just so she wouldn't go flying off the trailer when I let the ramp down or if I had to ship her by myself.

The first thing I used was a rubber stall guard, not the webbed kind, just the single piece that sometimes goes above the webbed stall guards ( snaps at both ends).

That was ok,good for her but a little too long for my other horses.

The second thing I used and I am still using it, is a piece of cross tie chain, medium sized link chain, wrapped first with vetwrap and then with a regular standing bandage, with two snaps on each end. Leave enough of the chain on either side so, you can make it adjustable for horses that might need a little extra room ( I use a six foot length of chain, doubled, to get a 3 foot butt bar. If you open the partition all the way, you will most likely have to tie it, so it won't move back during the shipping.

If your trailer is extra tall and extra wide, you may not need to make any adjustments. Many horses ship better when they can lean on the partition and side walls for balance. I'd try it first with no adjustment and see how the horse ships, but bring the emergency butt bar just in case you need it.

Rachelle
Member:
stek

Posted on Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 10:51 am:

Thanks Rachelle. Good idea on the butt chain, I had some spare chain lying around and took it with me just in case. The horse ended up fitting just fine though, amazingly he had a few inches to spare all the way around. I left the divider in place to give him something to lean on and he rode like a champ. He did kick me in the knee as soon as he got off the trailer, but that's another story =)
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