I was just wondering how everyone else handles this?  Hubby will not let me haul other people critters in my LQ trailer. He may consider special circumstances but not until they have been proven to him to be quiet and well mannered. We have had several "friends" horses damage our rigs in the past and none of it repaired by them to pre damage condition. We now have the hard earned "top of the line" rig for our golden years. Most of them could not afford to repair it properly or replace it should their horse tear it up. I can't afford to take the chance. But I am so sick of hearing the comment that what good is it if you can haul horses around without worrying about every little mark. My trailer....my mark. I have to live with the mark plus I also have to live with the decrease value in the trailer that the mark cost me!

Oh, I have even  offered to leave my big rig at home, take the smaller one and share in the expense of the cabin rental.

With very few exceptions, most people will not respect your property as much as you do. To them I say.........NO.  To the few, welcome.

Gard

OOOPS....

Did not enter the text first!

Yeah, no matter what other folks will not respect your things or your feelings as well as you might. I have a small two horse with tackroom and thats all we use, as we have two horses, and two riders......end of tale!

Sad. but a reflection on human kind I am afraid.

Steve

I think y'all are right. But, sometimes I just feel pressure from some folks and stress out over it. Either way  I look at it, I am stressing! I don't want to hurt my freinds feelings but I don't want to take the chance of my stuff getting tore up! Period!

I don't look at it as a line between the haves and the have nots. But priorities. Although a nice rig was a priority for us as a family, we didn't get our dream rig until we were empty nesters. Now that we have it, we just want to protect it.

If your friends are true friends, and are the type to return a borrowed item in better shape than when you lent it, and with whom you have a good rapport, then you might want to include them in your plans. But if their horse is known to be errant and cause damage, they will understand your reluctance to chance your valuable equipment. They will still be your friends.

If they are among the type that are previously described, and are only using you to their advantage, they are not your friends.

You shouldn't feel any reluctance to say "NO", to anyone who is placing you in an uncomfortable position, when causing damage to your person or property. Unless it involves an emergency or there are other possible extenuating circumstances, there is little reason for you to sacrifice your prized possessions.

You worked hard to own the things you have. Enjoy them and keep them safe. Friends will understand and respect your wishes and property.

gard

You have done the hard work and paid for the trailer. I get tired of people expecting something for nothing and not working hard for items that are desired. Just because you have a LQ doesn't mean that it is a rolling Holiday Inn with Limo service.

I wouldn't feel bad at all for saying "Sorry, but I do not feel comfortable hauling your horse and don't want to be responsible for him/her becoming injured".

If those folks want persue an interest in horse recreation such as camping/trail riding, then they need to step up to the plate and work for the LQ trailer or stock trailer and truck. I camped years in a non-LQ trailer and even a tent before that. So if those "friends" want to trail ride and camp, then they need to be willing to invest in just the basic equipment such as truck and trailer that is needed to support the recreation.

First off, it's not a green broke horse problem, It's a misbehaving horse problem.  I've hauled plenty of foals, yearlings and 2 and 3 year olds.  None were even green broke, and I've never had one of them damage my trailer.  My problems have come from good horses getting spooked for some reason and doing something totally out of the ordinary for them.  Or peoples horses that were old broke horses that weren't well behaved about trailers,.

When I had a motorhome pulling a four horse(used the front half for horse stuff)trailer, I had people coming out of the wood work. They wanted a shower, place to sleep etc. It got OLD quick. Not one ever offered a five gallon tank of water to replace my fresh water they were using when showering. Not one even considered my privacy when camping, meaning I didn't want people in my camper every time I camped. None ever considered how long 60 gallons of fresh water will last on a 4 day campout with more than 2 adults using the water. I bought bottled water for coffee and drinking to help and I'd ask myself why? I do not owe these people because I have a camper and they do not. I had to keep a 100 gallon water tank in the front of my stock trailer not just to water the horses but for weight due to the horses being behind the axle. I had to keep at least a third of the tank full. I had idiots even after I had told them not to use my water, washing their feet and filling buckets for their horses because they didn't want to walk to the camp pump! That time I had to drive 50 mph on the way home. The trailer would start swaying due to the uneven wait. What the heck am I, the Hilton? NO! I have slept in tents, used mother nature in the snow, slept in the back of a Tahoe, and have taken cold cowboy showers outside in 40 degree weather......I would haul another "friends" horse and they would always make ME wait! HELLO? The wear on my couch, pump and everything else.....No more. There is one person I would open my trailer to but this same person never wants any help.....I went from having it to losing it to having it again. Now is my time and I don't care how big my trailer is....I do not owe anyone.

It is your time. You have earned it! Do not feel guilty.

Let me say that BCR really does have some beautiful top of the line equipment, that she keeps under roof and takes care to maintain beautifully.  She is generous and helpful, and kind.

So, her anxiety to not hurt feelings, but not get her equipment destroyed comes from a good heart, not a cold one.  We second her and her hubby's decision to be very selective about what gets hauled in her rig.... when it comes to getting your rig torn up, well, you can't unring a bell.  I have hauled others, and I have borrowed trailers, too. 

I have never borrowed anything that I could not have purchased a replacement (altho it would have been $$$) and I understand that if I haul someone, I will probably have to absorb the cost of repairs and loss of value.

To not hurt feelings, I make either a general statement about how my insurance would cancel me and not pay if some damages occured, and I can't afford to take that chance, or, I might just say,

"""" hey, talk to me when your horse stands tied very reliably and loads very well, and you are willing to work to create a broke animal.  I care too much about my animal to have one in there beside them that I KNOW is a fit thrower, and that is the price you pay for not accepting your animal is unstable and you are to blame for always making excuses instead of demanding of yourself and your horse the work necessary to fix all these problems."""""

Now you know why I am just a sugar coatin sweetheart!

It is less about money (altho that cost of repairs cannot be ignored) and more about manners and a difference in philosophy.

Thanks y'all. I shouldn't let it bother me. Wow, I guess I do have a "sensitive" side after all! 

I have only done it one time. That was an emergency. Friends truck broke. I had no horses at the time. His wife was like, can you take the stall dividers out and take the 5th horse? I said, "NO". I unloaded his horses at the fairgrounds and unhooked my trailer. I went back and got his trailer and last horse who was a stud but a very quite one at that. His trailer was wired differently then mine so I had to pull the fuse for the 12v trailer supply and limp off the mountains with no trailer brakes. He was very greatful. Boy, was that a stressful trip. Don't feel bad at all about not trailering someone elses horse.

When I was in the service I had a ski boat and loved to kneeboard. Fellows I would go to the lake with wouldn't let me buy anything. I freakin tried, gas, food, drinks, they even would hall it for me on one of their vehicles. Those are true friends. I tried everytime to help pay for something, they weren't having it.

Well, its your trailer and your money paying for it.  If you feel bad telling someone NO then think about drawing up a contract that they have to read and sign.  Make it look as legal as possible with the signatures at the bottom and notary signature.  In this contract state a pre-inspection and a post inspection will be made by you and them.  Any damages, broken ties, padding torn, etc will be paid for by them by a certified repair company. State that any injuries to your horse caused directly or indirectly by their horse will be paid by them.  State that you will not be held responsible for injuries to their horse.  All manure, wet bedding and hay will be removed by them that their horse does.  Also state that if their horse starts to act unrulely you can and will stop and unload the animal and it is their responsibility to have the horse hauled from that point.  Also include the outside of the trailer if they wish to tie to it without you hauling it.  If you make one up, make copies and bring up in conversation that you have drawn this up for insurance purposes and let them read it.   I seriously don't think they will ask you again.   A friend of mine hauled a horse home for someone in a 2 horse trailer years ago.  As soon as they started moving the horse started kicking and climbing the walls.  It was a 2 hour drive and the owner said to just keep driving the horse would straighten.  He spent 2 days straightening his back door out to get it to close right.   

I have shared my rig many times since I usually go by myself. I guess I have been lucky because all have been good camping buddies and I never had a problem with their horses. Sometimes I enjoy going by myself and other times I let my friends go with me. They get to sleep in the guest room now since I have a LQ with a walk through door. The horse part becomes the guest room.

HOWEVER, it is your rig and you make your own decisions.

Just say NO.  It really isn't all that hard!

Marla