yay!!! I bought my first trailer! I should have it in my grubby hands in a month or so.

so here's a question for all you experienced hands... what bit of equipment/tool/gadget do you find indispensable?

I'm not taking horse tack. I'm talking about the random things that you had to put IN the trailer. water tanks, hay bags, safety ties, muck forks, those wedgy jack thingies that you can drive your wheel up on to change a flat?, ???

its my first trailer and so I'm starting totally from scratch. I'd like to think ahead and not find out when disaster hits that I really need that [whatever] that I dont have.

input, as always, appreciated!

We always have a Walmart special tool kit that is fairly large. Had a pink one for years as the wife got tired of me robbing it and all the tools would end up in the shop, so she got pink tools and that stop that. Have no idea what happened to it, but my guess, is that I left somewhere. The latest one, is a cheapy, but has all the sockets, wrenches, test light, pliers, hammer, elec. connections, etc, etc. I fix most all our problems, so if you not going to use it, might not need it...I seem to fix minor repairs of several trailers for people at events with the tool kit.

Good luck!

I`ll second the vote for the US Rider membership.  Somewhere I had heard that AAA doesn`t deal with horse trailers.  I joined the week before I was going to a clinic last year in NH and sure enough my van broke down just after I had crossed the border in the middle of nowhere.  The guy who came was incredible - put my van on his flatbed then hooked up my trailer behind.  Drove the 3+ hours so I didn`t miss the start of my clinic the next day and charged me a very fair rate.

Some of what you need to bring along depends on if you`re just going for a trail ride, or a several hour haul.  I bring jugs of water - the cheap grocery store kind just filled with tap water.  Good for watering horses, or washing if needed (perhaps a wound).  Jugs can be refilled and used again.  Molasses to add to water if your horse doesn`t seem to like the taste of the local water (presuming you`ve refilled your jugs).  A couple of buckets too.

In the past I`ve been going to clinics so I have my horse`s vaccination records with me - not sure if this is needed for just a day trip.  Emergency phone numbers are probably a good idea, like your vet`s number.

I have that trailer ramp thing to drive up on to change a tire.  Never needed to use it, but it seems like it would be very helpful.

I`ll think of what I might need for the remote possibility that I might not be able to get home right away.  On that last trip I had brought extra grain and supplements - good thing as I ended up there almost 1 week more than I had planned!

As above, I have extra halters/leads (be sure they fit the horse(s) you are hauling) and a chain that I can add to a lead if I really need one. I keep a short whip for just in case loading issues, extra pair of shoes (in case I forget or get wet, usually an older pair that are still usable) and a towel. I always have a hammer and can't stand when it migrates due to the other half :) I also have one of those cheap tool kits which do come in handy. I keep a hose, a water tote with water in it for places with no water and/or emergencies and at least one small bucket. I also keep a small first aid kit for people and animals and a set of wraps. Of course, Jiffy Jack (big trailer) and Trailer Aid (small trailer) and a tire iron. I also keep a small trash can just inside the tack area door which manages to fill up just fine with stuff from past lunches from my pack, crap people leave at trail heads, etc.

Happy Trailering! 

emergency road flares for flats or when starting a pesky campfire that won't take as they burn a long time.

coffee pot and plenty of coffee;  large cups for coffee (also good for whiskey),  allergy medicine, epi pen, aspirin and bute (for horses, dogs and people).

pot for making coffee on campfire if no electric.

Did I mention coffee?

oh, and ammo for guns

Looks like everyone covered all the basic stuff (even farmbabe).  But also:

A first aid kit for you and the horses is a must!

I thought whiskey was medicine.

Electrical tape.

All kidding aside, a good first aid kit stocked for humans and critters is wise.  We had gotten sloppy and didn't have one when my face and a weanling's face collided.  Not a good thing.  The weanling was ok though, no concussion.

Happy trails.

For me the most used thing is a night light head lamp thing.( Hands free)

extra jacket and extra wind-breaker, socks, shoes, jeans,gloves that stays in the trailer. socket set and crescent wrench, fire extinguisher, 2 water tanks, folding chairs,blankets for horse and human,extra halter,cinch,saddle pad

I horse-camp- so I carry a marine air-horn, bear spray, knife. First aid for humans and horses.

The things that i like the most about my trailer- insulated inside. I would not want another trailer again without insulation. This has been huge. My tack no longer mildews in the winter. The thing I want most now- a fridge and cowboy shower.