Posted 2011-07-05 9:36 PM (#135401) Subject: Slant with no butt bar - is it safe?
Member
Posts: 6
Location: California
I'm about to buy my first trailer and really like a friends Royal T Competitor 2 horse slant. It is really light inside and seems well built. But a butt bar isn't even an available option. Is it safe to open the rear door without one? Would appreciate any advice. Thanks,
Posted 2011-07-06 1:50 AM (#135406 - in reply to #135401) Subject: RE: Slant with no butt bar - is it safe?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Yes it is safe. Just make sure you always un-tie the horses head and clip on the lead-rope from the outside via the drop down window before you open the rear doors. Actually, I think butt bars are more dangerous than not.
Rather than a folding tack and rear butt bar, the SafeTack has a patented swing out rear tack with a rear divider to allow for maximum space for loading and unloading.
Posted 2011-07-06 11:11 AM (#135415 - in reply to #135401) Subject: RE: Slant with no butt bar - is it safe?
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Tennessee
The (thankfully) few times I had seen and/or been involved with unloading accidents ALWAYS occurred when the horses head was tied and the divider or butt bar was open or down. The horses tried to back up, were still attached at head, and panicked. One (not mine) flipped all the way over backwards. Luckily no serious injury. Now, people will talk about training, etc and certainly that is good. My horses have lots of trailering experience but I still ALWAYS keep them confined from the rear until their head is free. Just something to consider.
Posted 2011-07-06 11:38 AM (#135417 - in reply to #135401) Subject: RE: Slant with no butt bar - is it safe?
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Versailles, KY
I have a butt bar, but I don't know that one is necessary. That said, my friend's rear door opened a few weeks ago as she was trailering two horses. She was very glad for a butt bar. The rear horse was her better horse and it stayed calm. This is a very nice Kieffer (sp) Built trailer, but something weird happened and the pin jiggled out or something. Very scary. Definitely untie before you open the door, regardless of butt bar or how well trained your horse is. I've seen an idiot open the back door with a scared rescue horse tied in a rope halter (ugh). The damage it did to that horse in a minute or so was ugly. (Reason I never tie in rope halters.)
Slant with no butt bar - is it safe?
