My QH mare doesn't travel well in my bumper-pull 2H straight load trailer. She doesn't mind being in there. She has no problem walking in and she'll stand all day if asked. Problem comes when we're moving. And yes, I start, stop and turn slowly to help her. She can't seem to keep her balance and she steps all over herself. When she comes out of the trailer, she's got open, bleeding sores on her ankles/fetlocks and just above hoof line. I'm really worried about a potential coronet band injury. I've tried bell boots and polo wraps but she still hurts herself. Using shipping boots now but she's ripping those.Want to replace my straight load trailer with a slant load trailer. We have an 8' wide LQ trailer and she travels perfectly in there. My concern is that most bumper pull trailers are only 6'9" wide. My mare is 15.3HH and wears an 82 blanket. I've seen posts about different slant stall lengths. I'm concerned she may not fit in all slant stalls.What kind of trailer do you have and what is the length of the stalls?
Posted 2013-04-24 7:21 AM (#151522 - in reply to #151519) Subject: RE: length of bumper-pull slant stalls
Regular
Posts: 78
We have a 3H KieferBuilt with rear tack and our big walking horse fits in just fine. He is at least 16H and wears an 84" blanket. He can go in either the first or second stall with room to turn around to exit, although the first stall gives him a little more room to turn. We've hauled a third large horse in the last stall and traveling went fine, but he needed to back out.
Posted 2013-04-25 6:17 AM (#151535 - in reply to #151519) Subject: RE: length of bumper-pull slant stalls
New User
Posts: 4
I'm in the same boat as you. A couple of years ago my QH mare decided she didn't like riding in my 2H straight load. She loads right up but She doesn't handle right turns and scrambles up the wall of the trailer. She's a big mare as well and I have been shopping for a slant bumper pull. A Shadow trailer is out of the question as they are only 6' wide. Right now I am looking at having one custom made that's 6'9" and extending the width of the stalls. I've been looking for used ones but can't find anything with larger stalls and I can get one custom made in the same price range. An Eclipse slant bumper pull is actually 7' wide, I have no idea of the stall width tho. I haven't heard too many good things about the quality of them too. I don't know if that helped you any but good luck in your search! Let me know if you find anything lol. I'm still looking too!Oh and as far as leg protection - the only thing I've found to work is I put her riding boots (SMB 2) on in the trailer and bell boots - even on her back legs. Luckily she doesn't hit herself above the boots. She's torn up some shipping boots, the SMBs are the only things that have held up against her.
Posted 2013-04-29 1:02 PM (#151660 - in reply to #151519) Subject: RE: length of bumper-pull slant stalls
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Many straight loads have solid dividers all the way to the floor which prevents the horse from spreading their legs wider than their body to balance. That is why they "scramble" up the walls. Even if it doesnt have the solid divider, sometimes just the width of stalls in some of the 2 horse straight loads cause the scrambling.
If you have a solid divider, remove part of the bottom so they can spread their legs, or try removing the divider completely.
Posted 2013-05-01 1:34 PM (#151729 - in reply to #151519) Subject: RE: length of bumper-pull slant stalls
Regular
Posts: 70
Unless you go for a 8 foot wide slant load.....you won't have alot of "length" in the stall. The scrambling and balance might be due to the straight load being too narrow or dividers down to the ground and simply the straight load position.
I'd get a stock trailer BP so she can stand how she likes. Otherwise I'd get something REALLY REALLY WIDE if you want a slant load (or get a 3 horse slant and take out one divider to give her more room)
length of bumper-pull slant stalls
