Posted 2005-05-15 8:52 PM (#25151) Subject: Question on full-divider height in Silver Star 2H GN
Member
Posts: 23
Hi folks,
Glad I found this forum. I have a question on the full dividers inside a Silver Star 2H GN straight-load I just took delivery of. I am used to seeing full dividers extend down to within an inch or two of the floor--this was the case with both my previous Trailers USA BPs and my previous Sooner 4H GN straight-load. But... this Silver Star's divider extends down only to within about four inches of the floor, leaving (obviously) a four-inch gap between the floor and the bottom of the divider. My overly-vivid imagination is now supplying me with picture after picture of horses' feet getting trapped in that gap. I'm not an anatomy expert, so I'm hoping perhaps you all can help me: should I be concerned about this gap and send the divider back to SS to swap for one that runs almost to the floor? Or I am I losing sleep for no reason?
The lower portion of the divider is removable via four pins, so I can run temporarily with half-dividers until this is all sorted out.
Posted 2005-05-15 10:43 PM (#25153 - in reply to #25151) Subject: RE: Question on full-divider height in Silver Star 2H GN
Expert
Posts: 2689
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Both of my trailers have dividers that are barely a foot (estimated) wide, perhaps narrower.
It seems to be adequate that they support the horses along their sides, of course the gap between the bottom of the divider and the floor is probably more than the distance from the horse's belly to the floor. This gives them plenty of chance to spread their feet wide if they want to, but there is so much clearance that the risk of a trapped hoof approximates zero. No problems with ventilation, easy to clean, shovel, sweep out, etc.
Mine are both straight load trailers.
I think I'd want either a LARGE gap or a very narrow gap, but not a small gap as you described.
Posted 2005-05-16 9:24 AM (#25162 - in reply to #25151) Subject: RE: Question on full-divider height in Silver Star 2H GN
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Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
Reg, you misunderstood. This extended divider (misnamed a "stud divider") is intended to extend to the floor to keep anything carried in the first stall from rolling or sliding back under the horses. I got my ruler out, and four inches looks like just enough to swing over the bedding in the next stall. We have had extended dividers that did not have enough clearance to open up when the trailer was bedded, and that is a real pain. However, we all know that if there is any possible way for a horse to get hurt, some of them will find it.
Posted 2005-05-16 11:08 AM (#25167 - in reply to #25151) Subject: RE: Question on full-divider height in Silver Star 2H GN
Member
Posts: 23
In my eight years of hauling I've had only one horse scramble and (I think--from what it sounded like behind me) fall and get back up. If that horse had fallen and if its feet had gotten under this Silver Star divider... well, that's what I'm worried about--the divider acting as a mechanical bone-snapping "brake." With a divider that runs down to within an inch or two of the floor at least there's something down there for the horse's feet to push against in order to right himself, and the gap's not wide enough to slip anything underneath (like a hoof or pastern or cannon bone).
The more I analyze this, the more I think I'm going to pop that bottom half out and send it back for a panel that runs further down closer to the mats.
Posted 2005-05-16 12:58 PM (#25177 - in reply to #25162) Subject: RE: Question on full-divider height in Silver Star 2H GN
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by Kay on 2005-05-16 9:24 AM
Reg, you misunderstood. This extended divider (misnamed a "stud divider") is intended to extend to the floor to keep anything carried in the first stall from rolling or sliding back under the horses. I got my ruler out, and four inches looks like just enough to swing over the bedding in the next stall. We have had extended dividers that did not have enough clearance to open up when the trailer was bedded, and that is a real pain. However, we all know that if there is any possible way for a horse to get hurt, some of them will find it.
Maybe I did (misunderstand).
I still think I understand the OP's concern, I just hadn't thought much about why the manufacturer would make such a divider (-:
About the only things I've carried in the horse compartment that were not horses were FURNITURE, but those were exclusively house moving hauls.
I like narrow dividers for ventilation reasons, I havn't (yet) had a horse fall and get stuck under one, it could happen. I was looking at an old style horse van yesterday, a 6 horse head to head, the plywood dividers in that go all the way to the floor.
I suppose if I wanted/needed to carry slide-aroundables and roll-aroundables in the horse area I'd pack them in trunks and secure the trunks from sliding. If not trunks, then at least the big plastic storage containers.
Thanks for the enlightenment.
Just realized, "Stud divider" probably derives from "Stud wall" and may have nothing to do with breeding (-:
Question on full-divider height in Silver Star 2H GN
