Posted 2006-02-28 4:57 PM (#37990 - in reply to #37957) Subject: RE: Rear facing horse in trailer
Veteran
Posts: 164 Location: Delaware
I read years ago that this is the preferred way of hauling a horse longhaul or a sick horse. It's easier on their front end because their back legs take up most of the shock of the stopping. The British have been hauling this way for years. My stock trailer is set up as slant stall in front (stud wall) and a box in back. When I haul one horse loose they will slant most of the time facing backwards.
Posted 2006-02-28 6:02 PM (#37995 - in reply to #37990) Subject: RE: Rear facing horse in trailer
Member
Posts: 25 Location: Denton, TX
I have thought about this alot. Trying to figure out which way a horse would prefer to be hauled. In a stock trailer situation where the horse could choose to stand in any direction they do seem to always face backwards. Is it more comfortable on their legs or, or we overthinking the issue and they just don't like the wind in their face????? Back when it was legal for kids to ride in the bed of a pick up(and I know I'm telling my age) we didn't like the wind blowing in our face either, so we always sat facing backwards!! Maybe its that simple or maybe not, in which case I don't think I will ever figure it out!!
Posted 2006-02-28 7:52 PM (#38002 - in reply to #37957) Subject: RE: Rear facing horse in trailer
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Kansas City
Anytime I've hauled a horse loose in a stock trailer they always turn around on their own. It had an enclosed nose so there had to be more wind on the end farthest from the nose of the trailer. Would that now be the nose or tail end ?
Posted 2006-03-03 5:43 PM (#38218 - in reply to #38002) Subject: RE: Rear facing horse in trailer
Expert
Posts: 2689
In the head to head trailer I use the front (rear facing) stalls first.
If I'm hauling other stuff it goes in the rear stalls.
There are studies (somewhere) that show horses have lower heart rates when hauled in the rear facing stalls. I remember reading it, but don't remember the source. I have some question as to how much of it is due to the rear facing vs being nicely in between the truck's rear axle and the trailer's front axle, i.e. it is probably a smoother ride in that part of the trailer anyway.
No matter, if it helps them relax a bit more (for whatever reason) I'll keep doing it.
I had a brief talk with a builder at Equine Affair a couple of years ago about a 2 horse rear facing bumper pull, we sketched out how it could be built and I think it would work well. Resale value MIGHT be an issue, according to who you try to sell it to - just being different/unusual, even if it IS better.
Posted 2006-03-12 7:04 AM (#38692 - in reply to #37957) Subject: RE: Rear facing horse in trailer
New User
Posts: 2
Location: texas
I have a 3HSooner Ranch with horse dividers. The trailer is plenty big enough to turn the first two horses around and haul them backwards. I just haven't tried it yet. It does seem like it would be less stressful, less big trucks and traffic going by their faces
Posted 2006-03-14 7:23 PM (#38830 - in reply to #37957) Subject: RE: Rear facing horse in trailer
Regular
Posts: 98 Location: Baldwin City, KS 66006
Years ago, I had a show horse that would paw and kick in the trailer. Someone suggested hauling him backwards so we tried it. You didn't even know he was back there when hauled this way. (at the time we had a 4 horse in-line with a side ramp...so he'd go in the ramp and unload out the back.)
Rear facing horse in trailer
