Ohio AQHA Congress 2005

By Dave Mattern - Horse Trailer World

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The Ohio Congress is one of the largest horse events of the year.   If you feel at home wearing a cowboy hat and spurs - you'll definitely fit in. 

I was overwhelmed at the number and quality of vendor displays.  Particularly the horse trailer manufacturer and dealer displays.  If there’s a larger collection of different horse trailer brands for sale in the country, I have not found it.  Many horsemen sat down and just admired the fantastic workmanship in many of the living quarters.  And in their minds - justified why they should enjoy one for themselves.

My three day trip was successful.  Aside from meeting some of the top “shakers and movers” in the horse trailer industry, I also got a heavy dose of education on what it takes to pull these mobile horse hotels.  Namely, big trucks. 

In fact, I finally got to meet the famous Kent Sundling, a.k.a. Mr. Truck.  We've known each other and worked together for years, but in this cyber world . . . we've never met in real life.  Times are certainly changing.  But you cannot replace face-to-face smiles and handshakes.  

 For three days we careened our tiny golf cart through narrow gates, past massive trucks and around hundreds of fancy horse trailers . . . dodging kids, concession stands and other CIC’s, (Cowboys in Carts)  Mr. Truck demonstrated his considerable driving skills, never once breaking a syllable as we zoomed from display to display.  I had fun.  

So what’s the latest in horse trailer news?  More sliders (or gliders, depending on the part of the country your are from).  Sliders give you more room for your LQ, less length, but they do add weight to your already heavy Living Quarters trailer – which translates into people moving up to bigger trucks in larger numbers than ever before.  

And fuel price impact?  Doesn’t seem to impact the trailer industry – yet.  Horses are a lifestyle.  People will not change their passions . . . but they ARE more selective on how many shows or events they attend – and with the comfort of their new living quarters trailers – they just might stay longer,  once they get there.

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Some trailers came with full bars  . . . the customer is optional.  This gentleman was ready to buy and was listening intensely to the saleman from Universal Trailer.  (Sooner, Exiss, Miley) Only dealers from Ohio are allowed at Congress but they can be staffed by authorized dealers from around the nation.  Universal Trailer selected the following dealers:  1. Dixie Horse & Mule Co  2. Carolina Trailer Sales In South Carolina 3. Key Chevy in New York 4. D2 Trailer sales in California 5. Luft Trailer Sales in Washington 6. Jims Motors in Missouri 7. Wriker Pontiac in Tennessee 8. Action RV in New Mexico 9. Coughlin Automotive in Ohio

Eby Trailer Display	Darryl A. Brniser, V.P. Eby Horse Trailers	New Eby Design by Darryl.  I like it.
Darryl Lee Anderson Dir. of Marketing, KieferBuilt (far left side) and crew	KieferBuilt crew enjoys quiet time one day before the displays open to the public	Sundowner Mobile Marketing
Mr. Truck asks about the new line of Sundowner Trailer	Sundowner's newest Signature Series- You can smell the cedar.	Jerry Bunch from Sundowner Corp in Coleman, OK gives me private tour of new Signature Series.

Universal Trailer Corporation adds Miley to it's offering this year. They already carry both Exiss and Sooner.	No this isn't the yellow brick road Mr. Truck.  It's Leonard Trailer Sales impressive indoor display.	Randy Smith, GM Leonard Trailer Sales, reveals their newest line of trailers, the ETS.  Built just for them
Sneak preview of new trailer design from Leonard Trailer.  (It's a Cimarron)	Leonard Truck and Trailer Triple Slide- Interior Photos	Leonard Truck and Trailer Triple Slide- Interior Photos
Leonard Truck and Trailer Triple Slide- Interior Photos	Leonard Truck and Trailer Triple Slide- Interior Photos	Leonard Truck and Trailer Triple Slide- Interior Photos
	Coughlin Trailer sells trucks . . . big ones.  This is a Chevy 4500 Duramax.	Featherlite . . offers a pretty alternative to your basic white trailer.  Nice.
Featherlite - Tops when it comes to marketing and endorsements	Featherlite interiors - Factory built.  Trailer and interior - all under one warranty.  Nice.	Featherlite Display

Featherlite 100X	Featherlite "Hidden Cam" latch.  Bar to top and bottom of door is hidden inside the door.  Cool.	Future Advertiser - Equine Insurance, Kristina Hedrick
Denny Shaffer with BunkHouse Conversion and Gene Goan, Mid-South Trailer Sales	Ezall - I looked for their display.  This is the best cleaner for both horse AND your trailer (two different products of course)	Sidekick - Tuff Under new ownership, Dealer TMP Outwest bought Sidekick this year, making it one of the newest top quality trailers on the market.