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New User
Posts: 4
Location: Arizona | I had the axles on my 2006 Exiss blocked - 4 " - because couldn't negotiate a turn coming up out of a wash (live north of Phoenix). Now the height on the horse box from ground to floor of horse box is 24". Not crazy about installing a ramp and despite reassurances from friends that 24" is not too much of a leap, I am concerned about the unloading. Any thoughts? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447
 
Location: cedar rapids iowa | I also would be concerned about unloading. The best advice I can give is back up to an incline so the step down is not so large. Even in my driveway that is pretty flat I can change the angle of the trailer and get a larger or smaller step depending on where I stop the truck. |
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Veteran
Posts: 127
Location: rapid city sd | put a ramp on. They can all jump in, but it you back them out, you'll hurt the stifel |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| I agree, that is a big step getting out and depending on how you park 24 inches can become 30 inches pretty quick. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: Gallatin, TN | Not only will it hurt the stifle it will cause extra pressure/stress on the hip bones and surrounding ligaments. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | Do you have to back the horses out? If they can turn around in the trailer and walk out. 24" is no big deal. |
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New User
Posts: 4
Location: Arizona | Thanks for the input. Ultimately I thought I needed a ramp because of the unloading issue but many of the people I ride with have cowboy mentalities and thought I was being too cautious. I've never had a horse injured and didn't want to start now! |
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New User
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Location: Arizona | P.S. I can't turn them around - it's a three horse slant with back tack. And I guess since Minnesota is in my future, a ramp would be a good thing on those snowy, icy days. Brrrr. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447
Location: cedar rapids iowa | Originally written by Painted Horse on 2010-09-24 8:28 AM Do you have to back the horses out? If they can turn around in the trailer and walk out. 24" is no big deal. |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| WE did the same thing to the axles on our Exiss LQ.Our horses have no problem at all loading.It's unloading that you have to let them really take their time and look it over,and,we verbally have cued and taught ours what "step DOWN" means.Other than that,hey,we have trail horses,so,it's not that big a deal for them.They can climb over things that high all the time. |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| Originally written by Miss23rdAvenue on 2010-09-24 12:08 PM
Thanks for the input. Ultimately I thought I needed a ramp because of the unloading issue but many of the people I ride with have cowboy mentalities and thought I was being too cautious. I've never had a horse injured and didn't want to start now! I don't call it necessarily a "cowboy mentality" as much as it is just the way your particular horses are trained to load/unload and if you think they can all handle it,or not.We never have had a problem with ours on it.If it worried me,I'd get the ramp and be done.I'd be darn sure that I had a hydralic one,because,instead of your horses being the ones hurt,YOU may be getting shoulder/back rehab or surgery from one of those darn heavy ramps. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 112
Location: ohio | We had our 4Star lifted 4" also and we have no problems loading or unloading. But we do have trail horses too and they know how to jump in when neccesary and get out. I agree, getting out is harder sometimes. I kinda go by my knee. If the trailer where the horses are getting in, is more that knee high, it it pretty high. We just try for the lowest spots in the road and that usually works. I did have an older horse when we first had this done. He was loaded first and came out second so he had plenty of room to turn and get out that way. |
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How high is too high?
