Posted 2014-03-06 8:29 AM (#157840) Subject: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
I have a Sundowner 2013 2 horse straight load trailer with rear and side ramp. Given the presence of the side ramp I wonder if I should load the horses in through that ramp and have them travel backwards. I have heard some folks say that horses prefer to travel backwards and it would be possible if I loaded them in through the side ramp. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Posted 2014-03-06 8:38 AM (#157842 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Expert
Posts: 1885 Location: NY
what I know is that most trailer are not made for horses to ride backwards, the door is to close and there is no room for there head. I once drove a trailer that had box stall for the horses and there moved around, some time side way it was interesting to which on the camera
Posted 2014-03-06 9:16 AM (#157843 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
I know of studies indicating the prefer travel slanted or at an angle, but don't know of one that specifically speaks to direction of travel. Reverse slants offer some additional protection from flying objects and offer better use of space. Jg
Posted 2014-03-06 9:26 AM (#157844 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Regular
Posts: 78
I do think it's easier for them to brace with their butt end than with their front. I can control how quickly I accelerate, but how quickly I have to stop is not always in my control.
Posted 2014-03-06 10:08 AM (#157846 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
We hauled a mare and filly in a 3H trailer with the dividers removed, resulting in a large open stall. Not tethered, they moved about often, standing facing both the front and rear, but not sideways. When the baby tired and reclined, the mare stood at her side facing forward.
This was the only time we hauled loose horses, and we were quite nervous about possible injuries, resulting from inadvertent jostling caused by errant traffic. It was a successful trip, covering several hundred miles. We had a mare delivered from New Mexico, and she was also transported unconstrained in an open stall. The driver related that she frequently moved about changing positions, and only reclined when he stopped for fueling breaks.
Other than that one occurrence, we have only hauled with the head to the front in stalls, straight and slant. It has been successful to date.
Posted 2014-03-06 10:14 AM (#157847 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 659 Location: Rayne, LA
I haul forward as a slant load but I do know of many race horse people that do haul backward. They compare this to horses putting their rump into the wind and/or rain
Posted 2014-03-06 2:06 PM (#157850 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
I used to haul horses loose in stock trailer... 9 times out of 10 they would ride facing the rear standing at an angle toward the ditch/passengers side. Haul about everything now in a 6 horse head to head, front three seem to ride quieter than the rear 3, 4 or 5....
Posted 2014-03-07 9:44 AM (#157870 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Veteran
Posts: 127 Location: rapid city sd
The reason horses are facing back when they are loose, is because they know how they got on and want off! The 90 percent of the people here do rodeo type events with their horses and lots of horses get hauled 30 to 50,000 miles a year. lots of ranchers that compete or have kids competing then have 5 to 25 miles of bad road to get home after they leave the highway. Slants give horses something to brace on when roads are rough. Mangers will do the same. Ask anybody that hauls hard and competes on their horses if they haul them loose. NOT
Posted 2014-03-08 8:33 AM (#157890 - in reply to #157840) Subject: RE: Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
Thanks to everyone that replied. I think I willJust haul them the way that the trailer was designed. There is a ton of room in front of them as there is an isle way leading to the side ramp. My very stubborn teenage daughter is refusing to have her horseHauled in it as she says that straight loads are dangerous and make horses feel clautrophobic. We used to have a three horse slant load that I promptly sold after a harrowing experience of getting trapped in the front of the trailer once with a panicked thrashing horse who was tied.I purposely bought this specific trailer as there is an escape door plus the side ramp so in my mind I am much safer as I have a way out. I bought a trailer loading dvd(Adiva Murphy series and I am so impressed with this trainer). I have learned steps to teach the horse to back out of the trailer and to load with cues from a training stick. Once the stupid snow and ice melt I am going to train my hoses to load and unload on cue. I like the option to just walk them off the trailer with the side ramp but I am also going to teach them to unload backwards just so they know how to do it.
Do horses prefer to travel backwards in a trailer?
