Always load front, and or left side first with horses (if you have a choice). 

I would put the big mare in the front, gelding in the middle, and hay on the rear (if possible, or in the tack room).  It is not a balancing act, any weight behind the axles is a greater possibility for instability....no matter what the tongue weight ends up at. 

With a bumper pull three horse, it is a balancing act. I would put your heaviest horse in the middle, and the next heaviest load in the front, with the lightest in the rear.

Gard

Gut feeling ... if you have a dressing room up front - I would put the lighter horse in front stall and heavy horse in middle stall and hay at back.

Once loaded, check your level. Do you use WDH? That's another consideration.

Otherwise, I would put the heavier up front, lighter horse in middle but definitely hay in the back stall.

Depends on the definition of balance, we already know you and I have a different definition. 

I wouldnt disagree with your load plan.....although I suspect with your definition and a 2 horse load you would put one in the front and one in the back in an attempt for "balance"........that I would disagree with.

I don't believe in using any more tongue weight than is necessary for proper towing trim. In the fifteen years I had my 3 horse BP trailer, and the thousands of miles I towed it, I learned how it best pulled with various loads. If you like your trailer loaded a certain way, do it. I liked mine a certain way, it worked well, and that's how I loaded it. Period.

Gard

Fair enough.  Ive been putting all the pieces together though, your loading comments, statements about WDH vs. suspension helpers, truck squat, and atypical loading methods. 

I remember when you first started posting here and your claims of about your Exp/suv's not being enough truck to pull your trailer (despite the fact you DID'NT wreck)........I just have to wonder how much better that situation would have turned out with a properly loaded trailer using a WDH/sway control?

  Ive been putting all the pieces together, your atypical loading methods.  (despite the fact you DID'NT wreck,  a properly loaded trailer ...............[/QUOTE]

Chadsault, I forgot! I forgot that you were there when we purchased our trailer. I forgot that during the time we owned it, and pulled it behind three different vehicles, you were there observing our every move. When we hauled my daughter's first pony, our Belgian, various Holsteiners, Tbs, QH and Paints of every size, you were there. Even when inanimate items were moved, building materials, furniture, farm tractors, you were there to supervise the loading.

But for the grace of God, we did not have an accident. But you were there to witness the uncontrolled movement across multiple lanes of traffic, in both directions. You too were fortunate to not end up in a ditch, the center barrier or against any other vehicle. Again because you were there, you knew what caused the event, and that the loading was not the cause. Because you were there, you knew exactly what was being carried in the trailer, and how they were placed.

Because you know all these facts, and have personal knowledge of my equipment and how it was used all those years, I have to apologize for thinking badly of your statements. Had you not been so well versed in my activities, I would have considered your declarations to be disingenuous, unreliable and naive. Please accept my most humble apology, for thinking poorly of your most deservedly criticism. Working a lifetime career in commercial aviation and boat building, has left me ill prepared to understand certain concepts like balance, center of gravity, mechanics and trim.

BTW, this issue between us is done

Gard

No reason to be so thin skinned, just something (the loading/setup) for you to think about when youre making any future claims of suv/smaller trucks not being suitable for towing.

On a slightly less pc note, I would make the conclusion that your driving skill/experience saved your ass, not "the grace of god"...............

WOW, somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Yall are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Just agree to disagree and have a better day!!!!!

The "cant tow safely with an suv" argument has LONG been a mountain.........and usually elicits an emotional (vs. analytical) response.

I am capable of having a discussion, even an arguement, and still having a fine day.  I would use the happy smiley here, but I think theyre a little silly.

And with a little more "trail and error";

Had you loaded both horses to the front, adjusted the WDH if your 1/2 ton squatted too far, then gave the steering wheel a few "wiggles" you would have found that loading to be even more stable.

It is true every rig is different, but the basic loading principals are all the same.

Here's a four horse bumper pull that you could get to rockin' like a teeter-totter if you weren't really careful!!

Cripes all mighty.  What make is that?  Axles are damn near in the middle?  Trying to keep the tongue weight down I guess,  Im not sure you could pay me to pull that one with a pickup.....loaded or not.

This one on the other hand looks like someone knew what they were doing when the put the axles on.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/home/trailerdetail.asp?ID=145912

Heavy stuff goes towards the front of the trailer, basic trailer loading 101.  An improperly loaded trailer is dangerous, just how fast can you get a horse out of a trailer laying on its side? 

Load the hay in the front stall and the horses in the back two and you will quickly find out what is not "a good idea at all".

Hi al

I am not going to add to how to load your trailer as there are already many ideas sugested above. What I wll add however is that you must always approach towing a BP with caution... Here in SA we have a 4 H straight load box which has had its fair share of trauma.... They are quite long as you can see from the attached pic and what happens is they are normally towed by a vehicle which is not really heavy enough... By nature of its design you end up with 2 horses in front of the axels and 2 horses behind... If the tow vehicle is not heavy enough the trailer can easily get into a see saw and the rear wheels of the tow vehicle loose traction.... and over she goes. I had the missfortune of driving behind such a rig and watched in horror as all 4 horses were flung out the back... not a nice sight...

So my only comment remains.... just drive very carefully and be aware of what you are towing...

Cheers ...Sunny SA

I don't mean to stir up any hornets nests, but, what if you are pulling one horse in a two horse slant?  I am planning on ordering a 2 horse with a 1st stall escape door to use as my "hayrack" . My 800- 900 pound mare would be traveling over the axles.. We have 2 horses, so I understand that when hauling both my heavier mare would go up front, but when trail riding/camping it is usually me alone.. Will 2 bales of hay, a water tank (homemade.. holds @ 20 - 35 gals) and other sundries help keep the trailer from overbalancing? Or is is this a non-issue because of the short-coupled-ness of the 2 horse trailer.. By the way, the front tack will be @ 2 feet longer than standard.  My mare likes to save her urine and poop to decorate her ride when traveling and I don't want to risk contamination of her food, and at 5'3" I am not tall enough to easily manage an overhead hayrack.. Lifting 80lb bales of hay overhead is a bit much for me unless there was a way I could rig to drag them up.. I may get a hayrack later for when (if) I travel with 2 horses, but wasn't planning on using it regularly.. I decided to add  the escape stall option specifically for it's ease of getting things in/or out..

Would appreciate whatever ANYONE has to say out there

I have stacked hay in the back, left corner (no rear tack) on my slant. Stacking 7 bales (the original person's 350 pounds) might be a little trickier.  3 on the bottom, then 2 + 2.  ??  Still gives you the passenger side door. However, if there is a tack area there, you're outta luck. But again, if only using 2 of 3 stalls, you can still put it along the head side.

If needed, buy a box of CONTRACTOR trash bags from Home Depot/Lowes. They are thick and large enough to hold a 50 pound bale. 

Hauling a mare means urine on the "back" wall. Less worries about hay. Geldings however, are "center fires" and for that reason, I stack near the horse's head.

I have some rings that lay flat that I want to install under the rubber mats, with a hole in the mat, so that I can use ratchet straps to hold the hay tight to the wall.  I was going to position them maybe 3 - 4" away from the wall and run the straps under the hay and up.

One other way I've hauled extra hay for a long weekend is to STUFF full, some hay nets and hay bags. Then hang them up in the trailer at the back corner or in the front corner if I've got the horse in the center stall of a 3H. Then I only need another bale or 2.

Good idea..Gabz.. I was just thinking of the ease with which i could pre-laod my hay, grain, water, etc.. and Then load my mare.. .. I guess I could just load the bales in the second stall on the head side..However, I DO (or will) have a rear tack..

Chadsalt, ...I'm pulling it with a Toyota Landcruiser.. about 6000 lbs tow weight..  I do not yet have a WDH, but I will get one for this new trailer (that I have yet to order..I have a poll going here on this forum about Sundowner vs 4 star... would appreciate any input) .. Long story short.. I'm not sure how big (deep) the drsg room will actually be... 4 stars have a sharp wedged nose, whereas S-downers are more broad..all of which may affect their weight distribution (maybe?)