Posted 2007-04-18 1:34 AM (#59514) Subject: Ramp on LQ trailer
Member
Posts: 6
Location: Washington
I am looking into getting a 3h LQ trailer and have noticed that most if not all of them on this site are step up. I currently own a step up, but I have reiners and even with the trailer heavily bedded they slip with their sliders coming out. I have tried backing out, but then my mare in particular panics and slips, and when I try unloading forward, their hind feet slip as they step down. I have had a horse fall in the trailer once already trying to get out. are there LQ trailers that even have ramps as options? If not, is that something you can do after market, and if so what kind of a price range am I looking at?
Posted 2007-04-18 7:16 AM (#59520 - in reply to #59517) Subject: RE: Ramp on LQ trailer
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by hosspuller on 2007-04-18 6:27 AM
Originally written by Luckyduck on 2007-04-18 12:34 AM
If not, is that something you can do after market, and if so what kind of a price range am I looking at?
After sale, ramp installation is about $800
I always try to unload on gravel. Pavement is the worse for slipping. I've thought of carrying a rubber mat ... Anybody ever use a mat for unloading ?
Coconut seems to be the standard mat for the big rig haulers.
It is EXPEN$IVE, even in small sizes, but would probably last for many years. It is also bulky.
Also not light in weight, and probably a lot heavier when wet.
Posted 2007-04-18 11:04 AM (#59537 - in reply to #59514) Subject: RE: Ramp on LQ trailer
Regular
Posts: 70 Location: Northern, CA
Know what you mean with the sliders, we have reiners also. One trailer has a ramp and the other two are step-in. I've had more trouble with the ramp than with the step-ins. Had one of the ranch horses slip off the side of the ramp and cut up his leg (ramp was icy). In another post, I explained how we train all of the horses to unload from a step-in. They all back out SLOWLY, by themselves (I'm outside the trailer), and I call the "step" for them as their foot is in the air. They make a very slow, carefully placed, step out of the trailer. I make sure to be aware of the footing I unload on (takes that out of the "worry" equation). I think the key is to teach them to unload very slowly. We've been doing this with the reiners for at least six years, and I don't ever remember having one slip on the way out of the step-in trailers.
Ramp on LQ trailer
