There are certain things you should consider when buying a new horse trailer. After all, you want make sure that you’re getting a safe, quality trailer that meets the needs of your horse(s), as well as your own needs.

The first and foremost thing you should consider when shopping for a new horse trailer is your horse(s). Keep in mind that horses are claustrophobic by nature. Therefore, a trailer with plenty of room, light, and ventilation will create less stress on the horse. In turn, the horse will load more easily and will travel more comfortably. He will also be less likely to injure himself and will be less likely to suffer from stress-related health problems such as shipping fever, dehydration, and colic.

The Importance of the Size of the Horse

The size of your horse is a very important factor to consider. Most likely, you don’t enjoy being cramped-up in tight quarters when you travel. And, neither does your horse! If the horse doesn’t have enough room to move its legs forward and sideways, it could lose its balance while moving. Narrow trailers and trailers with full center dividers can potentially cause the horse to scramble, because he does not have enough space to spread his legs to keep his balance. Be aware that slant load trailers are not styled for horses that are over 15.3h, and the length of the stall is not long enough to allow the horse freedom of movement. Horses over 15.3h should have at least 7 feet of stall length and 3 feet of head area – 10 feet overall. In the past, a 7 foot tall trailer was considered extra tall.

Today, however, it isn’t unusual for trailers to be 7′4″ to 7′6″ tall. This height should be considered for any horse over 15.3h. There should also be enough room for the horse to lower its head to remove debris (hay dust and other contaminants in the trailer) by coughing, in order to keep his respiratory tract clear.

Make sure there are no sharp edges or protrusions anywhere on the trailer. (Check both inside and out.) Look at the floor boards. These should run the length of the trailer (vertically), not across the trailer (horizontally), and there should be good support underneath.

Floor mats and ramps should be non-slip. Ramps should not be steep. If it’s a step-up trailer, the horse should be able to walk out headfirst when unloading. (Step-up trailers can be dangerous when backing the horse out, because the horse can slip under the trailer and possibly receive a major injury, as a result.)

For safer trailering, rubber torsion suspension is available on almost all newer trailers. This type of suspension greatly reduces the amount of shock. As a result, the horse absorbs less shock through the floor of the trailer, thereby reducing stress to the horse. Also, if the trailer should have a flat tire, rubber torsion suspension allows the remaining three wheels to maintain the trailer until you can get to a safe place to change the tire.

Quick-release mechanisms on all tie rings, center dividers, chest bars, and butt bars are a must-have for safety and convenience. Construction material and all other parts should be strong enough to hold up to the largest, strongest horse you will be hauling. In fact, the strength of the trailer, not its weight, should be your first priority, if you have large horses to haul. How well will the trailer hold up to a panicky horse or in a traffic accident?

Now that you’ve taken into consideration the needs of your horse(s), it’s time to consider your own needs. Do you need a trailer for hauling horses long distances or short distances? If you’ll be frequently traveling long distances, will you need a dressing room for showing or a gooseneck for sleeping? Are you comfortable towing a large rig across the country? (Keep in mind that, once you’ve chosen the right horse trailer for you, you’ll need to buy a tow vehicle to pull the trailer.)

These are just a few of the considerations when purchasing a new horse trailer.

Which is Better – Aluminum or Steel Horse Trailers?

Are you in the market for a new horse trailer? If so, would you know a quality horse trailer from an inferior one? Would you know what materials are preferable for strength, durability, and safety? Which would you choose…aluminum or steel?

In today’s market, consumers have become curious about the products they buy. With so much information readily available via the Internet, books, publications, and so forth, people are more likely to research an item (especially a more expensive item, such as a horse trailer) prior to purchasing it.

Through research, horse owners can become more knowledgeable about the products they wish to buy. They can learn about advancements and new technologies used in creating today’s horse trailers. And, before investing in a new trailer, the individual may be better informed on how manufacturers can use today’s new materials to build better horse trailers.

Should You Choose Today’s Steel Over Aluminum?

Once upon a time, steel rusted! Rusted steel became weak and fragile. Aluminum didn’t rust. Therefore, aluminum was predominantly the material chosen for use in building horse trailers.

Over the years, however, consumers have become aware of the inherent problems found in trailers made of all aluminum. Some of the problems that have occurred with aluminum trailers include broken welds, corroded floors, and the shearing/tearing problems that can happen in minor accidents, especially on the lesser quality trailers. With problems such as these added to the high cost of aluminum today, it’s needless to say that the aluminum trailer industry is suffering a bit.

Some manufacturers continue to build their horse trailers with all-aluminum frames, roofs, walls, and interior dividers. Among those manufacturers are Sooner, Featherlite, Four Star, and Exxiss. Other manufacturers, such as Trail-et, Hawk, EquiSpirit, and Bee, however, use mostly steel and/or a combination of both steel and aluminum.

Why do some manufacturers stick with all aluminum, when others have moved on to newer and better materials? Perhaps the answer lies in the history and development of the trailer industry, itself…rather than in the quality and benefits of one material over another.

From Steel to Aluminum

Several decades ago, horse trailers were made of steel that would rust. Because the steel would rust, the trailers would quickly deteriorate and become unsightly and unsafe for hauling horses.

By the late seventies and early eighties, several horse trailer manufacturers, such as Sooner, Featherlite, and Four Star, began building horse trailers made from aluminum to replace the old, rust-deteriorating steel trailers. After all, everyone knew that aluminum didn’t rust! Soon, horse owners were convinced that the new, all-aluminum trailers were the way to go.

In years to come, it would become apparent that using all aluminum in horse trailers had some negative consequences. But, back in the late seventies and early eighties, those consequences had not yet become known. The high cost of aluminum seemed to be the only negative aspect to building all-aluminum trailers. However, consumers were willing to pay the extra cost to avoid buying a trailer that could potentially deteriorate from rust.

Eventually, the “all-aluminum” trailers hit the market full-force and became THE trailers to own…in spite of the higher cost! Besides, if something cost more, it must be a superior product. Right?

Sooner, Featherlite, and Four Star horse trailers were consequently perceived as being top of the line. Consumers failed to realize that the higher trailer prices charged by these manufacturers were merely the result of the higher cost of aluminum versus steel. This consumer perception led other manufacturers, such as Sundowner, Cherokee, and Bison to switch to aluminum. The aluminum trend also caught on with later manufacturing companies, such as Exiss and Eby, who wanted to reap the benefits of the industry.

Aluminum Isn’t So Perfect, After All!

The quality of all-aluminum trailers is going to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. This is to be expected, since not all manufacturers construct their horse trailers in the exact same manner. But the biggest problem with all-aluminum trailers has to do with the aluminum, itself!

One pound of steel is three times as strong as one pound of aluminum. In other words, it takes more aluminum to equal the strength of steel. When aluminum is used in the frame, this fact has to be taken into consideration. Manufacturers have to increase the amount of aluminum used in the floor and frame to make these as strong as a floor and frame made of steel. Because of this, some of your better aluminum trailers, such as 4 Star, will often weigh as much as a steel-built trailer. Sometimes, the aluminum trailer will even be heavier than one made of steel.

Often, the interior dividers in aluminum horse trailers are not “beefed up,” making the dividers about 1/3 the strength of a steel divider that is equal in size. As a result, the weaker aluminum divider is doomed to fail more quickly. Unfortunately, when aluminum fails, it shears and tears and becomes a danger to horses. The torn edges can potentially result in minor to major lacerations from a relatively minor mishap.

Not only is aluminum somewhat weak in nature, it is also difficult to repair. Unlike steel, aluminum does not weld easily, and original welds can never be re-welded to their original strength. Add to these issues the fact that aluminum is a good conductor of heat. This is a great fact, if you’re making aluminum cookware! However, this is not so great when it comes to keeping your horses cool on a hot day!

Having realized throughout the years the inherent problems with all-aluminum trailers, the major “all-aluminum” manufacturers, such as Featherlite, Sooner, Sundowner, Exiss, and Eby, have vastly improved their manufacturing processes, and thus, their trailers. Consumers have also become aware of the problems associated with all-aluminum trailers. Owners of aluminum trailers have experienced these problems first-hand. They’ve seen aluminum floors deteriorate from lack of cleaning. They have seen broken welds and tears in the aluminum. They have fought to keep their horses comfortable when the temperatures outside were soaring!

Will Consumer Demands Lead to Safer Horse Trailers?

Safety has become a major goal in the automobile industry. Consumer demands and government regulations have resulted in higher safety features in today’s cars and trucks. As a result, the steel industry was greatly influenced, and necessity required that something be done about the rust problem. This led to the development of galvaneeled steel, galvanized steel, and powder coated steel…materials which are tough, easy to use and repair, and relatively inexpensive.

Many consumers who are horse owners are beginning to realize that, if their tow vehicles are required to meet certain safety regulations, then their horse trailers should also be required to meet certain safety regulations for the protection of their horses.

Unfortunately, in spite of the development of newer steel materials, which can provide safer horse trailers, aluminum trailers are still being built. One reason may be that companies such as Featherlite, Sooner, Exiss, and Four Star, have become so large that they would suffer economic hardship, if they switched at this point in time. Another reason may be that many customers continue to believe that all-aluminum horse trailers are better. So, there continues to be a market for all-aluminum trailers; and, as long as there is a market for them, manufacturers will build them.