Horses are one of the most popular animals kept as pets in America. People who own horses often take them to shows, competitions, or on trail rides.
Horses need a lot of care and attention, which means that horse owners have to find ways to transport their horses from place to place without too much trouble.
Horse trailers are designed specifically for this purpose – they’re built onto truck-like frames with lightweight tires so they can easily be pulled down highways by cars designed for human drivers.
Trailers come in all shapes and sizes, but you should make sure you choose the right trailer for your needs.
What are horse trailers and how do they work
A horse trailer is a truck-like frame with a lightweight tire that can accommodate up to five horses at once. When buying a horse trailer, it’s important that you take into account whether or not you’ll be transporting other items in the trailer.
It’s also good to keep in mind which mode of transport you’ll use most often – if you drive a car, then a horse trailer with a hitch should be a good choice.
Also, consider whether or not you’ll be transporting other items in the trailer. A wide variety of trailers are available on the market, from light-duty to heavy-duty ones that can hold several horses at once.
Making your life easy with your horse trailer
Having your own equine transport can make all the difference to your life with horses. It gives you the freedom to go wherever you like – clinics, camps, competitions, you name it.
But transport doesn’t come cheap, so do your homework before you buy.
No longer the poor relation of the horsebox, trailers now offer everything from streamlined bodies for easy towing, state of the art suspension systems for a comfortable ride, to live-in accommodation and much more.
How Much Do Horse Trailers Cost?
If this is your first time shopping for a trailer, it is crucial that you research before committing to any one particular brand or type of trailer. And most critical is what you can expect to spend.
The costs of basic horse trailers vary greatly. They can range from $2,000 to $30,000 depending on their size, hauling capacity, weight, and material used to construct it. The cost can go up if you have a gooseneck hitch or add living quarters.
Are Horse Trailers Titled?
Horse Trailers are the same with livestock trailers in that they must also be registered. This holds regardless of how you use it.
Most states in the United States do require you to register any trailer at least within 30 days after it was purchased.
The laws that pertain to the title and registration of your trailer vary from state to state, but most states impose strict fines if there is an infringement of title and registration laws.
Additionally, the longer you wait to get the titles and registration of your trailer, the larger the fines become.
How Much Do Horse Trailers Weigh?
Aluminum Slant Load Bumper Pull Horse Trailer w/Extruded Aluminum Sides
The weight of your horse trailer will be one of the main factors in the size of towing vehicle needed.
The average two-horse trailer weights around unladen, which means no horses and no tack inside. Each horse will add 800-1500 lbs. on average, plus tack and any extras like water or feed.
Horse trailer weights can vary widely based on the material used for construction (steel vs. aluminum vs. fiberglass). The type of trailer also makes a big difference.
A 4-horse bumper pull stock trailer, for example, is going to weight less than a gooseneck living quarter trailer that fits two horses.
Can You Get an Air Conditioned Horse Trailer?
There’s nothing quite like stepping into air conditioning on a sweltering hot day. You can install air conditioning in the dressing room or living quarters of your horse trailer.
If you want to kick things up one more notch, then opt for the ducted air conditioning. Instead of blowing air out directly from the AC unit, this type of system will blow air through ducts within a 3-4” space between the ceiling and trailer roof.
Then the air is piped out through smaller vents located throughout the living quarters.
Can a Jeep or SUV Pull Horse Trailers
Steel Slant Load Gooseneck Horse Trailer Gooseneck Horse Trailers
A Jeep with a towing capacity higher than 4,000 pounds can easily pull a horse trailer with one to maximum of three horses.
However, you need to know that the horse trailer will weigh around 1,500 lbs. and the weight of the Horse should be between 380lbs and 1000lbs.
It is Important that you do not go above the maximum weight that your Jeep can tow. You should exceed 80% of the maximum rated towing capacity for your vehicle.