What to Know When Purchasing a Horse Trailer

There are several kinds of trailers available for general purpose use. But if you have horses that need to be transported, then choosing the right horse trailers is essential to the comfort and safety of your animals.

When purchasing a horse trailer, you want to be sure you are choosing the right trailer to meet your specific needs, keep your horses comfortable, and make the next trip a safe one.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at what you need to know when purchasing a horse trailer, including the key tips for the buying process. If, at any point, you have any questions about how to purchase the right horse trailer, feel free to reach out to our team at a location near you.

Determine the Size You’ll Need

One of the biggest factors to consider in a horse trailer is determining the right size for your needs. Horse trailers are designed to either be a small space for transporting a single horse a short distance or they can be outfitted with enough stalls for five to eight horses and ample room for equipment needed on long trips.

When choosing the right size of your horse trailer, here are a few key factors to consider.

1. Number of horses you plan to transport at a time: Opt for a larger trailer if you think you will need to transport more than one horse in the future.
2. Size of horses: It is important to ensure that your horses have ample room to stand up comfortably and move around. For example, the space needed for a Shetland pony is vastly different than those of a Clydesdale.
3. Types of equipment you plan to bring: For trail riding, equestrian competitions, or other show events, you might need to bring along a lot more than simply your animals. Make sure that you look for a horse trailer that features enough space to haul tack and other equipment.

Decide Which Style is Right

In addition to filtering horse trailers by size, you’ll want to look at inventory specific to the style of horse trailer you want. Common styles include the following:

• Bumper Pull: A bumper pull trailer is a simple, easy-to-use horse trailer. These trailers tend to be small and are ideal for short-distance transportation. The trailer attaches to a standard pickup truck or SUV bumper hitch and doesn’t require any extra equipment.
• Gooseneck: Gooseneck trailers allow for a lot more hauling capacity due to weight distribution over a truck’s rear axle. These trailers feature a neck that attaches to a ball hitch in the towing vehicle’s bed. Not only can gooseneck trailers be designed with more space and higher towing capacities, but they also offer improved stability in high winds and on winding roads. This makes them a better choice for long-distance transportation.
• Living Quarters: For those who plan to camp at the trailhead or attend equestrian events, a horse trailer with living quarters provides the ultimate comfort on the road. These trailers feature an RV-style living space located above the neck of the trailer. Depending on the style chosen, they can feature a simple living space or luxurious quarters.
• Trainer: When you need to haul a large number of saddles, tack, and equipment, a trainer is a good fit. These horse trailers feature a dedicated tack room with extra brush boxes, bridle hooks, saddle racks, and other equipment storage features.

Compare Trailer Materials

Depending on the manufacturer of your horse trailer, the trailer may be designed with steel, aluminum, or a hybrid of both materials.

Steel trailers are heavy-duty and often feature wood flooring laid over the body of the steel trailer. The benefit to these trailers is that they are low-maintenance, extremely durable, easy to repair, and usually cost less upfront. However, they can be prone to rust, requiring an exterior coat of paint, and they are heavy to haul.

All-aluminum trailers are lightweight and rust-proof. With their all-aluminum design, they are generally more costly upfront, and the repair costs are higher than steel.

Combination trailers use both steel and aluminum to create a robust horse trailer. Usually, the structure of the trailer will feature steel, with the outer body of the trailer constructed with aluminum.

Ask About Features

In addition to the basic components of your horse trailer, you’ll want to ask about any extra features that are included in the trailer’s design. The following are all examples of features that can help improve the comfort of both you and your horses.

• Interior fans to keep your horses cool in transit
• Hay racks to make feeding simple
• Tack and saddle rooms
• Stall dividers with padding
• Watering systems, including high-capacity water tanks
• On-board cameras that allow you to check up on your horses in transit
• Self-leveling systems for when you’re in camp

Depending on your budget, you can pick a horse trailer with all the bells and whistles or keep it simple and utilitarian. When shopping, make sure to ask your dealer about what options are available.

Be Sure to Purchase from a Reputable Dealer

Similar to any vehicle purchase, a horse trailer should only be purchased through a reputable dealer. For example, a reputable dealership will help you understand the history of a used trailer, ensuring you have a clean title in hand at the time of purchase.

For new horse trailers, working with a quality dealership will allow you to access the best inventory at the lowest prices. Additionally, these dealerships can assist you with financing options.

When picking a horse trailer dealer, look for a dealership that has earned quality reviews from previous customers. You want to work with a team that puts their customers first and provides easy channels for communication.

Choose a New Horse Trailer with Our Help

If you are looking for a new or used horse trailer, our team is here to help. At Transwest, we take pride in ensuring that our customers walk away 100 percent satisfied with their purchases. Whether you need a small bumper pull trailer or a large trailer complete with luxury living quarters, we have you covered. Stop by one of our locations or give our team a call.