FROM YOUR
Horses’ Point of View
PERFECT PRACTICE
makes perfect- practicing in
an open ring.
78 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
LIGHT AND AIRY
Room to stretch and
less scary.
Continued...
Horse
Trailers
Considering the nature of the horse as a species, it’s a minor miracle that
our equine friends get into a trailer at all. Horses are creatures of the prairie
who are designed for life in wide open spaces. Because they are prey animals,
they have a highly developed “flight or fight” response. When danger threatens,
horses run away. That is how they survive. Feral horses who don’t run fast
enough end up as dinner! They also have to watch their footing so they don’t
fall into a hole or quicksand!
Whenever we deal with a horse, we have to consider this flight response
and reluctance to step on suspicious ground in our training. Because a horse
trailer is small, dark, and shaky, it goes against the horses’ very nature, but
because horses are also trainable, they learn to put their natural fears aside
and do the crazy things we ask them to do.
However, even if they do what we ask, it may not be comfortable for them,
and they can suffer stress in ways that we don’t even notice. It’s easy to notice
when the horse won’t load, but it’s less obvious that illness and some injuries
can be caused by design features in a trailer that make trailering more stressful
for the horse. Some trailering problems have become so commonplace that
people just accept them as part of the process. Things like breaking halters and
loading and unloading problems are some of those “acceptable” incidents that
don’t need to happen. Other problems like shipping fever, dehydration, colic,
and even the acute stress of injury can be prevented by a stress free trailering
environment.
Stress can be defined as an external stimulus which is beyond the control of
the animal. When a horse is exposed to stress, the autonomic nervous system
kicks in to physically prepare the animal to react to the stress. Heart rate
elevates, adrenaline and epinephrine are secreted, and other bodily functions
such as hormone levels, change to help the animal survive. For the horse, the
reaction is to run away to avoid the object of the stress and the system returns
to normal, so therefore, this system works in the horse’s natural environment.
However, if the horse cannot escape the object of stress over a long period
of time, the health of the horse begins to suffer. The chronic stress can have
a negative impact by changing the immune functions that can predispose the
animal to disease.
Putting a horse in a trailer goes against its very instinct. He cannot get away
from the stress of this small enclosed box. He is also put at risk of injury from
the trailer itself or the possibility of a traffic accident. Whether your horse is a
pet, or you only think of your horse as an investment or a tool, avoiding illness
and injury can save you money and heartbreak, and at the very least, can actually
improve his performance.
Of course, horses travel all the time without incident, and trailering can be a
safe and enjoyable experience. Buying the safest horse trailer will increase
your chances of arriving at your destination with a healthy, happy horse.
Manufacturers must build horse trailers to conform to the requirements of the
road, but because there are no industry or government regulations concerning
the safety of the horse, there are wide differences in horse trailers. Look at your
prospective trailer from the horse’s point of view.
What does the horse want? Room and light, good ventilation, and safety in
design.
Room and light: An average sized horse ( 15.1h - 16.3h) needs about 10
feet of usable length to be comfortable. A larger horse may even need more. A
horse needs to be able to spread his legs for steadiness, but is also important
that he be able to use his head and neck freely for balance. A light colored
interior and lots of windows or slats will make the trailer much more inviting and
less claustrophobic.
Good ventilation: is important for the horse’s respiratory health and to control
the temperature and environment of the trailer. Hay dust and noxious gasses
from manure and urine compromises the horse’s respiratory system and
predisposes him to diseases such a shipping fever. Roof vents will remove
contaminated and/or hot air from the trailer. A light colored exterior, especially
the roof, will make the trailer cooler in hot weather.
Safety in design: There should be nothing sticking out to harm the horse in
anyway. Tie rings, and latches should fold flat against the wall. All center posts
and dividers should quick release, but should be strong enough to not break
apart until you can make the decision. (Exception - dividers should come up
and out if a horse would get under it.) No sharp edges anywhere. All parts of
the trailer should be strong enough to hold up to the largest, strongest horse
who will be hauled in it.