EE
Wheel wells inside the stalls
Since the length of a slant load stall is from one sidewall to
the other, needed length can’t be added to accommodate
larger horses, and larger horses need adequate head
area length to extend their necks to balance. Stretching
their heads and necks also allows them to cough out any
hay or dust that lodges in their respiratory systems, which
leads to shipping fever.
Also, balance is more difficult for horses standing at an angle.
When the tow vehicle starts and stops, horses that stand
at a diagonal throw weight on their front foreleg and onto
their rear back leg. A sudden stop will throw a horse forward
and off-balance, and it could likely fall under a divider.
Also, in an emergency that involves a problem with the front
horse, getting to the front horse or removing it is difficult. Many
two horse slant loads and all three and four-horse trailers do
not allow the front horse access to an exit without first removing
the rear horse(s). In an emergency, especially on a busy
road, this is a real safety issue, not only for the handler/owner
but for others out on the road if a horse gets loose.
STRAIGHT LOAD DESIGN
Straight load trailers were the main design before slant loads
came along. At that time, straight load trailers lacked size,
width and had various faulty designs, such as mangers. Most
straight load trailers were only 5 feet wide, with a standard
interior height of 6’8” to 7’, making slant load trailers look
a lot more attractive. But the improved straight load trailer
designs today easily solve the limitations commonly found in
the slant load design.
The stall size can be easily lengthened and widened to
accommodate larger horses. Since DOT length restrictions
(up to 40 feet) are not an issue, adding footage to the stall
to fit larger horses is simple. The interior width of eighty inches
is more than enough to accommodate two horses, side by
side, up to 19 hands.
Starting and stopping is constant when towing a
trailer. Horses standing front to back can easily brace
with both front legs and rear legs, allowing them to
balance naturally. With an open area in front of the
horses separated by a breast bar, leaning on the bar
makes balance even easier. Horses standing vertical
to the tow vehicle can easily handle a sudden stop.
Perhaps the most important safety benefit in the
straight load design is that any horse in a two, three,
four, and six-horse trailer can be lead out of the trailer
without removing the others – a huge safety benefit
for the handler, especially out on the open road.
A final note when sizing up stall length, dealers often
quote a slant stall length using the diagonal distance,
meaning they measure from far corner to far corner.
Since horses can’t use the space in the corners, an
eleven-foot diagonal on a standard slant load gives
a horse eight and a half feet of usable space – not
enough for horses over 15.2 hands.
Widening a diagonal stall is the only way to add additional
stall length, which gives horses more distance
from corner to corner. But widening the stall adds
length to the trailer, defeating the purpose of having
a shorter trailer.
Straight load stall lengths measure from the ramp to
the bulkhead wall.
www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com 67
102” 90”
102” 90”
Wheel/Fenders outside the stalls
Tack
Tack
11’
8 ½’
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