Stall area length can be too short or too long. In a straight
load trailer, the stall should not be so short as to squeeze
them between the butt and breast bar. It should not be
so long that they have room to rear over a breast bar, fall
a fair distance forward from a sudden stop, or be able to
step so far back that they can pull on the trailer tie. Slant
load trailers do not have butt or breast bars
Stall width can be too narrow or too wide. Horses in straight
loads will use the sidewall and divider to help them balance,
so they do not mind if they touch then while traveling.
Too tight a fit will cause discomfort since horses can be
claustrophobic. Widening a slant load stall requires widening
the dividers, which gives horses more length when the
stand corner to corner, but then the trailer must be longer.
Stall height can be too short. A horse should not feel that
it’s closed-in from above.
STALL DIVIDERS, POSTS, AND BARS
Stall Dividers should remove easily and quickly. If a horse
goes down in a trailer, the quick removal of interior dividers
and posts is imperative. Quick-release pins in dividers, such
as in EquiSpirits, allow dividers to be quickly removed by
pulling the pins. Most slant load dividers must swing against
the wall.
Head Dividers in straight loads, should swing side to side
and also remove quickly in case of an emergency.
Butt and Breast Bars should be able to quick-release under
a horse’s weight in case a horse gets hung over one.
Center Posts should be able to be removed without tools.
Padding on sidewalls, center dividers, butt, and breast bars
reduces soreness and injuries. Lower sidewalls covered with
a protective coating or material such as rubber protects by
preventing minor injuries and cuts.
Latches and tie rings that protrude or are sharp will find a
way to harm horses. Choose a trailer with horse-friendly
latches and tie rings that lay flat when not in use.
EE
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