Road-Ready Tips

Put my best hauling hints to work to keep your horse safe, healthy, and happy on the road.

- Bob Avila, With Jennifer Paulson

My horses spend a lot of time in the trailer, so their comfort and safety as we travel to and from events is a top priority. I carefully consider every element to minimize the opportunity for problems to arise.

Your horses might not be road warriors like mine, but you probably still haul them on trips of varying distances to shows, trail rides, and other events. Here I’ll describe the features of my trailer that keep my horses happy on the road, and then offer tips for long and short trailer rides. Put them to use this summer, and remember them when hauling in winter months, too.

No matter the length of your trip, be prepared for a roadside emergency with first-aid kits for horses and humans. You also need tools to change tires, reflectors to divert traffic away from your rig, contact information for any roadside assistance program you pay for, and a general idea of what you might do in an emergency on the road.

Trailer Comforts

I focus on two main areas to keep my horses sound, healthy, and happy on the road: footing and temperature-controlling insulation.