Trailering a horse is the only way to get him from point A to point B for moving to a new barn or for attending a horse show, competition, trail ride, or other equine event. Horse Illustrated's articles cover how to trailer train your horse, what to look for in one when you're in the market to purchase, how to maintain your equipment (including the towing vehicle), how to plan your excursions away from home, keeping your horse healthy for the ride, towing capacities, how to hitch up, seasonal differences for traveling, hiring a transportation company if you need, and so much more.

What Your Horse Needs to Know Before Getting in a Trailer
May 21, 2014
Your horse’s survival instincts encourage him to seek wide open spaces and steer him clear of confinement. The last place a prey animal wants to find himself is trapped inside a box. Nevertheless, you’ll need to transport your horse no matter how counter-intuitive the idea. Fortunately, with proper planning,...

Trailer Packing to Prevent Show Day Panic
May 3, 2014
Scrambling to locate spurs or hoof polish in your trailer is no way to begin a successful show day and can send your stress level through the roof. There are multiple ways to alleviate this added angst on show day and ensure that everything you need is right at your...

Caring for the Traveling Horse
April 1, 2014
Planes, trains and automobiles – the ability to move horses across the country, and even around the world, has come a long way. Although equine transportation is readily accessible in many forms, it is not natural for horses, and therefore, we need to provide extra support to keep them safe...

Video: Inspecting a Horse Trailer
October 1, 2013
Examine the hitch, chains, and electrical connections. The condition and air pressure of all tires–including the spare–should be checked. Look for weak spots in the trailer floor, whether it’s aluminum or wood. Before purchasing a new trailer or embarking on a long journey with your horse in tow, there are...

Horses in Flight
September 10, 2013
Traveling from oversees for the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, can be troublesome for people, but the equine athletes journey in more comfort than the human participants and spectators. While people face cramped seating, security check-ins, and lost luggage, horses travel in functional luxury with their belongings nearby. Best of...
Finding the Type of Trailer that is Right for You
August 22, 2013
Trailers are either straight-load (horses face straight ahead while traveling) or slant-load (horses stand at an angle). While most horses prefer to travel straight, a slant-load allows for more horses (or a larger tack/living area) to fit in the same size trailer. “The first thing I ask a customer...

Towing Capacities
August 7, 2013
From the multitude of terms pertaining to ratings of horse trailers and tow vehicles, there are five that are extremely important to know and understand when determining towing capacities. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW or GW) – actual weight of a single vehicle (tow vehicle or trailer) including its complete load....

No More Trailer Troubles
August 22, 2012
To help your horse overcome his trailering fears, you have to look at it from his perspective. As prey animals, with a flight or fight response, horses prefer to be in big, open spaces where they can easily see predators approaching them and make a quick getaway. You’ll never see...

Travel Safely With Your Horse This Winter
November 19, 2011
With the change of seasons, USRider – the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians – reminds those who travel with horses to be careful when traveling and invest time doing routine preventive trailer maintenance to enhance their travel safety. It is imperative to make sure your vehicle is...

What should you do if you encounter severe weather while trailering your horse?
June 16, 2011
The severe weather season is upon us, and when things get rough, we’re reminded to DUCK: D – Go DOWN to the lowest level. U – Get UNDER something. C – COVER your head. K – KEEP in shelter until the storm has passed. But how do you DUCK if...