Trailering

[bunni1900]

Hi. I'm new to mini's and was wondering about how to transport my mini. Do I need anything special or can I just use my large horse trailer?

 

[Miniv]

Your large horse trailer? How large is large?

Basically, you should be fine with plenty of bedding...etc.. Just be sure that you securely tie back any big horse dividers or your mini could knock itself against them.

Your little one will most likely plant itself up against the front of the trailer for support. Often a horse prefers to ride "backwards".

 

[bunni1900]

It is a four horse slant bumper pull. It is fairly large. Wide mostly. I just worry about him getting in and out of the trailer

 

[chandab]

I have a two-horse step up bumper pull, so far all my minis manage just fine to get in and out of it. [They are mostly 35-38", my 31" stallion hasn't been in my trailer before, just the back of a friends pick-up when she delivered him.] Two of my girls were brought home as weanlings and they jumped in just fine with a little encouragement.

 

[RhineStone]

We hauled our minis for years in a 3-slant step up. They had absolutely no problem getting in and out, even babies, and even through the side door. We mostly hauled loose with a full-length divider between the minis and any big horse, just so the big horse didn't accidently step on the minis esp. in a turn or stop. We now have a 24' gooseneck with a ramp to make it easier to get the carriages in and out. IMO, minis are easier to haul than big horses. Just "throw 'em in" and go.

 

[Miniv]

We have a three horse bumper pull as well.... None of our minis have any problem jumping in. In fact, Larry just delivered two mares with their foals in it and both foals jumped right in following their moms.

 

[Minimor]

I find the Minis jump in really well once they figure it out. Our stock trailer has the torsion axles & isn't real high--some of the trailers with actual springs sit up a bit higher.

I recommend caution about letting your mini jump out of the trailer. When we sold our ramp load trailer (I have always preferred ramp load trailers!) and got this stock trailer which is a step up one we started out letting the horses unload by jumping out. Then at a show one hopped off the trailer & landed on a rock & stone bruised herself bad enough that she was too lame to show that day. Since then we've been backing the horses out, & I feel that is safer--they learn that it's necessary to step back and down quietly, and there are fewer ways for them to hurt themselves. Jumping out--there are multiple ways for them to hurt themselves--be especially careful if your trailer is one that has the center divider post at the back.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I simply removed the big-horse divider in my trailer and let my mini ride in the front corner. As MiniV said, he liked to tuck himself into the wedge and face the back door.

Since then we've been backing the horses out, & I feel that is safer--they learn that it's necessary to step back and down quietly, and there are fewer ways for them to hurt themselves. Jumping out--there are multiple ways for them to hurt themselves--be especially careful if your trailer is one that has the center divider post at the back.

I think it's always a little risky getting a horse out of a trailer. I see what you're saying about jumping out but asking a mini to back out of something that at least in the case of my trailer is higher than his hocks is difficult. It would be very, very easy for him to slip and fall over backwards! Especially on wet concrete. I've actually had a horse's hoof slip forward under the trailer, banging the cannon pretty good and torquing the lower back. The horse was quite sore after that.

I think the best we can do is make sure we park the trailer on the best footing possible, hopefully soft grass or at least clear dirt with no rocks or slippery mud or such, and teach the horse to wait for permission to unload and then to do so with caution.

Leia

 

[Jill]

You can use a big horse trailer. My husband and I have two trailers especially made for minis, and we love them. One is a gooseneck (6'x6'x14') and one is a bumper pull (5'x5'x8'). They're so easy on the trucks.

 

[Deb E]

I have a big horse trailer. The only problem I have ever had is jumping out on pavement that is slick. We try to back the trailer up to grass. If that is not possible we put mats down to make sure there is no risk with surfaces.