Horse owners will usually find it necessary at some point in time to trailer their horses (to the vet, to a horse show, trail riding, moving to a new home). It takes a lot of time and effort to groom the horses, pack the tack, hookup the trailer, load the horses, and get on the road to your destination.
Check-Ups: A Horse Trailer Checklist
Whatever the need, it is important to be prepared and knowledgeable about trailering safety.
Periodic checks of your trailer's condition are a good idea, particularly at those times of year when you do the most hauling.
Such inspections can not only turn up minor problems before they require major, expensive repairs, but they can also keep you from taking to the road with potentially unsafe problems.
Don't forget to complete safety checks by doing minor inspections and repairs before you prepare for a road trip.
Another good tip is to plan ahead. Don't wait until the day of to inspect your trailer, do it a day or two before when things are a little less hectic.
Maintenance
Poor preparation of the horse, trailer, or towing vehicle can turn a pleasurable outing into a horse owner's nightmare.
Poor truck and trailer maintenance can result in traffic accidents or breakdowns.
In more extreme cases, broken welds can cause a trailer to become detached from the towing vehicle. Perhaps the most serious problem that can result from improper trailer upkeep is having a horse fall through rotted floorboards, especially during travel.
It is vital to keep up with basic concerns involved in horse trailer maintenance and trailer safety.
Cleaning and Annual Service
A thorough cleaning of your horse trailer, both inside and out, is an important part of ensuring years of safe service.
This routine will also help you to identify any components that are wearing out or missing. Getting your horse trailer into a reputable repair shop at least once annually is necessary to keep your horse trailer in tip-top shape.
Knowing that your tires, brakes, floor, and lights are all in proper working condition can help assure safety on the road and give you peace of mind.
Expert Service
However, when it comes to horse trailer safety, it is advisable to leave maintenance to the pros or expert in the industry.
NC Trailers is a reputable and fair local trailer repair facility. Ideally, every trailer would receive a one-hour check, twice a year, more often if it's in heavy use.
Even then, all problems may not be apparent to the untrained eye, so you'll want to have a qualified mechanic do an inspection.
They will focus on the overall integrity of the trailer and its more complex systems, such as the brakes and suspension.
You can make sure that your trailer and vehicle are safe and sound before your horses hit the road with our help.
Conclusion
Always remember, keeping your trailer in working condition is an important first step in keeping horses safe on any road trip.
North Carolina Trailer Sales provides a one-stop shop for repairs and maintenance, and we also keep a large inventory of trailer parts.
If you need assistance servicing your horse trailer, don't hesitate to give us a call at (336) 276-0329!
Learn more about our trailer service and repair shop or browse our trailer inventory.
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