Having horses can make an excellent pastime, giving you plenty of things to do with your time and money. But it can get expensive and time-consuming to keep up with the demands of horse ownership, especially if you take your horses on trips.
When you’re traveling with horses, you need a specific trailer to handle the weight and size of your equine. But a horse trailer can be an expensive purchase you might not be in the position to make. So enter the economical solution to your problems – a horse trailer rental.
Rent a Horse Trailer
The large size and heavy weight of a horse requires a specific type of trailer dedicated to hauling big animals like horses and livestock.
How many horses you need to haul and what equipment you will be bringing along can help you decide what type of horse trailer you need to rent. Trailers come in various sizes, stall numbers, and accessories like drop-down windows and dedicated tack rooms.
You’ll also need to think about how you will haul your trailer. When you rent a horse trailer, ask what hookup each unit has to ensure you can accommodate it with your vehicle.
Horse Trailer Types
When you’re looking to rent a horse trailer, you first must understand the different types of trailers. After that, you have many options to the point that they can become overwhelming.
Tag Alongs or Bumper Pulls
Tag-along trailers require a hitch to hook up to your truck. These trailers can accommodate up to four horses, depending on which trailer size you choose.
A few things to know about using this type of trailer – bumper pull trailers have a higher sensitivity to wind and tend to sway while pulling.
Another issue is that these trailers can be more difficult to back up. Despite the name bumper pulls, this trailer does not attach to your vehicle’s bumper. This option is the most affordable choice.
Goosenecks
You can’t haul a gooseneck trailer with a regular vehicle. This trailer type is heavier and requires a truck with a hitch that mounts into a truck bed. But it accommodates a larger number of horses.
The biggest benefit of a gooseneck is the easier handling. The larger size means you won’t notice the trailer fighting against the wind. But due to being heavier, your vehicle will burn more gas while towing.
Another great thing about goosenecks is the area that extends into the back of your truck for the hitch. This area makes an excellent storage area, or you can convert it into a sleeping area perfect for long trips.
Stock Trailers
Another option for horse trailers for rent is a stock trailer. This design consists of an open box without dividers to separate the interior into separate compartments or stalls. Instead, you tie your horse up frontwards or at an angle.
There may be a gate that splits the trailer into two separate boxes. If you have a horse that won’t do well in traditional trailers, you may have better luck with a stock trailer due to being more open and bright.
However, when choosing a stock trailer, be sure that the roof is high enough to accommodate the height of your horse. Most stock trailers are meant to haul livestock like cattle. These trailers also stay partially open to the elements due to a large vent that extends the trailer’s length.
Straight Loads
When you haul horses using a straight load trailer, the horses ride with their heads facing the front of the trailer and their tails point towards the trailer’s rear half.
This type of trailer can haul two horses or more, depending on the trailer’s size. But if you get a trailer accommodating four horses, you’ll have to settle for a long length.
The chest and butt bars built into this trailer-style can pose a danger to your horses. This design is best for small or normal horses but not for large hand breeds.
Reverse Load
A few haul horses with their heads facing backward, which can be easier on your equines due to the better ability to brace their haunches when the trailer moves.
With these trailer designs, the horse’s head is towards the truck’s rear, with their tails facing the truck bed. This option may be your best choice for skittish horses who don’t travel well.
Slants
You get the best of all worlds with a slant trailer. This style allows storage space, living quarters, and hauling multiple horses. You can customize this style to work for large hand breeds, including Warmbloods.
And you can pick from two different slant trailer designs. Either design keeps the horses at a 45-degree angle from the road. However, a reverse slant laid allows horses to ride facing backward.
This position may be a better preference for traveling long distances without tiring your horses. The biggest downside is that getting horses into the front stall can be more difficult. In addition, you can lose space with a three to four-horse trailer due to having a shorter front-to-back size.
Ramps
Trailers with a ramp can be good or bad, depending on the horse. For horses that are hesitant about loading into a trailer, a ramp can make it take longer to load your horses while you’re getting everything set up,
When you have a trailer with a ramp, you have to bend down to put the heavy ramps into place. Unfortunately, bending down can put you at a dangerous level to your horse’s hooves.
But a ramp trailer can also be a challenge to horses that are easy to load with a step-up entry. The loud noise of the ramp falling open and walking up the incline rather than taking a step up can confuse unfamiliar horses.
Step Up
A step-up trailer is one of the most common types, requiring a horse to step up from the ground into the back of the trailer.
The main thing to know about loading horses into a step-up trailer is that your horse may rush as they hop into the trailer. Therefore, teaching your equines how to load quietly and slowly can reduce the chances of injury.
2-in-1
In a 2-in-1 horse trailer, you can fit two horses into side-by-side straight load stalls at the back of the trailer. But you can also include a third horse towards the front in a square box stall.
Or you can do like many horse owners and use this extra space as a place to prepare for shows or a day of riding by using the area as a tack room.
Horse Trailer Materials
While the style of the trailer can affect the price of horse trailers for rent, the material of the trailer has less impact.
Some horse trailers are made from steel, which is heavier than fiberglass or aluminum. But the upside of this tradeoff is that the material is sturdier, which can offer more protection in the case of an accident. But you will need to store your trailer in a dry place to prevent rusting.
Aluminum is a lighter, brighter material that is often more affordable. However, if this trailer type gets damaged, it can be tricky and expensive to make repairs or fixes. In addition, a single-layer trailer can become a safety hazard due to absorbing heat and offers poor protection in the case of crashes.
Horse Trailer Additional Features
If you’re considering a livestock trailer rental, it’s best to figure out your needs ahead of time to get the right rental type.
Some trailers have additional features like a tack area. This section can be a huge asset if you’re traveling to a horse show or a ride and you need a place to keep all your gear.
And other livestock trailer rentals have living quarters (LQ). There are several advantages to a horse trailer with built-in living quarters.
The extent of the LQ varies and can be as little as a place to sleep. Or it can have a full setup that gives you all the amenities of a camping trailer. For example, you can find trailers with storage, small convertible living areas, and fully functional bathrooms and kitchens.
Factors to Consider
Renting a horse trailer can be a reasonable alternative to buying a horse trailer. You may decide to rent a trailer if you only need one for a few hours or a single day.
Renting a trailer can also be a better alternative if you’re taking a long trip and don’t want to put smiles on your everyday trailer. Or if you need a different size or layout.
When shopping for horse trailers for rent near me, there are some terms you might want to familiarize yourself with to ensure you get the right type of trailer.
One thing to note is a trailer’s GVWR – gross vehicle weight rating. This value will show how much weight you can load into the trailer. This maximum weight includes the importance of the trailer, its cargo, and any equipment.
Another factor is the GAWR – gross axle weight rating. This rating tells you how much weight each axle can tolerate rather than the trailer’s total weight.
Next, ask about the tongue weight, which is how much weight distributes through the trailer’s ball or gooseneck. Again, you need to ensure your trailer’s tongue weight doesn’t exceed the weight your gooseneck or ball can support.
Finally, the weight distribution hitch will help you distribute weight evenly through the trailer for a smoother, safer haul.
Where to Rent a Horse Trailer
With this detailed information, you’re now ready to find horse trailer rentals near you. One option is to find a U-haul horse trailer rental near me. You can also do an online search for horse trailer rentals near me. You might even be able to find deals that offer rent-to-own horse trailers that let you buy your trailer over time.
