The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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54 TheHorse.com THE HORSE December 2017 load is distributed properly over all four wheels and helps maintain the wheels' mechanical integrity. 4. Signs of Stress Annual inspections should also include a full trailer examination for stress fractures. Turnbow says so-called stress cracks are most likely to occur at the back of a trailer at the ceiling or under the gooseneck. "But they can happen anywhere on the body of the trailer, and they are likely to get worse as you use the trailer," he says. 5. Safety Checks While owners should perform major maintenance once a year, they should run through certain safety checks every time they hook up their trailers for a trip. Make sure brakes are functioning and brake lights are working. Likewise, test turn signals, and verify that the chains connected to the hitch show no broken or worn links. If you're borrowing an unfamiliar trailer, check markings on the ball and receiver to make sure they match in size; a too-small ball is an unhitching hazard, a too large simply won't fit. Before loading a horse, make sure latches on interior separators, windows, and doors close properly and are secure, and add straps where necessary. "I've seen doors with bad connections pop open," Buchert says. "Make sure they're going to stay latched." FARM & BARN BUILT STRONGER. LOOKS BETTER. LASTS LONGER. RESIDENTIAL | FARM | EQUESTRIAN | COMMERCIAL | COMMUNITY | REPAIRS When you build with Morton, you build something that lasts. A Morton stands the test of time—we've been at this for more than 110 years after all. What got us here is simple: our materials, our people and a warranty that beats all others. ©2017 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses. Ref Code 631 800-447-7436 • mortonbuildings.com #4424 Common Roadside Calls for Help When it comes to hauling horses, owners call for help for all kinds of reasons, says Linda Lee, director of operations for US Rider, an equestrian motor plan that provides roadside assistance to 39,000 members nationwide. "In fact, we service approximately 9,000 calls per year," she says. "As you can imagine, some calls have serious issues, such as a motor vehicle accident, while others may be as simple as a member's keys locked in their car." Lee has ranked the most common calls her firm fields: 1. Towing; 2. Flat tires; 3. Roadside mechanical issues; 4. Lockouts; 5. Jump starts; and 6. Winching a vehicle out of a ditch, mud, or snow. "A pre-trip checklist is invaluable," she says, to help prevent some of these scenarios. You can download one at TheHorse. com/30033.—Pat Raia Your Pre-Drive SafetY CheCkliSt Before any kind of trailer travel, do a once-over in these areas, checking that: ✔ All lights are working; ✔ Brakes are working, and brake maintenance is up-to-date; ✔ Trailer hitch is secure, and safety chains are on; ✔ Dirt and debris are swept out; ✔ Trailer mats are clean and dry; ✔ Dividers are securely fastened; ✔ Loose, rattling parts have been tightened or secured; ✔ Sharp edges or loose wires inside trailer are fixed; ✔ Trailer is loaded properly and within weight limits; ✔ Lug nuts on all wheels are tight; and ✔ Tire pressure is within recommended ranges when tires are cold. Be sure you've packed: ✔ First aid kits for horses and humans; ✔ An emergency kit with flares or cones, a working jack, and extra halters and lead ropes; ✔ A fire extinguisher that is working and easily accessible; ✔ A lug wrench or tire iron, and a tire pressure gauge; ✔ Fully charged cell phone(s), and a charger on board; ✔ A list of emergency numbers, including physician and veterinarian; ✔ Equipment and gear that is secured in the trailer with bungee cords or rope to keep things in place in the event of a collision. Once horses are loaded and before driving off, check that: ✔ Horses are tied securely and with proper length of lead rope or quick-release trailer tie; ✔ Hay nets are securely fastened; ✔ Butt chains or bars are fastened; and ✔ All doors, windows, and gates are securely latched. Finally, drive with caution. Towing a trailer alters the way your vehicle handles: ✔ Allow more time for stopping; ✔ Keep greater distance between you and the vehicle ahead; ✔ Signal for turns earlier; ✔ Stop every few hours to give your horses a break from the motion and noise, and to offer them water; and ✔ If you're driving more than 12 hours, break it up and plan to stay somewhere overnight. — Lisa Kemp