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Re: [RC] trailers (which way to face horses) - Sisu West RanchThe controversy as to what is the best way to face horses has come up as campfire talk for the last 30 years. I have come to the conclusion that there is probably no answer that is right all of the time. I have hauled horses in straight load 2 horse, straight load stock trailer. loose in stock trailer, and in slant load. If tied in a stock trailer my horses have stood slanted. If free some but not all face backwards. I have taken horses on 3000 mile trips in straight load stock trailer (4 horses so they could not stand slant) and similar trips in slant loads. These horses have been both experienced with trailers and inexperienced. None of them have had significant problems. Note: None have started trips with significant trailer phobias. After a few days on the road all the horses settled down and did not exhibit any of the "stress" indicators noted in the study. I do try to trailer properly: 1. Train loading and unloading before travel so there is no stress from that. 2. Maintain maximum ventilation. I personally feel that a lot of people do not allow enough venting. I have trailered horses in a stock trailer in Midwest winters with no blankets. I do not close up the sides of my stock trailer. I tumbled to this when one February we went to pick up a filly in Nebraska and take her to Wisconsin. She had never had a blanket on in her life, and had been raised outside in the Nebraska wind. I did not want to spook her with both a trailer ride and a blanket. She arrived in WI with no problems. 3. I try to minimize stress by starting, stopping, and cornering easy and slow. I suspect that many scramblers and nervous trailer riders are made by the driver of the trailer. 4. I use electrolytes and rest stops liberally. 5. I am open to suggestions about better ways to haul them. Ed Ed and Wendy Hauser Sisu West 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875 (406) 642-9640 ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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