Trailering my horse in stock trailer? leave partition open?

Question

I have a wrangler 3H/stock combo:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/willielove/DSC09450.jpg

Hard to tell in the pic, but it has an partition in the middle you can leave open or close. It's 16 feet long. I am going to be trailering my large thoroughbred on a five hour move, I was wondering if I should leave it open so he can walk around or just close him up in the front like I normally do. Also if just leave him in the front should I tie him or just let him loose?

Thanks!

Answer 1

nice trailer

i would tie and close the partition

it will give him some support

also in case of an accident he would

be more protected. good luck

Answer 2

It would be easier for him to balance if you closed the partition because he will have something to lean on.  Leaving him loose to walk around increases the risk that he may fall in the trailer if you hit a bump or go around a curve and he has nothing to support himself on.  Personally I would tie him also, again for the extra support by keeping him near the partition (if the space is quite big) but if the stall is narrower, you can leave him untied without a problem.  You've obviously trucked him before and going on a longer distance drive with your horse is really no different than shorter trips.  Just make sure if the weather is hot you stop a couple of hours in and offer him some water.

Answer 3

I would put him in front and tie him. Being that it is a bumper pull you will feel him move around a lot, especially when he crosses over the axle. It will pull on your bumper and feel like its lifting your pickup. I have traveled all over the western United States and for longer then five hours with my horses tied and they do just fine. I offer them water if when I stop for fuel. I don't like to get my horses out unless I am stopping for a long time because I feel it can be more dangerous especially if you are at a rest stop or something even if you trust your horse you are in totally unfamiliar territory, your horse should be just fine.If you are stopping for a night then of course you'll want to get him out.  If you are traveling for a show travel with time to spare so when you get to your location your horse has time to rest up to perform well.