Double D Trailers

"Try Before You Buy Campaign"

2008-05-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

From Double D Trailers
To: Potential Customers
We are thinking of adding a "Try before you buy campaign" which would allow you as a customer to schedule a trailer at your place. We know there are many folks looking to purchase a trailer but are hesitant about purchasing site unseen or for other reasons. Our question is, would something like this be helpful to you and what sort of guidelines would you agree to. Your input will help us put together a program that will help both of us, your response is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Sales Team at Double D Trailers

Your Horse's Nutrition and Long Distance Horse Trailering - Part I

2008-04-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Your Horse's Nutrition and Long Distance Horse Trailering - Part I

Your Horse’s Nutrition and Long Distance Horse Trailering– Part I

As summer fast approaches, many will be hitting the roads and traveling long distances with their horses. Lengthy trailer rides can take a physical and mental toll on your horse. A good way to prepare him for this stress is to boost the nutritional value of his meals prior to your departure.

To learn more, we spoke with Dr. Juliet Getty, Ph.D., about measures to take that will improve a horse’s immune function, and protect the nervous system against stress before embarking on a long trip of 12 hours or more. Dr. Getty is an equine nutritionist who offers one-on-one consulting services for horse owners as well as a free online forum and a supplement store. For more information, visit Dr. Getty’s Web site at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com.

Dr. Getty advises that before any long trailer trips, it’s important to first assess your horse’s condition. Even healthy, fit horses that are accustomed to trailering long distances need help preparing for the rigors of travel. If your horse isn’t healthy, is aging, or is inexperienced with shipping, you need to address these issues well before it’s time to depart.

A balanced diet is essential to good health so before you begin supplementing for your long trip, you might want to review what your horse eats daily and make adjustments if necessary. Dr. Getty provided guidelines for what a balanced diet should include.

• As much good-quality grass hay and/or pasture that your horse wants.
• For horses exercised regularly, feed a concentrated feed source to provide extra calories. Depending on the horse, you may or may not need to feed according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• A comprehensive vitamin/mineral supplement to fill in the gaps potentially not covered by the commercial feed.
• Additional Vitamin E if your horse’s diet is not already providing 1500 to 2000 IU per day. Be careful of Vitamin E supplements containing Selenium. Too much Selenium can be toxic. Review how much Selenium your horse gets from his overall diet; it shouldn’t be more than 3 mg per day. An equine nutritionist can help you with these calculations. If your horse already receives enough Selenium, be sure to supplement with pure Vitamin E, not a Vitamin E/Se combination.
• A commercial, stabilized flaxseed meal product if it’s not included in the commercial feed. Flaxseeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which boost immunity, reduce inflammation of joints and muscles, and help keep the coat and hooves healthy.
• Clean water free from algae, insects, and bird droppings. It should be available at all times.
• Additional salt if your horse doesn’t consume a 5 lb. salt block within two months. Add 2 tablespoons of plain, white, iodized table salt (the kind you buy at the grocery store) to his feed daily; in hot weather, increase to 4 tablespoons per day – but not all in one meal. This can replace any commercial electrolyte products you might be using.

Next week, we continue our interview with Dr. Getty. We’ll discuss when you should begin supplementing your horse’s daily ration in preparation for your trip, and what nutrients you should add to boost his immune function and protect his nervous system against stress, so watch for us in your inbox!

Virginia Horse Trailer Testimonial

2008-03-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Brad.

I just wanted to follow up with you in regards to the delivery of my new Horse Trailer. It was delivered the Saturday before I was leaving out of town and I wanted to thank you and I believe, Johnny, for making that happen. Johnny ( I couldn't remember if he said Jimmy or Johnny as I was so excited!) was very friendly and delivered the trailer exactly when he indicated. He went through all the features of the trailer and made me feel very comfortable with it.

I returned yesterday from Alabama and finally have found time to go out and sit in it!!! What a great feeling. I even think the horses have taken a liking to it. The trailer is beautiful and all my riding buddies have stopped by, in my absence, to take a tour to of the new digs and they are impressed.

Johnny mentioned there was to be an adapter for plugging the trailer to an extension cord and into the house. He indicated he would let you know it was missing and have one sent to me. I just wanted to follow up on that as well. I really am not sure what he was talking about.

Thank you again for making this a great experience and the trailer is headed out on it's first trail ride this weekend!!!

Kelli K. Sherwin, Virginia

Your Horse's Back - Careful How you mount up

2008-03-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

Your Horse’s Back – Careful How You Mount Up, Horse Trailer Safety

We all know that back pain can really interfere with daily life. Having a sore back makes even the simplest chores difficult. So imagine how back pain can hamper your horse’s performance.

Equine chiropractors and massage therapists have become as commonplace as the veterinarian in helping to treat back ailments. Likewise, more riders seek the advice of professional saddle fitters when selecting a saddle for their horse, because it’s common knowledge that an ill-fitting saddle can be detrimental to how your horse responds during work.

But have you ever stopped to consider whether the way you mount your horse affects his back? One study has.

At the Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, a part of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Hilary Clayton and colleagues performed such an investigation.

The experiment involved ten riders of varying heights and weights and one horse, a 14-year old gelding, who was clinically sound with no back problems. All participants rode the horse in a properly fitted dressage saddle.

The pad beneath the saddle was fitted with several sensors, each designed to measure the pressure exerted when the horse was mounted. Then, the results were analyzed to determine the overall rates of pressure.

Each rider took turns mounting the horse, first from the ground and then a mounting platform. The outcome of the analysis showed that the withers play a major part in stabilizing the saddle as the rider mounts. The force exerted on the wither area was greatest as the rider balanced in the left stirrup while swinging the right leg upwards. This force reached its highest measurement when the heaviest riders mounted from the ground. During the mounting process, the right side of the horse’s withers experienced the most pressure.

The outcome of this study may make you rethink how you mount your horse, regardless of your height and weight. If there’s a mounting block handy, try using it to reduce the pressure placed on your horse’s withers every time you climb on. And make sure your saddle fits well, especially over the withers to avoid inflicting any additional pressure.
Keep your horse comfortable and he’ll always be happy in his work.

Purchasing a Horse Trailer, learn the lingo, Part 2

2008-03-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

Purchasing a Horse Trailer

Learn the Lingo, Part 2

Last week’s newsletter, for those of you who missed it, talked about terms you’re likely to hear when Horse Trailer shopping.

If you’re a first-time buyer, being able to understand and speak the language will make your shopping experience and purchasing decision easier.

So, to increase your knowledge and expand your vocabulary even further, we’re giving you some more terms this week.

Chassis – the frame that supports the structure of a Horse Trailer.

Galvaneal – what Double D Horse Trailers are made of. Galvaneal is galvanized steel which, when painted, provides superior, long-lasting corrosion resistance. The auto industry uses Galvaneal to build pickup truck beds. It’s less expensive than aluminum yet far sturdier and more durable, so better able to withstand the flex and stress of the road. (To learn more about Galvaneal, click here.)

Receiver Hitch – type of hitch used for pulling a tag-along trailer. Receiver hitches mount to the frame of the towing vehicle either by bolts or welding. Mandatory for towing and the only hitch legal in all states, use a Class III or IV frame-mounted receiver hitch to safely haul your tag-along trailer.

Sway Bar – a bar (or bars) attached to the trailer hitch to help control trailer sway. Sway bars are often confused with weight distribution bars, but they aren’t the same. Weight distribution bars help distribute the weight of the trailer between the trailer and the tow vehicle, making towing safer and easier. (See Double D’s blog post dated February 27, 2008 for an in-depth discussion on weight distribution bars.) Chances are if you need sway bars, your trailer has suspension problems, uneven tire pressure, or it’s not level. Correcting these issues should eliminate the need for them.

Undercarriage – the supporting framework that runs underneath a Horse Trailer. The axles attach to this. Also, the undercarriage is part of the chassis.

Unladen Weight – the weight of the trailer including the mats, spare tire, and other trailer accessories, but exclusive of its load (i.e., horses and gear.) You’ll often find the unladen weight listed on the trailer’s Certificate of Origin or on the Title.

Okay, before you reach overload, let’s stop here.

We hope the focus of these last two newsletters has been helpful. Did they answer your questions or raise new ones? Send us an email or post a comment on our Trailer blog. We’d love to hear from you!

Purchasing a Horse Trailer

2008-03-05T07:01:00.000-08:00

Learn the Lingo

Purchasing a horse trailer, especially for the first time, can be a daunting undertaking. So many things to consider – aluminum or steel, new or used, bumper pull or gooseneck, slant load or straight load – the choices are dizzying! And on top of all that, there’s the horse trailer lingo.

Ignorance may be bliss, but not when you’re about to plop down a good chunk of change on a beautiful, new, living quarters horse trailer!

To help you out, this week’s newsletter defines some terms that you’re likely to hear when trailer shopping, yet may have no clue what they mean. So here we go…

Breakaway brake– an independent braking device housed on the trailer’s coupler and equipped with a battery. While hauling, if your trailer and towing vehicle become unhitched, the breakaway brake activates the trailer’s brakes so the trailer stops.

(You’re probably wondering how the breakaway brake knows that the trailer and towing vehicle have become separated. Good question. The battery has a removable pin that’s attached to a cable. When you hitch up, you’ll attach this cable to the vehicle or the hitch frame. Should the trailer break away during travel, the cable becomes taut, thereby pulling the pin from the battery, which activates the brakes.)

Coupler – the part of the trailer that "couples” or joins the trailer to the hitch ball whether the trailer is a bumper pull or gooseneck.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – the weight of a trailer when fully loaded. Also known as Gross Weight (GW). Fully loaded means with horses, gear, and all trailer accessories such as mats and spare tire. Technically, your GVW can fluctuate depending on what you’re towing. Two 17 hand warmbloods will be heavier than two Shetland ponies.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – a value assigned by the trailer manufacturer which reflects the recommended maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle. The GVWR for a horse trailer depends on the axle and coupler capacity. So, a horse trailer with two axles rated at 2500 lbs. each and a two inch ball coupler rated at 5000 lbs. gives the trailer a 5000 lb. GVWR. It is illegal and unsafe to load a trailer in excess of its GVWR.

Okay. That’s it for this week; expect a quiz next week (just kidding!)

When making a major purchase like a horse trailer, you can’t educate yourself too much. The more you know, the better buying decision you’ll make.

Trailer More Safely with Weight Distribution Bars

2008-02-27T13:42:00.001-08:00

Trailer more Safely with Weight Distribution Bars

If you’re considering
bumper pull horse trailer trailer or currently own one, you’ve probably heard of a weight distribution bar. Maybe you’ve wondered if your rig needs them. Understanding the basics of a weight distributing hitch can help you decide if you should be using one.

Weight distribution bars, also known as stabilizer bars or equalizer bars, more evenly distribute the trailer’s weight between the trailer and the towing vehicle.

Have you ever seen a bumper pull
trailer hitched to a vehicle whose back end was sagging down? Hopefully, your trailer and vehicle doesn’t look this way because if it does, it means the rear axles of the vehicle are carrying too much tongue weight. This lightens the front end of the vehicle which can create float or bounce as you travel. (To use an analogy, think of what happens when your horse rears; you don’t want that happening to your vehicle while pulling a trailer!)

Properly adjusted weight distribution bars alleviate this problem by displacing the weight resting on the hitch ball and rear axles. Instead, the bars take up the weight and distribute it through the frame of the tow vehicle and the trailer, thus leveling the two. With the weight better distributed, you put less wear and tear on your towing vehicle and your trailer tows better and more safely.

Should you be using weight distribution bars? To find out, check the rating sticker on your hitch, it will list two weight ratings. One rate applies to the weight-carrying load, which is the maximum your hitch can support without using weight distribution bars. The other rate applies to the weight-distribution load, which is the maximum load you can pull using weight distribution bars.

So, for example, let’s say your weight-carrying rating is 2500 lbs. and your weight-distribution is 6500 lbs. You’re heading out to a show with your gear and your 1200 lb. horse. If your trailer weighs 2500 lbs. empty and you’ve added 1200 lbs. plus the weight of your gear, you’ve exceeded the weight-carrying rating and should be using weight distribution bars.

The importance of outfitting your
horse trailerand towing vehicle with the right equipment can’t be emphasized enough. The safety of you and your horse is first and foremost with Double D Trailers. If you have questions about your hitch setup or hitches in general, feel free to call us at 1-800-435-6274 or email us at sales@doubledtrailers.com.

And, keep an eye on your inbox for Double D’s upcoming weekly newsletters. We’ll be talking more about hitches, choosing towing vehicles, and lots of other useful stuff - so stay tuned.

Brought to Life

2008-02-20T08:18:00.001-08:00

Brought to life
Former Univar plant should be running in weeks
David Anderson
2008-02-05 00:00:00
Staff Writer
Local economic and political leaders gathered Monday in front of a factory that has lain dormant for several years, but is expected to come back to life once an area manufacturer begins building horse trailers there.

Lenoir County Economic Development Director Mark Pope announced last week that horse trailer manufacturer Double D Distributors of Pink Hill will expand its operations to Univar’s former plant on the outskirts of Kinston.

The company has established Premier
Trailer Inc. to build aluminum horse trailers at the Neuse Road facility. The operation is expected to employ 55 people.

On Monday, Pope hosted a ceremony in honor of the expansion, which Double D owners Brad and Bartley Heath and consultant Jim Yeates attended.

“For Lenoir County, it’s good to see one of these buildings put back in use,” County Commission Vice Chairman George Graham told Brad Heath, 33, and his younger brother Bartley, age 28. “We’re just so proud of you, a young man, a young team, stepping up to the plate.”

Kinston Mayor O.A. “Buddy” Ritch Jr. told the company leaders that “we are tickled to death that you are here, and we’re looking forward to a great relationship.”

Ely Perry, president of the Lenoir Committee of 100, Bill Whaley, chairman of the county’s Economic Development Board, and Bobby Merritt, director of workforce development for Lenoir Community College, also made remarks.

Yeates and the Heath brothers also made their feelings known during the ceremony.

“At some point in time, Kinston is going to be known as the home of Premier Trailer,” Yeates said.

Yeates, who Double D initially hired as a consultant for the expansion, has moved to Kinston from his home in the Savannah, Ga., area to bring the factory online.

He said that a number of renovations must be made to the 52,000 square foot facility before work can begin, such as upgrading the electric system and removing an interior wall.

Brad Heath said he expects to start building trailers in six to eight weeks, after the building is refurbished and manufacturing equipment is installed.

Double D Expands

2008-02-20T08:11:00.001-08:00

55 new jobs announced for Kinston
Chris Lavender
2008-02-01 00:00:00
Staff Writer
Double D Trailers, a privately held corporation based in Pink Hill, will expand its equestrian trailer manufacturing business to another site in Lenoir County creating 55 new full-time jobs.

Lenoir County Economic Director Mark Pope announced the expansion during a Lenoir County Commissioners meeting on Thursday. Univar’s vacant 40, 000 square-foot facility at 403 Neuse Road will be used to manufacture high-end aluminum horse trailers . Univar previously used the site as a chemical processing plant.

Premiere Trailer, Inc., a subsidiary of Double D Trailers, will lease the Univar facility for five years with plans to eventually purchase the building. Both Premier Trailer, Inc., and Double D Trailers are owned by Brad Heath and Bartley Heath.

In about two months, Premiere Trailer, Inc., plans to begin manufacturing aluminum horse trailers at the site with plans to build 500 units and generate $7.8 million in revenues during its first year.

Pope said Double D Trailers, which employs about 30 people, will continue to manufacture its galvaneal horse trailers once the new Neuse Road site is renovated and in business.

The 40,000 foot-facility has been vacant for five years, Pope said. Premiere Trailer Inc., will begin renovations efforts at the site today which include replacing the building’s entire electrical system. The renovation work will cost about $300,000 to complete, Pope said.

Jim Yeates will head the Premiere Trailer, Inc., operation and said Thursday he is excited to be in Lenoir County. Yeates is currently employed by Double D Trailers.

“We are excited to bring new jobs to Kinston and Lenoir County,” he said. “It is im-portant to keep our business in North Carolina.”

During the negotiation process, Pope said the aluminum equestrian trailer business had two options. The operation could have remained in Ridgeland, SC., or relocate to Lenoir County.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce helped facilitate the expansion, Pope said.

“We offered them some incentives to come here,” he said. “The operating costs were also affordable.”

The Lenoir County Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday to match the Governor’s One NC Fund providing $50,000 in performance based incentives for the new business.

“It is a legally binding agreement,” Lenoir County Attorney Robert Griffin said. “If they don’t meet the numbers, they don’t get the money.”

According to the agreement, Premiere Trailer, Inc., must hire 22 people in 2008, 23 people in 2009, and 10 people in 2010. Pope said the new jobs’ average salaries are $28, 200.

Lenoir Community College will partner with the new business to help train its work force which will include machinists, painters, assembly workers, and welders.

“We can be involved in the orientation process and help develop a customized training program at no cost to the company,” LCC spokesperson Bobby Merritt said.

Yeates said Thursday Premier Trailer’s Inc., is accepting applications for the new po-sitions. He will join the commissioners at 11 a.m. Monday at the Neuse Road site to tour the facility.

“When we can employ 55 people, it is a wonderful time,” Lenoir County Commission Chairman Paul Taylor said.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com

Feb 20th Double D News

2008-02-20T08:09:00.001-08:00

An Easy Way to Stop Wasting Hay

As a horse owner, you know how important it is to feed good quality hay. It’s a source of energy and fiber and should be the foundation of your horse’s diet.

So what do you do when your horse wastes that expensive, quality hay by strewing it about his stall or turnout area? With the rising cost of hay and in some areas, hay shortages, this can be a real problem.

One simple solution is to feed with a hay net. Regardless of the type that you use, and there are many available, remember to tie it high enough so that your horse can’t get himself tangled or caught in it. When full, the bottom of the net should be no lower than your horse’s chest. Also, tie the net securely so it can’t come undone.

A hay net is just that, a net with a drawstring closure. Most hay nets can hold three to four flakes of hay although there are extra large size nets that can hold more. Hay nets are made of nylon, cotton, or cotton cord. Hay bags are bags that have a hole cut from one of the sides. This is where the horse pulls the hay from the bag.

So what are the benefits of feeding from a hay net? Typically, your horse will eat his hay more slowly, so smaller amounts will last longer. Also, because the hay is off the ground, your horse can’t paw it or push it around with his nose. If your horse can drag the hay around his stall, then he can go to the bathroom on it. Some horses won’t eat their hay after they’ve done this, but some will, and from a parasite infestation perspective, that’s not a good thing. And, if your horse can’t churn up his hay and bedding, stall cleaning is easier.

Hay nets and bags are portable so you can take them down and move them around, something not easily done with a permanently mounted hay rack.

So don’t let hay waste become an expensive problem for you – try an inexpensive solution and feed with a hay net.

Did you know...? Newsletter February 13th, 2008 Double D Trailers

2008-02-13T09:10:00.000-08:00

Did you know…?

1. Your horse begins shedding his winter coat because of photoperiod. Photoperiod is the amount of time each day an organism (in this case, your horse) is exposed to daylight. As the days grow longer, you’ll soon notice that your horse starts to shed.

2. The normal pulse rate range for a healthy, adult horse is 30 to 40 beats per minute (bpm.) Thoroughbreds and warmbloods average approximately 36 bpm. Draft breeds and Quarter Horse types average a bit lower: between 32 to 34 bpm.

3. Arabians have one less rib, back, and neck vertebra than any other breed of horse.

4. The horse is the official state animal of New Jersey.

5. According to the American Horse Council, in 2005 there were 9.2 million horses in the U.S. and 2 million horse owners.

And some quotable horse quotes…

“If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong.” ~Pat Parelli

“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.” ~Winston Churchill

“The hardest thing about learning to ride is the ground!” ~Author Unknown

“Life without horses is possible but pointless.” ~Author Unknown

Buying a Horse Trailer over the internet, Double D Trailers

2008-02-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

Buying a Horse Trailer over the Internet

Since the introduction of the World Wide Web, buying and selling merchandise online has become commonplace. Practically anything can be purchased with the click of a mouse, even horse trailers.

Double D specializes in Internet horse trailer sales. We’ve devised a unique approach to assist “long distance” shoppers.

Obviously, buying over the Web is different from traditional shopping, where you’d visit a trailer dealer and inspect the inventory. Online shopping at Double D lets you to do the same without ever having to leave home. How convenient is that!

By using the following online features, you’ll get just as much information as you would visiting a dealer.

• Photo galleries. Every trailer for sale at Double D can be “viewed” through a gallery of photo images. Interior and exterior shots from all angles with descriptions of each.
• Video tours. So you’re wondering what the living quarters look like on the inside. Just click on the video tour and see for yourself.
• Live “chat.” If you were at the dealership and had a question you’d ask the sales rep, right? Double D’s live chat lets you do the same. It’s the next best thing to being there.
• Email and telephone support. Besides live chat, Double D answers your questions via email or telephone. We’re prompt and courteous in our response, too.
• FAQ page. We’ve fielded a lot of questions over the years about horse trailers and horse trailer safety. We decided to devote a page of our site strictly to the more common ones, just to give our visitors another means to educate themselves about trailers.
• Nation-wide delivery. If you buy a trailer from Double D and live in Oregon, driving to North Carolina to pick it up probably doesn’t appeal to you. Not to worry, Double D offers door-to-door, nation-wide delivery and, we deliver when it’s most convenient for you.

So, when you’re shopping for a horse trailer or just browsing, sit down in front of your computer, get comfortable, and visit www.doubledtrailers.com

Newsletter February 6, 2008, Safe Shipping...

2008-02-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

Safe Shipping – to Wrap or Not?

Should you wrap your horse’s legs when trailering? Many believe it’s not necessary unless your horse loads or travels poorly. Others feel you’re asking for trouble to go without.

Like other aspects of horse care, leg wrapping can be a matter of personal choice. But it only takes one incident; a mishap while loading, a quick stop or swerve, or worst of all, an accident to cause a serious injury. Why take the chance? With so many options available in leg protection, it makes sense to take care of your equine friend. Leg wraps are an inexpensive insurance policy for preventing a potentially devastating leg injury.

Depending on your preference, you could use the traditional “cottons” or “quilts” with bandages or one of the many varieties of shipping boots. If you choose the traditional route - quilts with bandages - be sure that the quilts cover the horse’s leg from just below the knee or hock to the coronary band. Wrap the bandage snugly around the quilt so the wrap is smooth with no lumps or wrinkles. You could even add bell boots for extra protection. If you’ve never wrapped your horse’s legs before, it would be wise to have your vet or an experienced horse person show you how. An incorrectly applied wrap can do more harm than good.

Shipping boots also provide superior protection. Many fasten with Velcro™ making for easy on and off. Like leg wraps, shipping boots should extend from the coronary band to the knees or hocks. Some styles even provide coverage over the hocks. Look for boots constructed of heavy-duty nylon on the outside with thick fleece or foam padding on the inside. Be sure the boots fit well so if your horse paws or kicks they won’t slide down or twist.

If your horse has never worn leg wraps or shipping boots before, introduce them prior to shipping. Some horses react strongly to wearing “stuff” on their legs and need time to adjust. Given the chance, most horses quickly accept wearing leg protection.

Did you know? Double D Trailers Newsletter January 28, 2008

2008-02-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

Did you know…?

1. Because of the diagonal design of slant load trailers, many include a small tack area in the rear corner of the trailer. This location can decrease the width of the trailer’s back end, leaving less space for loading and unloading. Not good if you’ve got a “bad” loader. Double D’s Tack-around design solves this problem by building the tack area into the rear door. So when you swing the back doors open, you have the full width of the trailer to work with when loading and unloading.

2. Contrary to popular belief, horses fed hay 24/7 learn to self-regulate. When continuously provided with hay, they’ll eat only as much as they need. (Source: Getty Equine Nutrition)

3. When towing a two-horse bumper pull horse trailer, always load the heaviest horse on the left. If you’re hauling only one horse, load him on the left side, too. Since roads in the U.S. typically are “crowned” in the center, keeping most of the weight on the left side of the trailer helps to stabilize it.

4. Deciding which is better, a step-up, or a ramp load trailer really boils down to personal preference; each has its pros and cons. What matters most is that whichever you choose, you take the time to properly train your horse to load and unload, and that the trailer size fits the horse and has an inviting, open, non-spooky interior. (Source: Jessica Jahiel’s HORSE-SENSE Newsletter)

5. Having a “left-eyed” horse can cause training problems. Since horses have monocular vision (unlike our binocular vision), they can’t focus both eyes on one thing. Instead, they focus each eye on different things. Because we train primarily from the left (leading, bridling, mounting, etc.), our horses become comfortable seeing activity on that side. However, that same activity viewed from the right side may be alarming to the horse. (Source: The Left Eye)