#shequestrian

(harborequipment.com)

Check out some frequently asked questions that I had and others may have. Good luck trailer shopping and enjoy the blog post!

Should I get a new trailer?

Buying a new trailer is a doable option for many, especially with the many finance plans that are available nowadays. Along with the warranty and “I wouldn’t sell anything I wouldn’t put my own horse in” phrase, a new trailer guarantees that there will be nothing wrong with it. Well, 99.9% unless there is a recall on the trailers. When you buy new, you have new tires and know that it has not been in an accident or had a horse kick up the inside. And finally, who could resist the new trailer smell?

(aubreytrailersales.com)

Should I get a used trailer?

Used trailers are advertised all over the internet and horse magazines. Yes, you could get a $500 trailer, but you’d have to replace the tires, the lights, the hitch, the windows, and probably the frame itself. If you play your cards right, you could find a good deal, especially if you find someone who wants to get rid of the trailer quick (due to moving, a divorce, etc.). Buying used may be the right option because it is cheaper than buying new, but know that you may need to put some work into the trailer. Be sure to take someone who is experienced with horse trailers and check every single inch of it, including lifting the mats to see the floors, checking the tread on the tires, and looking at the interior and exterior for paint chips or dents. Also, ask about the inspection and make sure it has one!

(pinterest.com)

What’s the difference between a bumper pull and gooseneck trailer?

There are two different styles of trailers: bumper pull or gooseneck. A bumper pull can be pulled by smaller pick-up trucks and SUV’s, but PLEASE check ahead of time what your vehicle can handle. A gooseneck must be pulled by a pick-up. Bumper pulls may be good options for some because they are relatively easy to drive, but can be difficult to back up. They are usually found in smaller styles, from 2- to 4-horse sizes. Goosenecks give you a lot of space in the neck, which can be used for a mattress or horse stuff. They can take out the back window of your pick-up if you don’t back up correctly and generally come in bigger styles, from 2- to 6-horse sizes. Goosenecks are slightly more expensive than bumper pulls.

(rideordrive.net)

What size horse trailer should I get?

Don’t ask how many horses you have; ask how many horses you want to trailer!

If you will be trailing one or two horses, consider a two-horse or a stock trailer. If you will be trailering two to three horses, consider a two-horse, 2+1, three-horse slant, or stock trailer. If you will be trailering four or more horses, consider a four-horse head-to-head or slant load. If you will be trailering six or more horses and want to do it in style, marry someone rich and get a semi with the biggest trailer within a hundred-mile radius of your farm.

The best market is for two-horse trailers, any style. They are the most popular size. Interestingly enough, while I was searching for trailers, I found that three horse slant loads can be similar in price as a two-horse straight load trailer.

One-horse trailers are sometimes called solo trailers. I can bet my money that you are going to wish you went with the two-horse instead of the one-horse trailer.

(fthr.com)

Should I get a straight load, slant load, stock, or inline trailer?

Straight load trailers are the most popular and people love them. They come in ramp or step-up styles and horses load and ship well in them.

Some people argue that horses can balance themselves better in a slant load, but think about this: you have a three-horse slant load, have three horses, and are at a show by yourself, but you are riding the horse that is in the first slot. How will you handle this issue? It’s not easy to get to the innermost horses because they are blocked in by the last horse, which may cause an issue in an emergency.

Stock trailers have their pros and cons. They’re great for the casual weekend rider. But I’ve also seen some pretty decked out stock trailers at the shows.

I’ve only seen one or two used inline trailers (never in person, only online) and know of only one trailer company that makes them anymore. I don’t know anything about them, but it seems like they were popular at one point, but other styles have taken over the market. 

(horsetrailerworld.com)

What brand of trailer should I get?

There are lots of personal recommendations on what brand of horse trailer to buy. They all advertise that they are safe and comfortable for your horse, but what company can you really trust? When you do go shopping for a trailer, keep the brand in mind, but also ask for friends’ opinions. Just keep an open mind and don’t take everyone’s word as gold!

Should I get a tack room?

Horse people know that things just collect. We have way too many hoof picks, tons of hay bale string, and pieces of tack that we can’t even remember buying. Having a tack room is great to throw in tack, hay, or other stuff. If the working student or hubby makes you mad, throw ‘em in too! You won't regret having a tack room. It's a must-have.

(horseforum.com)

Should I get living quarters?

Hotels can be very pricey so frequent overnight travelers due to show schedules or because you want to hit the trails for more than a single day may look into buying a horse trailer with living quarters. And let me tell you, there some super nice trailers out there! But you’ll pay the price of course. Expect to pay way more money for horse trailers with living quarters. As an alternative, many people throw a mattress on the ‘neck’ part of a gooseneck trailer, install an air conditioner, and put in a car battery.

(sundownerlivingquarters.com)

And finally, what kind of trailer did I buy?

I decided that I needed a two-horse trailer with a tack room. I wanted to get a gooseneck and liked the idea of a side ramp. I searched and searched online for any deals and went on Craigslist every single day, but was bummed after I didn’t find anything that fit what I was looking for. After months of going through advertisements, I eventually decided to buy a new Shadow Two-Horse Gooseneck Straight Load with an extra large tack room. It’s an aluminum trailer and I traveled from VA to MD to check it out. I looked online, talked to the owner, and found a day that was good for me to look at the trailers in person. The best part about buying new is that it was completely customizable. I decided what extra features I wanted and have a warranty. I feel good about my purchase because I am going to be using the trailer for the rest of my life and have no regrets at all! I can’t wait until I pick it up in August!

Congrats on deciding that you are ready to make a big financial decision!

Whenever you buy anything in the horse world, you hope and pray that it lasts more than 24 hours, which is sometimes the total lifespan of winter blankets. Let’s start on going over the types of trailers.

There are three different types of trailers: steel, aluminum with a steel frame, or aluminum.

Now, let’s go through each type of trailer into more detail.

What is a steel trailer?

A steel trailer is the way to go if you are looking for something cheap, something to use for a handful of years, and are interested in using something sparingly. They do rust very easily so they do not keep their value very well, but you can find some good deals on trailer sale websites or Craigslist. They come in any style, bumper pull or gooseneck, and you can find ones as simple as livestock trailers or even a 2+1 (Delta makes these). They are extremely hot in the summertime, especially dark colored ones, and you must regularly check to make sure that the rust hasn’t compromised the structural integrity of the trailer.

What is an aluminum/steel trailer?

Aluminum trailers with steel frames are great trailers. They can be expensive (such as Hawk Trailers), but some people side that these trailers are the best that are out there. Because steel and aluminum touch, there needs to be some kind of special barrier between the two, which trailer manufacturers know, but because the frame is made of steel, it should be regularly checked for rust. These trailers maintain their value very well and you can find any style that you would like.

What is an aluminum trailer?

Aluminum trailers are not completely aluminum, but are made of aluminum alloys. Some people agree that they are stronger than steel, but this is still an ongoing debate that can be found with a simple Google search of “aluminum/steel horse trailers vs. aluminum horse trailers”. Aluminum trailers are the most expensive, but last the longest and maintain their value over a longer period of time. You need to give it an acid bath regularly or the aluminum can corrode.

Here’s a chart I’ve created with the pros and cons of each.

I am working on a FAQ post for horse trailer shopping that will be done ASAP.

Part three of my four part series on making our fields into horse property…

I decided that I wanted a sacrifice field on our 5 acre property for a list of reasons. Over the years, I have seen WAY TOO MANY paddocks with little to no grass when the end of the summer comes. Since I have to work with a limited amount of land at home, I’m going to put the horses in the sacrifice field and in the field 50/50. While in the field, they will have constant access to grass and while in the sacrifice field, they will have constant access to hay.

I’ve seen people just let the horses eat down the grass until there is nothing left, but I feel as if it can create too much mud when it is rainy. I’m not one to support my horse getting thrush or other weird moldy things on their lower legs. Instead of having a dirt lot as a sacrifice field, I decided on bluestone or stone dust because it’s easy to clean up manure on, is easy to maintain, and if I put rubber mats on top, it invites the horses to lay down.

For a hot second, I thought about putting a grid down and then stone dust, but eventually went with the most economical way which was just truckloads of stone dust. We’ll see what happens as time goes on.

Anyhow, similar to how a riding ring has a “wall” around the perimeter to keep the footing from escaping, I wanted to do the same for the sacrifice field. I did not want to be losing stone dust every time it rained.

Fortunately, I had a pretty flat area to work with and measured out a space that is 80 feet by 40 feet.

I got lucky and went to Home Depot with my dad, who found these cleverly shaped cement blocks, which paired with wooden boards, makes an excellent “wall”. Although regular people use them for gardens, I would highly recommend these T-shaped cement blocks and wooden boards to keep in any time of footing, bedding, or just plain dirt.

The cement blocks have a hole in the middle, which is for rebar to keep it secured to the ground.

The blocks and 10 foot pieces of wood were pretty heavy and my dad and I had to move the perimeter several times before getting the measurements perfectly right. I cannot stress enough…double check the measurements before hammering the pieces of rebar in…because they are tough to get out!

 I had no idea how much stone dust in total I would need, but I called the local gravel guy and he delivered 4 truckloads at 17.5 tons each, which would make 70 tons. It is a lot of stone dust and even a small shovelful is pretty heavy. And according to the internetz, I paid the going rate.

Fortunately, my dad is pretty good friends with the sod farmer who has a bunch of heavy duty equipment so we were able to borrow his skid loader.

I think my dad had a lot of fun with it.

The skid loader ended up digging up some of the grass and dirt and kept sinking into the newly put down stone dust. Thank goodness that it rained the day after getting the skid loader because then the stone dust was able to pack down firmer so that it could support the weight of the skid loader.

Eventually, we did as much as we could with the machinery and then had to use good ol' manpower to spread the stone dust out more. It was a lot of work and several blisters and sore arms later, it ended up turning out better than expected.

I can just imagine the 12x24 foot barn and round pen panels around the sacrifice paddock in my head!

Now we’re just waiting for the main infrastructure and we will be ready for horses on the property!

My next blog post will detail the fencing on our property. I mentioned that we were lucky enough to have post and rail fencing around our entire 5 acre property so all I had to do was divide some areas into pastures.

Good thing my dad is pretty handy so he had a lot of tools on hand already.

First thing, I had to do some research on fencing. Post and rail was too expensive for me so I decided to investigate electric fencing since it is the most economical. On Google, Electrobraid popped up and after clicking a few buttons on the Zareba website, found that I liked it very much. When I was actually ready to order the Electrobraid, I found there was polyrope on sale and went with that. I purchased 3 rolls of 500’ foot spools of polyrope plus I got one free!  I think tape is ugly and doesn’t give such a clean look so I always had my eyes on the polyrope.

For the posts, I decided to get step-in polyposts. I ordered four boxes of 50 each. They were cheap, easy, shipped very quickly from the Zareba site along with my polyrope spools. Because they were flimsy, we decided to put them 8 feet apart, which was the same length apart as the post and rail on the perimeter of the property. They were so easy to put into the ground and I was happy that we were doing it so quickly.

Quite literally as my dad and I were putting on the poly wire onto the polyposts, I changed my mind. They didn’t seem very strong at all and they weren’t tall enough for what I needed. I needed something more permanent.

When I went back online to check the prices on wood, I found that they were actually cheaper than the polyposts. My dad and I had to roll of the poly rope onto the spools again and take all of the polyposts out (about 125 of them). It was a lot of work and a Saturday spent, but it was the right decision.

The next week, my dad and brother rented an auger, which is a one or two person machine used to dig fence post holes, and made holes where we needed the 3-4 inch diameter fence posts. We decided on having them 16-feet apart because they were much stronger and in case of we wanted to put an extra pole in between later on, to make them 8-feet apart to, again match the post and rail around the perimeter of the property.

The following Saturday was spent doing a lot of work with wood. We ended up needing about 40 wooden posts altogether and spent the day putting posts in, adding cement (20 pounds for each post) adding a bucket of water, and finally leveling the posts to make them just right. They look great after they were all finished!

The next Saturday, I had to buy 5 bags of insulators, which come in 25-packs, and put three on each wooden post. I bought black donut insulators with screws instead of nails because they would be stronger.

In the end, I decided on three strands for several reasons. It would match the 3 board fence around the perimeter of the property and it looks way better than having only two strands. The catch is I’m only making the first and third strand hot, therefore the second or middle strand will just be there for looks.

It took two full rolls of 500’ polyrope and a small section of a third roll to finish the one paddock, which is about 2 acres.

I did find that the polyrope is on a spool which has small nails that NEED to be taken out to prevent finding in a hoof later. I mean it, they are little tiny 1 ½ inch nails that will be forever lost if dropped in the grass. It is not something I want to find in the truck tires.

After the monotonous task of putting on all the insulators and unspooling the polyrope onto the wooden posts, my dad and I had to work on a gate. We decided on a 12’ gate that opens both ways, in case we have to get the truck in the field, and can open/close it with a chain and a double ended snap.

I ended up buying a solar fence charger from Southern States and my dad and I made a wooden box for it to sit in.

Because I’ve worked at several barns, I took some ideas from some of them that had good ideas. One place in particular had a human walk-way in the horse fence, which my dad and I put in. It’s wide enough to fit some bigger people, but also has wood that slides back and forth to prevent a horse from feeling like they must reach the grass on the other side of the fence.

The hook-up for the solar panel was easy. My dad used the sledge hammer to put a piece of rebar into the ground for our ground system. It’s much cheaper and it works just as well. Since my dad had an electric fence tester already, he says it’s now in working order. I didn’t test it to find out, but I’ll just say I believe him!

And finally, all we have to do is cut the tops of the wooden posts to make it aesthetically pleasing and paint the posts with black paint. We are finished with the fencing as of this weekend! YAY!

My dad, brother, and I have been so busy setting up our 5-acre property for horses.

Having worked with horses for about 10 years now, I always had the dream of being able to wake up in the morning and greet the horses right from the front door. Well, not right in front, but a short walking distance away!

Since I will be writing about the entire process from planning to the finished barn/fence projects, I decided to split my blogs into four different parts: 1) Planning, 2) Fencing, 3) Sacrifice Paddock, and 4) Barn.

So, we’ll start with 1) Planning. This is where your math class starts to get important.

During the Planning Stage, I had to take a look at what I had to work with. I had a 5-acre property and, luckily, there was 3-board black fence around the entire perimeter. I had a nice hill to work with as well as some flat land. Having worked at several barns around the area, and abroad, I saw time after time that poor pasture management leads to very little to no grass yield, and the potential for mud. This made me think about making a sacrifice area for when the weather was too rainy and muddy, but also to keep the horses on grass and the sacrifice paddock 50/50.

I bought Cherry Hill’s Horse Keeping on Small Acreage and tried to get an idea of some of the barn plans in the book. Unfortunately, the book seems to gear towards people with a bottomless bank account and I wanted to be as frugal as possible. It did offer some good information and I was able to get the gears working in my head to really plan out what kind of buildings and other structures I wanted on the property.

I eventually decided on several things: electric fencing, a fairly large sacrifice paddock, and a carport.

I chose to do electric fencing because it is the cheapest, I chose to have a sacrifice paddock because of what I explained two paragraphs up, and I decided on a carport because of the price as well. Because I wanted to have 2 to 3 horses, I planned accordingly. I will go into more detail about each as my blogs progress.

And finally, due to my dad’s and my own working schedule, we only had Saturday afternoons to work together on our massive project. Because of this, I knew that the project would take several months. Sometimes it was only my dad with my brother that worked while I was at my multiple jobs.

I will be going into a fair amount of detail for the posts and will add lots of pictures so stayed tuned!

And can't forget the best helper of all...Toby!

(photo from itagroup.com)

“Favorite” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a person or a thing that is liked more than others”. We learn from grade school to tell teachers and peers about our favorite place to go on vacation, our favorite flavor of ice cream, our favorite movie to watch with our siblings. The list could go on and on about how we think about what that thing is that we like more than anything else.

 It doesn’t stop there. As children, going to school is just the start of getting accustomed to social settings. We meet people who are more powerful than us, teachers, and also meet students who are equal to us. As we start to find our place on the totem pole and personalities start to explode, there is a pecking order that is established. Whether we like it or not, most of the time, the student that listens to the teacher the most, labeled as “teacher’s pet” is the one that is the line leader, the one that helps with snack, and the one that is praised constantly for being “the best student”. This is the poison called “favoritism”.

Things only escalate from here as we notice more and more through college and our first jobs that it only becomes more and more evident. The braniacs in our college courses seem to become the favorites of our professors and managers gravitate towards the one that works hard and has a matching personality.

There is only unfairness that sprouts from having favoritism. If you think back to one of your favorite teachers, try to remember the one student that seemed to be that teacher’s favorite. Now, being honest, didn’t you have just a tiny bit of jealousy, hatred maybe, for that student just because they got a little more attention from you? Unless if you were actually the favorite, make no doubt that other students were jealous of you, or even unnecessarily mean, perhaps so much so that it turned into bullying.

At the end of the day, managers and owners of business whether public or private need to keep their eyes open and pay attention to all that happens in the work environment. Just like a horse that is established into a new herd of horses, time is needed to figure out where and what that horse needs to do to fit in. If you notice yourself giving favoritism in your workplace, you can be sure that your employees have noticed as well. I had a conversation earlier this week with my father, Dr. Gary Helmer, who holds a PhD and four masters degrees, a man who has had bullets flying towards him as an 18-year old in Vietnam and who’s first job was to sweep up extra cardboard pieces that fall from cardboard box-making machines, but is such an inspiration to people in the aviation safety world, that ended with this, “There is no escaping favoritism in the workplace”. So, I guess I’d better get used to it.