Whatever trailer you choose, look for safety first, then value. The well-being of your equine passenger comes first, as the vehicle should protect the animal during transport. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

A trailer is a container on wheels; a box that tends to incite equine argument. You expect your horse to enter the box, stand in the stall during transport, and exit on command.

Horses often resist such confinement. The trailer imposes constraints that conflict with his natural instincts. The horse is a large, powerful animal which naturally suspects any restriction. He may “pitch a fit” and jump, kick, turn around, or fall down in the trailer.

To calm the horse’s fears, the trailer must provide adequate width and height. For entry and exit, wide doors and a high ceiling make the horse more likely to load and unload quietly. In transit, the stall is large enough for him to shift his weight, but it limits his movement within walls or