Before you get on the road with your horse trailer, be sure to have these important items on hand.
Store these items in the horse trailer so you always have them on board:
Spare Tire – USRider recommends carrying two (2) spare tires
Hydraulic Jack – rated to jack your trailer while loaded
Lug Wrench
Three (3) emergency triangles or flares (Triangles are preferred)
Chocks
Flashlight
Electrical tape
Duct Tape
Equine First Aid Kit with splint (know how to use it)
Knife for cutting ropes, etc., in emergency
Water
Buckets/sponge
Water hose
Spare halter and lead rope for each Horse
Spare bulbs for exterior and interior lights
Spare fuses if applicable
Fire extinguisher with up to date charge
WD-40 or other lubricant
Broom, shovel, fork, and manure disposal bags
Insect spray (bee and wasp)
For the tow vehicle:
Registration for the vehicle and trailer
Proof of insurance
Jumper cables
Spare tire/jack/tire iron
Tool kit including wiring materials
Spare belts and hoses for the tow vehicle
Tow chain
Cellular phone and/or CB radio (CB may be more effective in rural areas without cell phone service)
Replacement fuses
Work gloves
Portable air compressor
Extra cash/credit card
Road Atlas
Hawkins Guide: Equine Emergencies on the Road
USRider Membership Kit
Check your inventory frequently and replace used or removed items before each trip.
For crossing state lines or attending competitions:
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (Health Certificate) dated within 30 days
Proof of Negative EIA (Coggins) usually dated within 1 year. Some states require within 6 months.
Certificate of Brand Inspection if applicable
If you are in an accident and have been injured yourself:
EMS personnel and police will most likely not be capable of taking care of your Horses. Prepare for this situation by keeping some sort of emergency directions in a very visible place. Write the name of someone you know who can be called to help or to advise what to do with the Horses if you are incapacitated – a knowledgeable friend, your veterinarian, or someone else who is familiar with your Horses and all current telephone numbers. The USRider Membership Kit contains a specially created emergency information placard (Horse trailer interior) and an accompanying emergency notification sticker (Horse trailer exterior). Please contact our Administrative Office if you need new trailer safety decals.
Neva Kittrell Scheve is the author of The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer and Hawkins Guide: Horse Trailering on the Road. She and James Hamilton, DVM, co-authored Hawkins Guide: Equine Emergencies on the Road.
