Cold weather tranport

[Mark Cowdrey]

I have a stock trailer and am wondering how cold is too cold to haul my blanketed horse down the highway at 65 +/- MPH. And for how long. For example, is 10 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour and a half nuts? Assume for this discussion one horse in the front half (16′ bumper pull trailer), so semi-protected.
I have seen stock trailers with wood or plastic slats filling in the spaces. How much difference wold that make? And how well do they work?

Thanks,
Mark

[Jim Garvin]

Mark;

I’ve always been under the impression that drafty conditions are worse on a horse than mere cold conditions. That being said, when we brought our horse down from Montreal it was a cold February day and we blanketed him when we put him in the trailer. I have a 16′ stock trailer that I installed plexi-glass panels into the open areas on the sides. We stoppped in Swanton, VT once we crossed the border and checked to see how he was doing. Much to our surprise, he had broken into a sweat (maybe from being nervous of the ride), so we took the blanket off him for the remainder of the three-hour trip. He seemed fine when we arrived at home.

My suggestion is that you install the plexi-glass and your horse should be just fine whether it’s 65 MPH or 20 MPH.

[Mark Cowdrey]

Jim,
Thanks.
Did you make your own plexi panels? Or purchase?
Mark

[Jim Garvin]

Mark;

I bought the aluminum channel that the plexiglass slides into from Townsend’s, in Pembrooke. I purchased the plexiglass from Beckett’s in Concord. I made them so that I could take them in and out. I simply used pop rivets to hold the aluminum onto the insides of the trailer, above and below the openings. I can get some pictures of them if my description is too vague.

Jim

[Carl Russell]

Jim Garvin;24107 wrote:

Mark;

I bought the aluminum channel that the plexiglass slides into from Townsend’s, in Pembrooke. I purchased the plexiglass from Beckett’s in Concord. I made them so that I could take them in and out. I simply used pop rivets to hold the aluminum onto the insides of the trailer, above and below the openings. I can get some pictures of them if my description is too vague.

Jim

Not too vague, but the pics would be great… I have been thinking on doing this for a while.

As far as cold travel Mark I haven’t made the highway trip like you describe, but I think that the horse will have very little exposure to wind in the front…. I would probably blanket him.

Carl

[jen judkins]

Mark, as you probably know, I have an enclosed trailer, not a slotted stock version and I worry more about horses overheating in this set up. So if you are worried they will get chilled, definately blanket. BUT put a layer of fleece or wool underneath in case they get wet and need to get dry…JMHO. Jennifer.

[near horse]

@Carl Russell 24110 wrote:

Not too vague, but the pics would be great… I have been thinking on doing this for a while.

As far as cold travel Mark I haven’t made the highway trip like you describe, but I think that the horse will have very little exposure to wind in the front…. I would probably blanket him.

Carl

After sleeping in the stock trailer during the 2010 NEAPFD nor’easter (I know it wasn’t that bad) I’ll tell you that wind moves all over in those things – brrr. So I too am interested in seeing how you fabbed your plexi-glass panels and aluminum track, Jim. Did you run it all the back or half way?

Thanks.

[Jim Garvin]

Geoff;

I ran the plexiglass all the way back on both sides. I’ll take some pictures on Thursday and post them (working before dark until after dark the next few days).

Jim

[Jim Garvin]

I had a piece of the aluminum channel in my workshop, which I have taken some pictures of. I’ll take some of the application on the trailer, itself, on Thursday and post them.

[near horse]

Thanks Jim – looking forward to the pics.

Hey, is the artist guy that lives near Ed named Pete? And his significant other named Sandy? I got an e-mail from an Pete and Sandy today and wanted to make sure who it is. That’s my best guess – they’re visiting N. Idaho.

[Gabe Ayers]

we just take some baling twine and tie a cheap stocking cap over their nose and a worn out blanket on them and haul them off to work.

Jason

[Jim Garvin]

Geoff;

Yes, Pete and Sandy are/were in Northern Idaho. Don’t know if they’re still out that way….probably too cold for them so they came back to the balmy (-20) weather we’re having!!!:D

Jim

[TBigLug]

For all the hauling we never blanket them, but I built wooden slats to fill the voids in our stock but still leave the vents in the front open (4″ Circles) because we found that with two horses in there they would get too hot and start sweating. Now I took some of the slats off to aid in keeping them cool. It’s been my experience that having them too warm and stuffed up is more hazardous than tham being cold. Ours already have heavy winter coats and are used to being out in the cold.

[near horse]

Hi Jim,

I know you’re up to your eyeballs in winter but wonder about the plexi-glass panels on your stock trailer. Did I miss the pics somewhere or is the trailer in a drift somewhere out back:eek:

Your neighbor Pete sent me a pic of Ed’s place w/ just a bit of snow so I certainly sympathize.

[Jim Garvin]

Geoff;

I haven’t forgotten about posting the pictures, but the snow has kept me quite busy for the past week and a half. Last night capped it off with a thunderstorm!! I just got thru scaping 3-4″ of packed ice off the driveway. I have the trailer covered right now, so I’m going to have to dig around it so I can access the back enough to get in and take the pictures. I’ll try and do it by the end of the week.

I hated Bartsow, CA when we were there in August of ’09….but it’s getting to look better and better every day!!

Jim

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