TripTips TACKTIP
Choose the Right Halter
PHOTO BY MAUREEN GALLATIN
Leather halters or nylon halters with breakaway connections are ideal for trailering your horse. They’ll break or give if he needs to restore his balance.
Here are three often-overlooked halter-use tips for safety. Use leather or breakaways for trailering. Leather halters or nylon halters with breakaway connections are ideal for trailering your horse. They’ll break or give if he needs to restore his balance. However, avoid using these halter types for training, as they don’t apply precise cues to his nose or poll. Use nylon for everyday needs. Nylon halters are great for leading your horse and to use as you tack up at home and at your trailer. Avoid turning out your horse with a nylon halter, as it doesn’t give or break and can trap your horse in a potentially life-threatening position. Use a nylon halter only when you’re with your horse. Use rope for training only. Rope halters are great for training sessions, because they apply precise pressure and give you horse easy-to-understand cues. However, don’t use a rope halter to tie your horse in your trailer. The rope won’t give or break, and can dig into his sensitive face if he pulls back or shifts suddenly. Plus, if there’s an accident, the rope halter won’t break free. Use a rope halter only when you’re with your horse. —Maureen Gallatin
TRAILERINGTIP
Keep Rig Data Handy Do you know the type of oil your tow vehicle requires? When you come to an underpass with a low height clearance, do you know your trailer’s dimensions? If your trailer tire is low, do you know the pressure rating to safely fill it up with air? Stop fumbling through the manual while you’re on the road. Instead, gather all such data before you leave home. Write your tow vehicle’s oil type, the recommended pressure (pounds per square inch) for all tires, and your tow vehicle and trailer’s dimensions and weights onto a three-by-five-inch index card. Clip the card to the driver’s visor for easy checking on the road. Also keep a digital record. Take a photo of the information, and add it to your mobile device’s “favorites,” or enter the data into your device’s note app. No more digging around for needed information. — Heidi Melocco USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Collect and record all essential information for your rig— such as your trailer’s dimensions—before you leave home so it’ll be easy to find during travel.
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Summer 2022
