Winter Driving Safety Tips for Pulling a Horse Trailer

Good morning!

With winter approaching, we want to share an article with you, from USRider, on safety tips for hauling a horse trailer. It's also important that your trailer is up to date with inspections, etc. Do your brake lights work? Is everything working properly with your hitch? Are your tires in good shape? Do you have reflective lights? These are all important things to think about and be sure you have covered before winter arrives. If you are in need of a trailer inspection or tune-up, be sure to schedule your appointment today! www.burdettebrothers.com

Because It’s Slippery Out There: Winter Driving Safety Tips for Pulling a Horse Trailer

By Amy Herdy

I am cat-like in my dislike of cold, wet weather. You know that scene from the Indiana Jones movie where that character moans, “SNAKES. Why’d it have to be SNAKES?” –Well, that’s me, except substituting the word “snow.”

But I realize that many of you are hardier folk than I, and not the type to let a little cold weather stop you from loading up your horse into your horse trailer and hitting the road for some winter riding.
riding a horse in winter. If that is indeed you, then please pay attention to these safety tips from USRider, the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians. If you’re going to be out on the road this winter with your horse, you need to be careful and invest some time doing routine preventive trailer maintenance to enhance your travel safety.

It is imperative to make sure your vehicle is ready for winter driving, USRider folks say. Be sure to maintain your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s service schedule. It’s also important to take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic.

“When it comes to vehicle maintenance, especially heavy-duty vehicles towing precious cargo, it is better to be proactive than reactive,” said Bill Riss, general manager of USRider. “If you have not already done so, establish a relationship with a trusted ASE (www.ase.com) mechanic. It is essential that you do this before your vehicle breaks down on the side of the highway while towing your horse trailer.”

USRider recommends that you check tire pressure before each trip. This is especially important with temperature changes. If you are traveling from a warm climate to a cold climate, air pressure in your tires will drop. On the other hand, when traveling from a cold climate into a warm climate, the air pressure will rise.

A weak battery will usually reveal itself during cold weather. If your battery is more than a couple of years old, be sure to check it prior to cold weather setting in. Otherwise, you will most likely be inconvenienced on some cold morning when the battery fails to start your vehicle.
When driving, a good rule of thumb to follow on the road is “rain, ice and snow – take it slow.”

Before setting out on a trip, take the time to check weather reports and plan accordingly. Be sure to allow extra time for inclement weather. Mother Nature doesn’t care that you need to be somewhere at a certain time.

Always drive with your headlights on during inclement weather – even if it is not dark. USRider recommends that horse owners drive with headlights on anytime when trailering horses, regardless of weather, because of increased visibility afforded by using headlights.

Also during inclement weather, be sure to increase distance between vehicles to allow more stopping time. USRider recommends that you double the normal distance between vehicles when towing a horse trailer.

“Stopping on snow or ice without skidding and/or jackknifing takes extra distance. Use brakes very gently to avoid skidding,” added Riss. “If you begin to skid or jackknife, ease up on the brake and steer into the skid to regain control.”

During winter months, traction tires are recommended. In order to qualify as a traction tire, tires must have at least an eighth of an inch of tread and be labeled Mud and Snow, M+S, All-Season, or have a Mountain/Snowflake symbol. Since tire performance can vary, a trusted area dealer may be able to advise you on the best tires for your vehicle.

Since it’s difficult to know what road conditions you may encounter during the winter, make it a practice to re-fuel when your vehicle fuel gauge drops below the halfway mark. In many states, you can dial 5-1-1 for travel conditions and road closures.