On The Road Before you hitch up… Staycations (vacations in which one “stays
home”) are still the thing to do, despite the re- covering economy and the great exotic travel deals out there. However, before they were in vogue, equestrians have long dedicated their summer vaca- tion time to their horses. Trail riding re- mains the most popular equine activity in Mary- land†
– everyone
does it! Some people only trail ride, but virtually all horse people at least once over the course of the year will ride a horse on a trail. For those who
cool in the mid-to-high 70o tainous Deep Creek an average of 12o
(with the moun- cooler
than Ocean City). Fuel prices are dropping! As of press time, gas is the lowest it has been in 6 months, with some economists predict- ing that it will drop to below $3 per gal- lon by late fall. More aff ordable fuel makes traveling with one’s horse even more ap- pealing.
really like to ex- plore the great outdoors on board their favorite mount, with over 2,000 miles of public trails in Maryland*, it is possible for Maryland horse folk to stay in the state and yet travel far and wide. When the heat and humidity so typi- cal of July and August start to smother, cen- tral Marylanders can easily head east or west. When temps top close to 100o
in Central
Maryland, Worcester County on the East- ern Shore averages a balmy 82o
, while Garrett County in Western Maryland stays deliciously
“Always cross your safety chains (they will cradle the coupler and prevent it from digging into the roadway); check your breakaway cable and make sure it is secure to the vehicle and not just to the re- ceiver.” - Lauri Black, Bartley T
railers
However, don’t squander the sav- ings at the pump by running on under- infl ated tires, as that decreases your gas mileage.
Traveled
Lane Trailers’ Jon Morelock explained
Safety of Horses vs Saving Money Everyone wants to be eco-friendly and pocketbook
friendly, right? So the common wisdom says to buy the lightest weight trailer possible, which means one can use a smaller tow vehicle with a better MPG. Not so fast! Ac- cording to Linda Collins, Shetron Manufacturing, LLC: “When purchasing an aluminum trailer, don’t shop for the trailer that is the lightest weight. Less weight means less structure and less quality of materials used to manu- facture the trailer.” Which, of course, means you need more tow vehicle. Do not skimp when it comes to purchasing your tow vehicle. Buy more engine and more torque than you need, and your vehicle will tow better and last longer – and your horses will be safer.
that even new tires can lose air, and that trailer tires for a loaded trailer have diff erent PSIs than tires for cars or trucks. Drivers should pay partic- ular attention to sidewalls and treads. Hugh Collins (H.R. Collins & Company) gave the down-to-earth advice to “give ‘em a good kick!” Jon also urges trailer owners to replace their tires every fi ve to six years, even if they don’t use their trailer very of- ten and the tires look good. Anita Huff (Lisbon Per formance) concurs,
noting
that dry rot can be a problem. None of our
trailer advertis- ers could un- derstand why more horse people do not get their trailers checked annually, noting that emer- gency brake batteries need to be checked, bearings properly packed or repacked, fl oor boards ensured
†2010 Maryland Equine Census, National Agricultural Statistics Service *Maryland Horse Industry Board Fact Sheet 2011
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580
Keep all bars hooked up within the trailer, even when horses are not in the trailer.
More Tips
“When you are connecting the trailer, focus on connecting the trailer – don’t multi-task!” - Jon Morelock, Traveled Lane Trailers
“Once loaded, walk around the trailer and make sure the doors are closed and the lights and turn signals work.” - Hugh Collins, H. R. Collins & Co.
“Travel with your lights on!” - Lauri Black, Bartley Trailers
to be sound, bolts are tight, fuses are in good order, etc.
But Jon Morelock thinks trailer owners should go beyond just getting an an- nual safety check: “Learn your fuses on your tow vehicle. Find your fuses so that you can check and change a light circuit that does not work. Have spares on hand. On many vehicles,
trailer
fuses will be in a box under the hood. Check and make sure socket pieces are fully connected and making good contact.” Happy trailering!
Don’t forget to remove chocks before driving away! JULY 2012 | THE EQUIERY | 21
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