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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

"Two" Many Trailers: Part 1

3/31/2013

 
On March 28, 2013, I finally became the sole owner of a 27 foot, 3-horse, Silverlite horse trailer. No, no, no ... I haven't just gone out and bought a new trailer. I hope I don't have to do that again for a very, very long time. Nope, what I mean is that the bank no longer holds the title; I do. Well, I will as soon as the DMV gets their paperwork done and mails it to me. Let me start at the beginning ...

I've ridden my whole life; I don't remember my first ride. I don't even remember my tenth ride. My grandmother had horses, three of my uncles were farriers, and I rode my neighbor's horses until I finally got my own horse as a teenager. 

Going places with my horses didn't happen very often as we didn't have a trailer, but it did happen. I went camping, trail riding, and even rode Sunshine in the rodeo parade. Each of those trips happened because someone else generously offered to bring my horse and me along.

I remember each of those trips with my horses very vividly. I adored driving down the road with a horse in tow. I felt like the luckiest kid in the world. Whenever we were driving and a horse trailer went by, I gave it as long a look as I could before it was out of sight. Hubby even learned to point out trailers for me when we were first dating. I wanted a horse trailer in the worst way.

Fast forward a few years ... 

After college I bought Sassy, but of course I had no way to get her home. I paid a driver to transport her across town to her new barn. While there, I soon met Jim who did have a trailer, several in fact. I spent the next five years bumming rides with him, my mentor MC, and later from my pal Taz's Mom.

Those were actually very helpful years. I learned how to load horses, keep them comfortable while traveling, and most importunely, how to keep them healthy while traveling. As an endurance rider, we traveled all over California (and even into Nevada) all of which gave me quite a thorough trailering education.

The problem with bumming rides was that I was always at the mercy of my driver. I went when they went and where they went. There were many times when I didn't get to go somewhere because no one else wanted to go.

In 2000, I was on track to place in the AERC Desert Southwest Region. I had done two hundred-milers earlier in the year, but needed one more to really guarantee myself a spot in the year-end point standings. Jim suggested I do the Swanton 100 up in the Santa Cruz area. With no trailer and no friends interested in going, I shrugged it off and hoped my points would hold up through the remainder of the season.

In June of that year, Hubby and I bought a truck suitable for hauling a trailer. We now had the truck, but no trailer. I decided to ask Taz's Mom if she would consider loaning us her horse trailer for the weekend. Friends do some pretty remarkable things; she and her husband graciously agreed to the loan. I share this because it was that trip that enabled me to get my first trailer. 

We went to Santa Cruz to do the 100-miler, and Hubby offered to go as my crew. This particular 100-miler was a single loop trail which meant that the horse and rider never came back to camp for supplies, food, or water until the finish. Any items needed must be given to the rider while out on the trail or at the away vet checks. I am not sure Hubby knew quite what he was getting into.

For nearly 24 hours, he met me on the trail and at the vet checks. He brought me warmer clothes, fresh water bottles, and food. He provided hay and water for Montoya, brought a cooler for her while she ate, and held her while I made the occasional stop at the port-a-potty. We arrived back at camp at 5:00 a.m., vetted Montoya through, and tumbled into our sleeping bags which we had arranged in the back of the trailer.

Although we were both exhausted, neither of us could sleep; we were cold, uncomfortable, and aching. Hubby pointed out what a terrible experience it was. Having already competed for more than four seasons, I already knew how unpleasant endurance camping could be. 

As we lay there, Hubby started talking about what kind of trailer we should get. Our plan was to buy a sensible two-horse much like the one we had borrowed. He began wondering what it would cost to upgrade to a gooseneck with a finished dressing room. He had seen those trailers that were carpeted and had room for a mattress in the trailer's neck. I quickly agreed that it was a good idea. He went on to add that a sink would also be nice for hand washing and teeth brushing. I couldn't agree more.

Two months later we went trailer shopping. We started out looking at the sensible two-horse trailers, but Hubby gave a quick look and kept on walking. We finally ended up looking at gooseneck trailers, but after calculating the price to customize a stock trailer, it seemed easier, and only slightly more expensive, to buy one with full living quarters.

At the time, we already had a hefty truck payment so a large trailer payment was out of the question. To lower the payment, we financed the trailer for twelve years. Today of course, we would do no such thing; we're far too conservative to finance anything for that long. But back then, we did what we could.

I drove the trailer home in November, and the next weekend, Hubby and I took it to the Sunland 50 for its first time out. As I showered at the end of the ride, Hubby asked if I was glad that he had thought to upgrade. I just smiled.

This should be the end of my story, but it is not. The trailer that I own today is not that cute two-horse with living quarters that I financed for twelve years back in 2000.

To be continued ...

Picture
My first trailer ...
Picture
Horse camping at the beach ...
Debbie
3/31/2013 08:38:26 am

If you send me your email address, I will send you picture of you and your husband.

Karen
3/31/2013 11:10:03 pm

Thanks, Debbie! There some cute shots of us together which we never get. :0)

Hillary link
3/31/2013 01:28:28 pm

Love this post and interested to see about the trailer you have now. I am already plotting out ways to get a trailer! I won't need anything with living quarters but definitely want a gooseneck. Anyways will be checking back for pt. 2!

Karen
3/31/2013 11:15:14 pm

HIlary - I am glad you found the post interesting. I've written quite a few times about my trailer and have included pictures. The post won't have pictures per se, so I here are two posts with pictures of teh trailer both inside and out.
http://www.bakersfielddressage.com/1/post/2013/01/clinic-preparations.html
and
http://www.bakersfielddressage.com/1/post/2012/07/trailering-clean-it-up.html

Thanks for commenting. I really like to meet other equine enthusiasts and hear their stories, so feel free to tell me more about yourself and your own horse life. :0)

Hillary link
4/3/2013 02:59:27 pm

I will check out those posts too. No way will I end up with a trailer with living quarters. I don't plan to spend much time sleeping in my trailer and it would primarily be for local trips or away shows in which I think I would probably end up in a hotel anyways. But definitely fun to read about other peoples experiences.

I have a blog as well (equestrianathart.com) and I mostly share my day to day adventures with my young Belgian Warmblood. I attend as many shows as possible and right now I am trying to figure out what I am going to do after my upcoming graduation. Houston (the main player in the show) will stay with me no matter what but I am unsure as to if we will move or stay put. I guess it will all depend on where yours truly lands a job. Looking forward to keeping up with your blog.

Karen
4/4/2013 11:36:55 am

Never say never! My first trailer was SUPPOSED to be small and sensible, but it worked out to be a bit bigger than I had planned! I was only in my late 20s ... But you're right - not everyone needs full LQ, but a few bells and whistles can make the journey much more comfortable.

Your blog is on my daily read/check (nice job!) so I've seen the pics of some of your "someday ... maybe ... wouldn't it be nice" trailers. I think those are all nice options. I think a gooseneck is very easy to pull and particularly easy to back up. Having a generous, walk in tack room for changing clothes would be great for showing.

There are so, so many trailer configurations. The trick is to find one that meets your particular needs/wants. One of my favorite features is the pass through door from the living quarters to the horse compartment, but that feature would probably be unimportant to most other people. I never wanted a ramp since endurance rides are frequently held in tight places or in very rough country. Sometimes the ground wasn't flat enough for a horse to use a ramp!

Keep looking even though it might be a while before you get what you want. The more you know what you want, the happier you'll be with it. Although when I was in my 20s, a hitch, a floor, walls, and a roof would have delighted me!

Lauren link
4/1/2013 02:26:22 pm

Your husband sounds like a keeper!

Karen
4/1/2013 10:18:22 pm

I think so. :0)

Kelly link
4/2/2013 04:49:53 am

Our 2-horse bumper pull is one of my favorite horse things! Like you, we bummed rides and borrowed trailers for many years when my daughter got in to riding and competing. When we bought that trailer, it meant so much.

We have hauled for others several times - I remember what it is like not to have your own!

Karen
4/2/2013 10:36:23 pm

I have done the exact thing. Whenever I can, I am happy to haul someone else's horse. I feel I need to "pay it forward." I am glad to here that there are others out there with the same philosophy.


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
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