Whether you're going to a 4th of July Trail ride, a breed show or just meeting up with friends hauling horses can be intimidating. There's many things you can do before leaving home that are important safety factors. Here's some tips for arriving safely.

Trailer and vehicle maintenance is so often overlooked. Check lights and wiring for safe operation. Check brakes and tires. Worn tires don't belong on a horse trailer. At the WORST possible time you'll be stuck. Regular appointments to maintain your vehicle in tip top shape are important. Don't count on movement to keep animals cool - if you're stranded along the highway in 95 degree heat that isn't an option. Proper maintenance can go a long ways towards that. EVERY TRIP check those tires. A blow out is dangerous in a vehicle - when there's a ton or more shifting around behind you it can be a wreck of nightmares. Check the hitch and safety chains to make sure all are secure. Have a large baggie in the glove compartment for important info - in here (waterproof!) keep copies of insurance papers, roadside assistance papers, Coggins and health papers.

Check the floor of the trailer regularly. Clean the trailer out after every trip - some do it before leaving but I prefer when getting home for several reasons. The wet bedding is removed and not left to sit and do damage to the floor. The trailer is clean if there's an emergency trip to the vet needed. And as it always seems preparations to leave run longer than planned it's one less thing you have to do then! You're in a rush and your trailer is clean, bedded and ready to go. It's a little thing but in other ways it isn't! It's nice to pack things in, load and go. Make sure roof vents and windows are adjusted to provide plenty of ventilation. When packing be sure to consider weight distribution. Keeping an eye towards the maximum recommended tongue weight for your hitch you'll want most the weight on the front half of the trailer with 40% towards the rear. Don't put heavy things on the side and anything that's in or on the trailer should be secured tightly.

Before taking off check your mirrors. Make sure you have maximum vision. Many adjust mirrors down the side of the trailer - moving the mirror just a bit out gives you a better view of the next lane as well as down the side of the rig. Ideally you don't need to *see* the rig - that fine line down the side without viewing the trailer itself increases vision of people in parking lots as well as traffic. Make sure you have the right sized ball for the trailer and the proper hitch for the size trailer you're hauling. If you've ever seen the results of a horse trailer coming unhooked and hitting another vehicle head on you will never forget it - I did when I worked for a towing company - the driver of the car was killed and if there had been a horse in the trailer the horse would not have survived either.

If you've never towed a trailer before go to a large empty lot and practice with it before hitting the road. Back it up - which just takes a little practice! If your hand is on the bottom of the steering wheel and you want the back of the trailer to go towards the left move your hand left. If you want a sharp turn just turn harder than a wider turn. Get used to the trailer and how it handles. Being able to back it safely can be a very good thing in some areas! With practice you'll get the feel of your trailer and in time be able to "put it anywhere" as experienced drivers do.

Many wouldn't ship a horse without boots - some wouldn't ship them with them, citing the horse that is uncomfortable with them is actually more likely to injure himself fussing about the boots. For those using bell boots and/or shipping boots make sure your horse is comfortable with wearing them before the trip. Before loading go over the trailer for any wasp nests! It's hardly fair to put your horse in a box and expect him to stand quietly if he's being attacked by wasps - and a horse that's allergic can be put in distress in short order.

When you're packing make sure you have an emergency kit! This might include a tranquilizer for your horse along with needle and syringe; basic first aid kits for horse and human. A small air tank - less than $30 in farm stores - might be enough to refill a low tire to get to a shop. A jack to fit the rig is needed and for the time and money a hydraulic jack is worth the money. Make sure you have tire irons, basic tools and a spare tire that fits the rig. Ideally you'll be able to use these yourself but even if you can't having them there means someone who *can* is able to get you going again. An extra halter, electrical and duct tape, emergency triangles or flares, extra fuses and extra lead ropes are always good to have in the kit.

If you're travelling with a dog or other pet have a carrier or wire crate for him - place him in there with a towel and chew toys. This eliminates distractions in the vehicle and if, heaven forbid, there is an accident it keeps him from bolting into traffic. Keep cellular phone calls to a minimum - distractions at any time driving aren't good but with a load behind you it's much more so.

Practice ahead of time maneuvering the trailer so you're familiar with the extra space it takes to turn. For the safety and comfort of the horses turning use extra caution on turns. They can handle, in a safe well bedded trailer, highway speeds easily but give them time to brace for turns. Equally when changing lanes do so smoothly without jerking to the other lane.

Watch your distance! Cars won't so you have to be that much more vigilant. If you're leaving 500 feet between you and the next vehicle and a Honda cuts into that space you might find yourself with 200 feet between you and *that* vehicle - not enough to stop a loaded rig safely. Remember a loaded semi needs much more room than you so don't cut into *his* safety space either - a semi coming through the back of your trailer is not the way to enjoy a trip.

If the trailer starts to sway take your foot off the gas and hold the steering wheel steady but don't hit the brakes. Hitting the brakes can cause the vehicle to jackknife - when the trailer skids out of control it's a very dangerous situation. Several factors can cause sway - a too short wheelbase on the tow vehicle, too long or too soft rear suspension, the rear weight is too much. If the tongue weight is too much or too little sway can happen or if the center of gravity is too high. A vehicle with an out of control sway can be deadly. Each sway can become bigger and it can hit other vehicles, jackknife or leave the roadway, pulling the tow vehicle with it. This might be on a median or it might be down a mountain drop off. Sway is dangerous.

When going up or down steep hills use a lower gear and watch for signs of the vehicle overheating. Avoid parking on a hill if at all possible. Carry chock blocks to absorb the stress of holding the vehicle.

Watch speed! A properly balanced, properly hitched vehicle can easily travel the speed limit BUT you must be prepared. I recall a trip through New Mexico on I40 some years ago when a 3-4 horse trailer passed me at about 70 miles an hour. Not too far up the road that vehicle was in the center divider, the horses trapped inside, the woman taking swings at the male driver while the highway patrol tried keeping them apart and dealing with the injured horses inside the trailer. The indications were the horses did not survive. Speed doesn't account for the little cars that pull in front of you - with drivers that have no clue what kind of danger they're putting themselves, you and your animals in. Very likely a small car moved over, the driver hit the brakes and swerved and the trailer took over - ending up with a nasty scene.

If you stop for lunch somewhere do your safety check before getting back on the road. This takes minutes but can save a life. Check the lug nuts on trailer wheels and the tires. Peek in at the horses and make sure they're riding comfortably; make sure all doors are secure, the hitch is tight and safety chains properly hooked.

While driving pay attention to signs something is wrong. Keep the radio down so you can hear unusual noises. If you hear or feel anything out of the ordinary find a safe place to pull over and check it out! If a horse is down and thrashing in the trailer it might not be something that can wait until the next fuel stop. A short trip - under an hour - with nothing real noticable ended with a horse kicking the divider in a trailer, peeling it back and injuring her legs on the steel as she continued kicking. A horse coming off a semi trailer load to a Thoroughbred training facility had somehow kicked and ripped off 1/4 of the hoof wall - the laminae were showing and it was thought her race career was over (she did come back months later!). Injuries can happen and the faster it's dealt with the better the chances of recovery. A properly maintained rig set up for the job and driven with caution helps insures you and your horses get to their destination safely.

Joan Hoadley is a full time writer, horse trainer and dog enthusiast who also has raised large and small livestock.