Trailer Ride Sharing: Should You Haul a Friend or Client's Horse?
Taking one horse trailer instead of two can save money and divide driving time. But consider the following liability and safety risks of hauling a horse for someone else before loading up.
Sharing trailer rides with friends is a great way to make trail riding and attending horse events more affordable and fun. Whether you’re sharing your rig or tagging along with a friend, these tips for hauling horses for others can help minimize the risks of mishaps and misunderstandings. You don’t want your trip to be memorable for all the wrong reasons!
Review Towing Vehicle, Trailer, and Horse Insurance Coverages
The truck and horse trailer owner should have both fully insured. If someone other than the owner might take a turn driving, verify the policy will still apply if a non-owner driver gets into a wreck. Collision insurance will usually cover damage to the tow vehicle and trailer and any other vehicles or personal property damaged in the wreck. However, collision insurance doesn’t typically cover the horses and tack in the trailer.
Before hauling someone else’s horse, consider asking if the horse is covered by mortality and major medical insurance. In the event of a trailer accident, equine mortality insurance will pay the owner the horse’s insured value if the horse dies or must be euthanized, and major medical insurance will help cover veterinary costs.
For more information about different types of equine insurance and where to find them, Equine Legal Solutions has a handy buying guide. If there are particularly valuable items of tack and equipment on board—such as expensive saddles, golf carts, ATVs, or carriages—the owners of those items should have them separately insured.
Before hauling someone else’s horse, consider asking if the horse is covered by mortality and major medical insurance. In the event of a trailer accident, equine mortality insurance will pay the owner the horse’s insured value if the horse dies or must be euthanized, and major medical insurance will help cover veterinary costs.
For more information about different types of equine insurance and where to find them, Equine Legal Solutions has a handy buying guide. If there are particularly valuable items of tack and equipment on board—such as expensive saddles, golf carts, ATVs, or carriages—the owners of those items should have them separately insured.
Consider a Horse Hauling Liability Release
Asking a friend to sign a legal document to release you from liability for hauling a horse might seem awkward, but it won’t be nearly as awkward as defending a lawsuit. Liability releases serve two very important functions:
Contrary to popular belief, well-drafted liability releases and waivers are enforceable, even in plaintiff-friendly states like California. Look for a liability release written by an equine attorney and drafted specifically for trailer ride-sharing, such as Equine Legal Solutions’ Equine Hauling Liability Release.
A thorough horse-hauling liability release should hold the hauler harmless for injury to or death of horses and people. It should also specify that if the horse owner’s horse causes damage to the truck or trailer, the horse owner will pay for it.
- They discourage people from suing in the first place;
- But if they sue anyway, a good liability release can help prevent them from winning.
Contrary to popular belief, well-drafted liability releases and waivers are enforceable, even in plaintiff-friendly states like California. Look for a liability release written by an equine attorney and drafted specifically for trailer ride-sharing, such as Equine Legal Solutions’ Equine Hauling Liability Release.
A thorough horse-hauling liability release should hold the hauler harmless for injury to or death of horses and people. It should also specify that if the horse owner’s horse causes damage to the truck or trailer, the horse owner will pay for it.
Check Interstate and International Equine (and Human) Travel Requirements
Different states and countries have different laws and regulations for hauling horses. If your travel plans include state and/or national border crossings, check entry requirements for every state and country on your route. Depending on where you are going, you might need health certificates, brand inspections, and/or negative Coggins tests for the horses. The people traveling with you might also need identification paperwork. You’ll need some lead time to obtain those documents. In addition, laws vary regarding what types of vehicles are required to stop at weigh stations, and citations for failure to stop can be costly (not to mention upsetting), so check requirements before you depart.
Avoid Common Mistakes When Hauling Horses
Before agreeing to haul together, make sure you and your ride-share partners are in sync on important issues regarding how to safely haul horses, such as:
- Can the tow vehicle safely and comfortably haul the fully loaded trailer over the planned route? Ensure the tow vehicle, its brakes, and all components of its hitch are rated to pull the combined weight of the trailer, gear, and horses.
- Create a plan for what to do in an emergency when hauling horses. Is there a well-stocked first aid kit in the tow vehicle with supplies for horses and people? How about an auto emergency kit with flares, jumper cables, and other essentials? If not, you can purchase ready-made kits or assemble them yourself.
- Well before the trip, check to make sure the trailer light/brake hookup is compatible with the tow vehicle and the trailer brakes and all the lights are working properly. You might need to obtain an adapter or install a different brake controller on the tow vehicle.
- Do any of the horses have trailering issues, such as scrambling or loading/unloading problems? If so, develop a plan to make sure these horses don’t injure themselves or others.
- Will all the horses, people, and gear fit securely and comfortably into the trailer and tow vehicle? Coordinate in advance with your ride-share partners to make sure there’s room for everything you want to bring. Some items, such as wheelbarrows, hoses, and coolers, can be shared, freeing up space for hay and other bulky items. To help your trip get off to a positive start, allow ample time for loading and organizing the trailer as well as last-minute bathroom visits.
- Ensure you have a spare tire for both the truck and trailer and a tire iron that will fit the lugs on both. Check the tire pressure in the truck and trailer tires before setting out. In the event of a flat trailer tire, you might find a drive-on trailer ramp product such as Jiffy Jack invaluable.
- Are you towing in hot weather? Make sure you have plenty of water (and buckets!) aboard, and plan regular stops to water the horses and give them rest breaks. Also, check that all trailer windows have well-fitted screens to prevent horses from sticking their heads out and road debris from coming in.
- Finally, even the best-behaved horse can panic and pull back, so have an extra halter and lead rope on board for each horse.