What Rides Beneath is Key to Long-Term Safety and Comfort for Your Horse, Value for You

Ask the Expert

Q: I’m in the market for a horse trailer. It’s a significant investment, so what should I look for in a modern trailer to make sure I’m buying wisely (and safely) for the long haul?

A: Begin with the features that affect your horse’s safety and comfort—not simply the trailer’s appearance. Horse-trailer design has advanced considerably over the past 30 years. Aluminum construction, torsion axles, radial tires, improved ventilation, larger interior dimensions and thoughtfully positioned ramps can all contribute to a safer, more comfortable ride.

One of the most important features, however, is also one of the easiest to overlook: the floor.

Your horse stands on that floor through every acceleration, turn, stop and bump in the road. Traditional wood and aluminum floors can perform well when properly maintained, but both require careful inspection. Wood can absorb moisture and eventually rot, especially when urine and wet bedding become trapped beneath rubber mats. Aluminum does not rot, but it can corrode under certain conditions and generally requires mats for traction and cushioning. Because those mats are heavy and difficult to remove, owners may postpone inspecting the floor underneath them.

Composite flooring offers another option. Shelby Trailer Service manufactures composite planks from recycled rubber and plastic. The material does not absorb moisture and is designed not to crack, splinter or rot. Its textured surface provides traction, while the boards have a degree of flexibility that adds cushioning beneath the horse’s feet. Composite flooring can also eliminate the need for removable rubber mats, making routine cleaning and inspection easier.

With this type of floor, the horse area can be bedded with shavings or sawdust. After traveling, remove the manure and wet bedding and redistribute what remains. Periodically, empty the trailer completely and clean the flooring according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Installation is just as important as the material itself. The trailer’s supporting frame must be sound, the crossmembers properly spaced and the boards correctly fastened. Ask the dealer how the floor is constructed, supported and secured; what maintenance it requires; and whether the underside can be inspected. Shelby’s American-made composite flooring carries a 20-year prorated warranty, but every warranty should be read carefully so you understand its terms.

Beyond flooring, evaluate the trailer’s brakes, axles, tires, dimensions, ventilation, lighting, doors, dividers and ramp configuration. Make sure the size and layout suit your particular horses and the vehicle you will use to tow it. Confirm that the tow vehicle, hitch and trailer are properly matched for both loaded weight and tongue or pin weight.

Blue Ridge Trailer Sales in Ruckersville, Virginia, offers horse trailers with composite flooring and can help buyers compare the available designs. A good trailer purchase is not about choosing the most decorative model or the longest list of amenities. It is about investing in sound construction, practical engineering and features that protect both the horse and the trailer’s long-term value. The floor is not merely where the horse stands—it is the foundation of every mile traveled.

Rob Martin (BS, Business – Florida Atlantic University) owned and managed his family’s 6 Redi-Mix Concrete and Concrete Block plants on the west coast of Florida for some 25 years. This business was sold in 1998. His experience with management, heavy equipment and construction trailers contributes to his ability to manage the Service Department at Blue Ridge Trailers.

Donna Martin, (MBA University of Pittsburgh), spent 15 years in the mortgage banking business and 13 years appraising residential real estate. Her business background and a lifetime with horses contributes to her ability to manage the corporation and the Sales Department at Blue Ridge Trailers.

In January 1999 the Martin’s went to work with Shen Valley Trailers, Warrenton, VA in order to learn the trailer business. While learning, they purchased and developed the 5.5 acre site currently the home of Blue Ridge Trailers. Shen Valley Ruckersville, Virginia was opened October 2000, as a franchise operation of Shen Valley. In January 2002, the Martin’s sold all of their interest in Shen Valley, changed the location name to Blue Ridge Trailers and officially opened as a sole proprietorship January 4, 2002.

Today Biue Ridge Trailers employs 9 full time employees, including 2 full time sales associates. We carry – Platinum Coach and River Valley all aluminum horse trailers, Hawk aluminum skin horse trailers, Valley steel horse & livestock trailers, Mustang & Rice single & tandem axle landscaping and equipment trailers, CAM Superline dump trailers and Haulmark and Carry-on enclosed cargo trailers.We are a Virginia State Inspection Station and our Fabrication Department welds steel and aluminum, allowing us to repair, modify and fabricate almost anything a horse owner might need or want. Rob and our other 2 Virginia State Inspectors have a combined 85 years of experience with trailers, repair, hitches and what constitutes a safe and adequate tow vehicle.