Central Sierra Nevada Horse Trails

• Hardware - Check your hardware for smooth function and for cracks.  Check everything from windows and walk-through doors to the rear doors and ramp.  Tip:  Regularly lubricate hinges and latches to keep them from "freezing" in one position, and to extend their lifespan.
• Wheels & Tires - Your trailer tires should be in good shape, and that goes for both tread and sidewalls.  Check the spare tire, too, in both your towing vehicle and trailer.  Keep all tires fully inflated.  Make sure that all the wheels' lug nuts are tight.  Tip:  Repack your wheel bearings at least yearly; more often, if your trailer sees a lot of use.
• Hitch - Be sure that the hitch is on, and that the socket (if it is a pull-behind) is closed and locked over the ball.  The hitch collar should slide easily and close completely over the ball.  If the lock pin is missing, replace it.  The ball should be no smaller than two inches, and might be larger.  While you are looking at the hitch, be sure all the bolts are tight and none are broken.
• Safety chains - Safety chains should be crossed and hooked to the frame of the towing vehicle.  Be sure they are solid and heavy, with every link in good condition - they'll need to hold the trailer in an emergency.  A hauling rig, like a chain, is only as strong as its weakest link.  The truck frame, hitch, draw bar, ball, chains and trailer frame all must be able to handle the load.
• Brakes - Check the trailer brakes and your brake controller.  Some trailers have their own braking system; some don't.  If yours doesn't, keep in mind that your towing vehicle is providing all of the stopping power for both your towing vehicle and your trailer.  Be especially careful to avoid a sudden stop that could cause your trailer to jackknife.  Do you have breakaway brakes?  Check that the cable isn't snagged on anything and that it is long enough.  You don't want it to over tighten and break, or pull the coupler loose if you have to make a tight turn.
• Lights - Brake lights, turn signals and running lights should all be working.  Check inside trailer lights as well.  Have someone inside your towing vehicle test the brakes, then the right and left turn indicators.  Make sure the lights on both your towing vehicle and trailer are fully functional.
• Dashboard - Check your fluid levels.  If anything needs topping off, from fuel to windshield washer fluid, do it now.
• Windows, vents & doors - Open the windows and the roof vents and close the screens to safely provide your horse with fresh air.  Look inside the trailer to be sure you have everything (water tank? tack trunk? saddles? broom?), then close the doors and check that they are truly shut.
• Ramp & rear door(s) - Every once in awhile, someone starts to drive off without lifting the ramp or closing the back of the trailer.  If you do a walk-around inspection before every trip, this won't happen to you.
• Your horse - Don't laugh.  Every once in awhile, someone gets to a trailhead only to discover that something important was left behind:  the horse!  Again, your walk-around inspection will ensure that you never unintentionally leave your horse at home.
• Think professional - Take a tip from people who drive for a living.  Commercial truck drivers will tell you that the driver is responsible for the rig.  Whenever someone else - your spouse, parent, offspring or hauling buddy - helps you hook up or load up, thank them, then do your own final walk-around check.

Did You Know!

The world's horse population is estimated at 75,000,000.

China not only has the most people in the world, but also has the most Horses with 10,000,000

There are over 350 different breeds of horses and ponies.

The Horse belongs to the Equus Family. Equus comes from the ancient Greek word meaning "QUICKNESS"

The average lifespan for a horse is around 20 - 30 years, though they can live well into their 30's.

The "OLDEST" horse recorded to date is - "Old Billy", an English Barge horse born in 1760 who lived to the age of 62 years old.

The"OLDEST" pony in history was 54 years old when he died in France.

The "OLDEST" horse ever to give birth was a 42 year old Australian brood mare.

The "SMALLEST" breed is the Falebella of Argentina. The tallest of the breed stands about 74 cm (30 inches) at the shoulder.

The "SMALLEST" pony in history was a stallion named "Little Pumpkin." He stood 14 inches and weighed only 20 lbs..!

The World's Largest Horse ever recorded was a Shire gelding named Samson, bred by Thomas Cleaver of Toddington Mills, England. Foaled in 1846, this horse measured 21.2 1/2 hand high ( 7 ft. 2 inches) in 1850, and weighed 3,360 pounds.Samson is also recorded as the "HEAVIEST" horse weighing 1524 kg (3360 lbs.)

The world speed record for a horse is 43.2 mph, it was set by a four year old race horse named Big Racket.

World Record "LOG PULLING" was set in 1893. two Clydesdale Stallions hauled a sledge stacked with timber weighing 128 tonnes.

The longest tail measured was 22 ft. long was grown by an American Palomino named Chinook.

The longest horse mane was 18 ft. long and grown by a Californian mare named Maude.

In the wild horse world, the mare decides when and where the herd will go while the stallion follows.

The fastest Pony Express ride was 7 days, 17 hours and was carrying Lincoln's inaugural address.

One horsepower (cars)= 746 watts; one metric horsepower= 736 watts.

HIPPO PHOBIA - Is the fear of horses.
EQUINOPHOBIA - Is the fear of horses.
There is no word for the fear of hippos.
Hippopotamus means "river horse".

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

The AQHA was founded in 1940.

The American Saddle Horse Breeders Association was formed in 1891.

Shetland ponies were first imported into the U.S. in 1885.

Basic Horse Facts:

Horses are measured in hands.  A hand is four inches.
A horse is generally over 14.2 hh (hands high).
Anything under 14.2 hands high is a pony.

A horse is considered adult at age four.
A female horse over 4 years old is called a mare.
A male horse over 4 years old is called a stallion.

Horses can drink up to ten gallons of water a day.

The average horse's HEAD WEIGHS 11.84 pounds.

A horse's "HEART WEIGHS" about 10 pounds.
Secretariat's heart weighed an astonishing 22 pounds.

The scientific name for the horse is equus caballus.

The Clydesdales became the Anheuser-Busch symbol on April 7, 1933.

Adult male horses generally have 40 teeth while the females only have 36.

Horses cannot breathe through their mouths.

Horses can see color.

Horses have two blind spots. One is directly behind them,the other is directly in front of them.

Horses expend more energy lying down than they do when they are standing up.

Horses can communicate how they are feeling by their facial expressions. They use their ears, nostrils, and eyes to show their moods. Beware of a horse that has flared nostrils and their ears back. That means it might attack.

You can tell how old a horse is by how many teeth it has. A horse gets all of its teeth by the time it is five years old. After that, they just grow longer.

With his long limbs and large heart and lungs, the horse is designed for galloping. Jumping is not a natural activity for horses and left to their own devices most will go around obstructions.

When spoken to, horses distinguish tones rather than particular words.

Horse Superstitions

Gray horses are supposed to be lucky.

Horseshoes are supposed to be lucky, and must be hung right side up. Horseshoes hung upside down, are said to have the luck running out.
The luckiest horse shoe of all is one off the hind leg of a large gray mare.

Strange Facts

The horse is New Jersey's state animal.

Human hair and fingernails are made from the same protein as horse hooves.

Horses like classical music.

Horses are required to wear hats in hot weather in Rasario, Argentina.

A British law states that an Englishman must not sell a horse to a Scotsman.
Hippocrates means horse master.

The only mode of transportation on the Greek island of Hydra are horses and ponies.

Approximately 90% of all Thoroughbreds can be traced back to Eclipse, a stallion born in 1764 and brought to England. The horse got its name because it was foaled during a solar eclipse. He died in 1789. Eclipse, a liver chestnut with a blaze and one hind stocking.

In New York City, it is illegal to open or close an umbrella in the presence of a horse.

Colorado bans fishing from horseback, as do Washington D.C. and Utah.

Tennessee prohibits riders from lassoing fish.