KBR Quick Tip

Use Checklists to Ensure a Better Trip!

Trailering Tips

© 1995, Willis & Sharon Lamm

Unless you trailer out a lot and always use the same trailer, you may find yourself packing and organizing for people, horses, kids, etc. before each trip. The more complicated the event and the more people involved, the more likely you are to forget that all important piece of tack or equipment you need. Needing to borrow a saddle pad at a ride or event is merely embarrassing. Discovering your trailer jack is back at the barn when you're stuck on the freeway with a flat and a trailer full of horses is downright dangerous. These and other oversights can be easily avoided by using a simple checklist when you trailer out. With a checklist it won't matter whether you start packing the night before, you get distracted when organizing your gear, you delegate certain tasks to others who may or may not complete them, or whatever. You will have a simple running log of what is and isn't done and you shouldn't forget anything... at least if it's on the checklist! Another advantage of a checklist is that it reminds you to check your equipment before you have problems. You'll find out that your tires are low before you load the horses and your trailer sinks to the ground. You won't discover, when all Hell breaks loose as you're driving down the road, that you overlooked that wasp nest in your trailer. (It's better to deal with those buggers before you stuff a bunch of 1000 pound animals in with them.) Here are the checklists we use at the ranch:

PRE-TRIP CHECKLISTS

TRAILER CHECK: Tire Air Pressure: RF_____ RR_____ LF _____ LR_____ SPARE_____ (Should be ___ lbs.) Electric Hook-Up_____ Electric Brakes_____ Break-away Brakes_____ Lights: Exterior_____ Interior_____ Floorboards_____ Ceiling (look for wasp nests)_____ Door Latches_____ LOAD: Tack_____ Horse Care Items_____ Equine First Aid Kit___ OTHER: ________________ ________________ _________________ (An easy way to check your electric brakes is to manually apply them when you're moving the trailer. They should stop the forward motion of your vehicle without having to apply the foot brake.)   HORSE EQUIPMENT TACK: (clean, repair, pack) Saddles_____ _____ Breast Collars_____ _____ Saddle Blankets/Pads_____ _____ Bridles_____ _____ Cinches_____ _____ Halters_____ _____ Lead Ropes_____ _____ Travel Wraps_____ _____ Saddle Bags_____ Horn Bag_____ Boda Bags_____ _____ Other_________________ ________________ _________________ (We have two blanks after most entries since we typically take at least two horses on any event trip. Thus each category can be checked off for each horse.) HORSE CARE ITEMS: Body Brush_____ Face Brush_____ Rubber Curry_____ Mane/Tail Comb_____ Hoof Pick_____ Fly Spray_____ Hay Nets_____ Wad-r Bucket_____ Feed Bucket_____ Hay_____ Grain_____ EXTRAS: Halter_____ Lead Rope_____ Reins_____ Cinch_____ Latigos_____ EQUINE FIRST-AID: Elastic Bandages_____ Leg Wraps_____ Kotex_____ Cotton Balls_____ Clean Cloths_____ Sponge_____ Antiseptic Ointment_____ Wound Dust_____ Salve_____ Liniment_____ Rubbing Alcohol______ Bute_____ Scissors_____ Knife_____ Pins_____ Forceps/Tweezers_____ Other_______________ ________________ _____________ SADDLE BAGS: Knife_____ Pliers w/Wire Cutter_____ Area Map_____ Small First Aid Kit_____ Camera and Film_____ Lip Balm_____ Aspirin_____ Antihistamines_____ Chicago Screws_____ Horseshoe Nails_____ Hard Candy_____ Hoof Pick_____ Kleenex_____ Other________________ _________________ _______________ (This checklist applies to trail rides)

Any time we travel out of the immediate area, we figure it's a good time to give the pickup truck a once over. More than once we've found an item or two which needed attention.

TRUCK CHECK: Tire Air Pressure; RF_____ RR_____ LF_____ LR_____ SPARE_____ (Should be ___ lbs.) Water_____ Anti-Freeze_____ Windshield Fluid_____ Oil_____ Power Steering Fluid ______ Transmission Fluid_____ Brake Fluid_____ Jack_____ Lug Wrench_____ Flares_____ Fire Extinguisher_____ Water Jug (filled)_____ EXTRA: Oil_____ Fan Belt_____ Fuses_____ FILL: Fuel/Main Tank_____ Auxiliary Tank_____ CLEAN: Cab_____ Bed_____ Windows_____ Exterior_____ OTHER: ________________ ________________ ________________

Practical checklists will help you avoid costly mistakes and can speed up the trailering out process by organizing your activities, making it easier to divide responsibilities (you can give someone a list rather than assume he/she is doing the things you expect), and eliminating the need to stop and recheck everything in case you (or someone in your party) might have forgotten something. Ride safely and enjoy yourself! Press Back to return to the page which brought you here Return to KBR Quick Tips Index Page Return to KBR Horse Health Section Go to KBR Safety Section Go To KBR Horse Net KBR Quick Tips, © 1995 Lamm's Kickin' Back Ranch and Willis & Sharon Lamm. All rights reserved. Duplication of any of this material for commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. This prohibition is not intended to extend to personal non-commercial use, including sharing with others for safety and learning purposes, provided this copyright notice is attached. Email us to submit comments or request reproduction permission.