The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer (Howell reference books) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Thomas G. Scheve (Author) "For the conscientious horse owner, the first consideration in buying a horse trailer should be the needs of the horse or horses that will be..." (more)
Key Phrases: front unload ramp, manger trailers, horse trailer manufacturers, Dexter Axle, Certificate of Origin, Fiberglass Reinforced Product (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Trailers are a fact of life in the horse world. Sooner or later, everyone who owns a horse will have to deal with a horse trailer in order to haul to shows, races, hunts, and perhaps even to veterinary clinics. Up to now, when horse owners wanted information on trailers they had to rely on magazine articles or word-of-mouth recommendations. Not anymore. The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer is the first and only book for both owners and buyers of horse trailers. It's a resource that gives prospective buyers, faced with hundreds of models to choose from, the means to make the right choice. It's a manual that gives current owners information on maintaining and caring for their trailers. Foremost, they will learn from lifelong horsewoman Neva Scheve and Thomas G. Scheve, both respected industry insiders, that the safety and comfort of the horse should always be the primary concern. This authoritative book, with more than 175 illustrations, addresses a number of important topics, including how to:

• Determine whether to buy a new or a used trailer.
• Ask the right questions of the dealer or owner.
• Weigh the options and select the best model for your needs.
• Evaluate tow vehicles and hitches.
• Master pre-trip preparations.
• Care for your current trailer.
• Load, drive, and use a trailer safely.
• Deal with typical exterior, interior, electrical and mechanical problems.
• Assess the work of repairmen if the job is more than you can handle.

"Complete" is not just an idle word: this book has an appendix that gives the names and addresses of the major trailer manufacturers to contact for literature. In all, the Scheves have given horse owners everything they need to make an informed purchasing decision that will benefit themselves and their horses.

From the Back Cover

Trailers are a fact of life in the horse world. Sooner or later, everyone who owns a horse will have to deal with a horse trailer in order to haul to shows, races, hunts, and perhaps even to veterinary clinics. Up to now, when horse owners wanted information on trailers they had to rely on magazine articles or word-of-mouth recommendations. Not anymore. The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer is the first and only book for both owners and buyers of horse trailers. It's a resource that gives prospective buyers, faced with hundreds of models to choose from, the means to make the right choice. It's a manual that gives current owners information on maintaining and caring for their trailers. Foremost, they will learn from lifelong horsewoman Neva Scheve and Thomas G. Scheve, both respected industry insiders, that the safety and comfort of the horse should always be the primary concern. This authoritative book, with more than 175 illustrations, addresses a number of important topics, including how to:

• Determine whether to buy a new or a used trailer.
• Ask the right questions of the dealer or owner.
• Weigh the options and select the best model for your needs.
• Evaluate tow vehicles and hitches.
• Master pre-trip preparations.
• Care for your current trailer.
• Load, drive, and use a trailer safely.
• Deal with typical exterior, interior, electrical and mechanical problems.
• Assess the work of repairmen if the job is more than you can handle.

"Complete" is not just an idle word: this book has an appendix that gives the names and addresses of the major trailer manufacturers to contact for literature. In all, the Scheves have given horse owners everything they need to make an informed purchasing decision that will benefit themselves and their horses.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (February 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876056869
• ISBN-13: 978-0876056868
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #314,592 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wealth of Information .... maybe too much!, October 9, 1998

By A Customer

In the world of horses everyone has an opinion. After deciding to buy a trailer I wanted to do a little research. This book is full of incredible detail about all the possible mishaps your horse could get into and the various design flaws that most trailers have to contribute to those mishaps. It gives detailed explanations of each part of the trailer and is full of opinions about the best design of trailers. The authors do not cite any specific manufacturers but after reading this book I had completely changed my mind about what I wanted. The problem is so much of the information was so scary that I designed my perfect trailer around it, only to learn it would cost me almost $10,000.00 (for a 2-horse). The book is incredibly detailed, well written in layman's terms and has good illustrations and photographs. I learned a lot more about a horse trailer than I ever thought I needed to. It gives you a lot to think about. Mostly I thought about never trailering my horse in someone elses's trailer again.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Make this the first payment on your new trailer, April 6, 1998

By A Customer

Imagine trying to buy a car with no consumer reviews (or even trade reviews), and in a world where only a handful of people you know even own cars. You can ask their opinion, but their vehicle is several years old and a totally different type from the one you need. And for every time you hear someone say, "Acme Brand Trailers are the greatest," you'll also hear, "I wouldn't have an Acme Brand Trailer ever again."

This is what it's like to shop for a horse trailer. Actually, it's even worse: most horse trailers are practically custom made, so there's a huge variety of options to select. Dealers often only have one brand and are typically far apart - perhaps a hundred miles in every direction. And they may only have a few samples available at any one time.

Though no brands are mentioned, the book does a good job of taking one through the many possible features in a trailer, discussing what is available and what is especially convenient, horse-friendly, or inconvenient. Even little details, like door latches, or avoiding high sills on dressing room doors, so that the dressing room can be swept out easily, are covered - precisely the sort of thing that is easy to miss when looking at bright shiny new trailers.

I did not agree with all of her recommendations and preferences, but they are generally well presented and reasoned. I would like to see a little more discussion about expected hauling conditions, and how your needs for a trailer and tow vehicle change based on whether you do mostly short local hauling or long-distance hauling, and in warm or cold weather.

However, this is an excellent book on an obscure topic, and well worth the money for anyone looking to know more about selecting or maintaining a horse trailer.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Guide to Buying... a horse trailer, July 3, 2000

By	Linda Hudson (Dallas, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a novice in the horse world I had no idea where to start looking for a safe and reasonably priced horse trailer. This book was a wealth of information covering all the main topics (slant load or straight load, gooseneck or tag-a-long; steel or aluminum construction)and offered lot's of details I would not have considered (hay bags, nets or mangers; ramp or step up's; windows open or closed). I completely changed my mind about what to look for in a trailer and believe I have now have the information necessary to buy the safest trailer available and the most appropriate tow vehicle for my choice of trailer. The authors are very knowledgeable and have written from experience. The only problem I had with the book is that it is almost too much information but it will continue to be a resource for any questions that arise in the future. I highly recommend this book.