Weigh in on Horse Trailer Safety
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Have You Ever Taken Your Horse Trailer to a Weigh Scale?
Most owners haven’t and many are surprised when they learn how much they’re actually towing once horses, tack, water, and equipment are added.
Safe and legal towing hinges on the manufacturer‑assigned ratings on your vehicle and trailer, including GVWR, GCWR, GAWR, payload, and tongue weight. Understanding and staying within these values helps ensure the tow vehicle-trailer system is matched correctly and operated safely.
If you have ever had trouble making heads or tails of the alphabet soup of anacronyms while trying to figure out your towing capacity, Equine Guelph has some very useful information sheets on TheHorsePortal.ca.
Horse trailering information sheets:
They also have a special promotion on their Trailer safety short online course, set to begin May 4, with guest expert Dr. Rebecca Husted instructing. Husted is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to safety, emergency preparedness and large animal emergency rescue.
- Horse Trailering Safety – Part 1: Decoding the Letters and Numbers
- Horse Trailering Safety – Part 2: Hitch Systems
A common mistake is hitching up a combination that exceeds safe limits, which can compromise braking, handling, and overall control.
In a featured video on trailer safety and weight regulations, police sergeant Denise Leonard explains how weight determines the appropriate driver’s license class and other safety considerations.
Horse Trailer Safety – Online Course
Special Promotion — Only $45 (Regular $95)
Course Dates: May 4-15, 2026
Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Husted
Save your spot: https://thehorseportal.ca/course/horse-trailer-safety-spring-26/
