Equestrian Traveler’s COMPANION
What Members Are Saying About Recent Services
"No room for improvement. The specialist stayed in contact with me during the entire event, was friendly and courteous, and I was glad to have someone like that on the line."
— Carol C, AZ (May '25)
"Service Provider arrived promptly, was very polite, and quickly had us on our way. He mentioned that a family member owned horses and so he was especially mindful of ours sitting in a hot trailer waiting to get back on their way."
— Phyllis K, FL (May '25)
"I’ve never had to use this before until the other day - could not believe how well he handled it. Best investment in my truck and trailer is USRider."
— Justin H, WY (May '25)
"Best towing experience I have ever had. These guys were professional, quick, empathetic and just all around pleasant. They sent two trucks...one for my truck and one for my trailer, dropped the truck at the shop, and took me back to my house with my trailer. I would use these guys again in a heartbeat and would heartily endorse USRider adding them to your regular rotation of providers."
— Renae I, TX (May '25)
"The member care specialist who helped me was fabulous! She was efficient, kind with a good sense of humor. She followed up with texts to ensure everything was happening according to the plan she laid out. I really appreciate all of her efforts and follow through. My stressful day was WAY less stressful because of USRider and the member care specialist who was there for me."
— Kathleen R, WA (May '25)
SEASONALTIP
Keep Your Helmet Cool
After your summer ride, do you stash your helmet in your vehicle’s trunk or in your trailer’s tack room? Or, at your home barn, do you perch your helmet on a fence post or place it on a patch of grass? It’s great to keep your helmet handy, but note that helmets aren’t made to withstand high heat.
Don’t ever throw your helmet in a car trunk, where temps can reach more than 160 degrees Fahrenheit— too intense for helmet materials. Intense heat can cause your helmet’s structures to break down, compromising its protection capabilities.
To preserve your helmet’s integrity, keep it out of the sun when it’s not in use, and store it in a tote or carrying bag where the fabric can wick moisture from the helmet and keep it dry.
— Heidi Melocco
TRAININGTIP
Correct a Grass-Grabber
Summer grass can be tempting to your horse, but snacking while riding him is a rude behavior and may be a sign that your horse doesn’t accept your authority. To change this bad habit, find the amount of pressure that motivates your horse to change. Depending on how sensitive your horse is, it may be a little pressure or a lot. But one thing is for sure; it’s more pressure than you’re using now. Pressure can be physical (such as the spank of a rein or having to work hard immediately following an attempt) or it can be mental (such as issuing constant directives that requires your horse to focus on you).
To correct a horse for eating grass while riding, jerk up quickly on one rein. Don’t pull on two reins. Any time you pull with two reins, you start a tug-of-war with your horse, and you’ll never win that contest. But with one rein, you can have control. If you’re riding in a flat and safe location, I also recommend immediately asking your horse to work. Trot him in one direction, then another. Make him move. Your goal is to stop the grazing then make him associate his behavior of grazing with having to work hard. Soon, grazing while you’re riding him won’t seem like a good idea.
— Julie Goodnight, with Heidi Melocco
Summer grass can be tempting to your horse, but snacking while you ride him may be a sign that he doesn’t accept your authority.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
To preserve your helmet’s integrity, keep it out of the sun when it’s not in use.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
USRIDERMEMBER TIP
Become an Emergency-Stabling Partner
One valuable benefit USRider provides to its Members is emergency-stabling referrals. To enhance this service, USRider is seeking to expand its existing database of emergency-stabling facilities available for use by its Members. The call is being put out to equestrians in the United States and Canada to assist in this effort.
Now more than ever, equestrians are helping fellow horse owners in need. If you would be willing to provide fellow equestrians with emergency stabling on a case-by-case basis, click here to complete the online form. Or write to USRider Equestrian Motor Plan, 1079 S. Hover St, Ste. 200, Longmont, CO 80501. When writing, please provide directions to your stable. Thank you from your friends at USRider.
HEALTHTIP
USRider is seeking to expand its existing database of emergency-stabling facilities available for use by its Members.
To supplement your horse’s forage, add carrots, celery, apples, watermelon, squash, or salad greens to a mixture of soaked beet pulp and wheat bran.
Hot-Weather
Feeding
You can help your horse stay cool this summer by providing the right feed. Grass is the ideal hot-weather feed, because of its high water content. If your horse doesn’t have enough grass available for nourishment, add carrots, celery, apples, watermelon, squash, or salad greens to a mixture of soaked beet pulp and wheat bran. Start with small meals if your horse isn’t used to these feeds. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt per pound of the mixture to improve appeal and get that needed salt into your horse.
Note: It’s normal for appetites to drop off during periods of extreme heat. If this happens, don’t panic. Your horse will start eating again when he feels more comfortable.
—Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD
Grass is the ideal hot-weather feed, because of its high water content.
Are You Too Skilled?
You consider yourself an excellent driver. You no longer need to practice your hitch-up-and-haul skills, as you did when you were a novice. Or do you?
You having hitching up down pat and are an experienced horse hauler. You have years of know-how under your belt. You consider yourself an excellent driver. You feel good knowing your skills and experience will help keep you and your horse safe on the road. You no longer need to practice such skills, as you did when you were a novice.
Or do you? Read on to see how your knowledge and experience
related to hitching up your trailer and hauling your horse can actually work against you, especially if you’re over 40.
Scenario: You hitch up your trailer just in time to get to your trainer’s barn for your dressage lesson. You’re in a bit of a hurry for your lesson time, but you don’t worry. You’ve hitched up your trailer so many times, everything is automatic. You consider yourself a seasoned
>>
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
When something as difficult and dangerous as driving starts to feel “easy,” you might fail to perform the organizational tasks necessary to keep you and your horse safe on the road.
expert. In fact, you’re proud of your skills. Maybe you should teach a trailer-hitching class to horse-hauling newbies in your neighborhood. And throw in some driving tips.
Your mind on your brilliant idea, you lower the coupler on the ball, connect the wiring harness, attach the safety chains and cables, attach the pins, and connect the emergency breakaway system. Piece of cake.
You load your horse into your trailer, hop into your truck, start the ignition, put the transmission into Drive, and ease down the road. You’ve to your trainer’s barn countless times. Your truck practically drives itself.
Off the main highway, you sneak a glance at a text message. While looking down, you miss seeing a speed bump and drive over it too quickly. Suddenly, you feel your trailer sway and hear a terrible scraping. You pull over and run to the back of your truck to find the coupler off the ball, dangling from the safety chains.
After giving thanks it wasn’t
When you first learned how to hitch up a trailer, you had to pay attention and concentrate. Now that you have the hitch-up routine down pat, your mind may tend to wander, which could lead to a catastrophe on the road.
something worse, you mentally go over your hitch-up procedure. You positioned the coupler correctly onto the ball—or did you? Did it actually seat? You’re appalled that you don’t remember.
What happened: You actually know the hitch-up-and-haul routine too well. When you first learned these tasks, you engaged your brain’s prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that processes cognitive thought and motivates the rest of your brain to pay attention to learning a goal. You had to concentrate until you had the tasks down pat. Once learned, the prefrontal cortex coordinated all the subtasks in order and enabled you to carry them out.
As you became a seasoned hauler, other brain regions, such as the cerebellum, “learned” their part of the tasks. You stored how to perform the skills related to hitching up and hauling a trailer in the parts of your brain related to memory. You started to feel
relaxed and comfortable. Eventually, even something as complicated as hitching up your trailer--and something as difficult and dangerous as driving--started to feel “easy.”
This phenomenon, along with ego, can lead you to fail to perform organizational tasks. Note, too, that brain processing and multitasking get harder to do with age. After age 40, you’ll switch back and forth between subtasks more slowly.
In this scenario, as the hitch-upand-haul subtasks started to require less demand from your attentional prefrontal cortex, your mind wandered. You multitasked. And you came very close to an on-the-road disaster.
Skill-set lesson: Take time to continually practice your hitching-up and driving-related skills to help avert a potential disaster, no matter how much experience you have, especially if you’re over 40.
— Rebecca Gimenez-Husted, PhD
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
In It for the Long Haul
Make the post-ride trailer experience a positive one to end your trail ride on a high note.
By Ken McNabb, with Alexis Bennett | Photos by Jennifer Paulson
As you head back to your trailer from a ride, mentally prepare yourself so you don’t become overly anxious and affect you horse’s emotional state. If you get anxious your horse will, too. When you first learned how to hitch up a trailer, you had to pay attention and concentrate. Now that you have the hitch-up routine down pat, your mind may tend to wander, which could lead to a catastrophe on the road.
You’re headed back from your trail ride. You reach the trailer, unsaddle, brush off your horse, get him loaded, and head down the road. Twenty minutes! It’s a new record time.
This is exactly the behavior that gets riders in trouble. After a long day of trail riding, and especially on multiday trips, it’s easy to be tempted to hurry up and get on your way. When we do this, we create chaos around us. We hurriedly go through the motions and leave ourselves open to forget important things, such as a saddle left on the ground. We overlook the once-over that ensures our horse is injury-free and our equipment is in good repair.
Over time, your rushed process will cause your horse to become anxious at the trailer, which makes your ride back more difficult and puts a sour tone on an otherwise-pleasant experience. Here I’ll share how you can make the post-ride trailer experience a safe and positive one for you and your horse.
Organize your trailer’s tack room so that when you take off your horse’s gear, you don’t have to struggle to put it away.
Make sure you haul in a safe trailer free of sharp edges, poor gate latches, and other hazards. Make the trip the most comfortable experience possible.
Make a Checklist
At home, make a checklist before you leave on your trip. Include tack, an emergency kit, feed, buckets, and anything else you’ll need. Bring only what’s essential to keep you and your horse comfortable. Your emergency kit should include flunixin meglumine (brand name, Banamine, as prescribed by your veterinarian) and bandage materials to treat minor cuts and scrapes until you make it to a vet. After your ride, use your checklist to ensure that everything you’ve brought is accounted for and put away. If you break tack or lose a hoof boot, make note of it so you can replace it for the next trip.
Park with Care
Check your surroundings before you park your rig to give your horse the best opportunity possible to load and unload. Sometimes trailheads don’t give you many options. Choose the most level and least obstructed area possible.
Post-Ride Anticipation
As you head back to your trailer, mentally prepare yourself so you don’t become overly anxious and affect you horse’s emotional state. If you get anxious your horse will, too. You don’t rush him through the trail
ride; don’t rush him when you are headed home.
At the trailer, work your horse before you dismount. You don’t need to work him into lather, but you don’t want him to think his job is over as soon as the trailer is in sight. This thinking is what leads to the ridehome jig. Trot circles, bend, flex, back up, then walk him out. Make sure he’s cooled off, calm, and focused before you call it a day.
One Step at a Time
After you dismount, follow these steps to enhance your horse’s relaxation and comfort, increase your organization, and give you peace of mind.
Take your time. Before you load your horse, he should be relaxed and comfortable. If you rush him, he’ll feel as you do when you’re rushed in and out of an appointment—emotionally run over. Instead, tie him to the trailer, and loosen the cinch, but don’t get in a hurry to pull off the saddle. Let him relax as you prep your tack room. Prep the trailer’s tack room. Organize your trailer’s tack room so that when you take off your horse’s gear, you don’t have to struggle to put it away. Hang up your bridle, pull out grooming supplies and water buckets, and make sure everything is >>
At the trailer, groom your horse by hand first to check for sore spots, broken hair, and other injuries. Then groom him thoroughly with your curry and brushes. “I like to give my horse a liniment rubdown, which helps with muscle soreness,” says Ken McNabb.
Inspect your trailer and the load-up position. Once everything looks safe, load your horse in your trailer. Make this the most comfortable experience possible.
clean and ready to use. Then unsaddle your horse. Groom your horse. Groom your horse by hand first to check for sore spots, broken hair, and other injuries. Then groom him thoroughly with your curry and brushes. Make tack care and grooming a part of your post-ride routine; don’t break from your routine in your eagerness to get home. I like to give my horse a liniment rubdown, which helps with muscle soreness. Disinfect your cinch. I disinfect my cinches and hang them up exactly how I want to take them back down. This helps prevent girth itch and future skin irritation, and will make it easier to saddle your horse on your next ride.
Offer water. After your horse has cooled off, but before you load up, make water available to him. Offer it once, and don’t let him play in it. If you let him guzzle it, he can get a gut ache. Check your list. When your horse is relaxed and comfortable, use your checklist to ensure that everything you’ve brought is accounted for and put away. If you break a piece of tack or lose a hoof boot, make note of it so you can replace it.
Check your trailer. Inspect your trailer and the load-up position. Not all trailers have good interior lights, so bring a flashlight or head lamp if there’s a chance you’ll load up after dark. Lights in the trailer door help illuminate the doorway. Although horses have great vision at night, they don’t seem to mind a little help. Once everything looks safe, load your horse in your trailer. Make the trip the most comfortable experience possible.
Final Thoughts
Keep safety top of mind at each stage of your ride, and prepare for a pleasant experience. Make sure you haul in a safe trailer free of sharp edges, poor gate latches, and other hazards. Drive smoothly; don’t jerk around corners, slam on breaks, or accelerate abruptly. Be mindful of your horse’s experience and you’ll avoid trailer balkiness, anticipation, and other unsavory post-ride troubles. USR
This article first appeared in Horse&Rider magazine, (USRider Equestrian Travel Companion's sister publication.) To subscribe, go to horseandrider. com. Reprinted with permission.
Trainer and clinician Ken McNabb of Ken McNabb Horsemanship in Lovell, Wyoming, helps riders and horses enjoy partnerships on the ranch and trail. He hosts clinics at his ranch and throughout the country. His show, Discovering the Horseman Within, airs weekly on RFD-TV. Learn more and find his clinic schedule at kenmcnabb.com.
PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN
When AAA says no,
USRider’s roadside assistance program provies 24/7 roadside assistance for any vehicle our members are traveling in, including tow vehicles and trailers carrying horses. If the unexpected happens, our members know they can call us anytime, day or night.
*Applies to passenger vehicles or light-duty trucks maximum GVWR 14,000 lbs.
LOCKOUT
BATTERY ASSISTANCE
ROADSIDE SERVICE: FLAT TIRE ASSISTANCE, JUMPSTARTS, FUEL DELIVERY
HORSE TRAILER SERVICE & TOWING
EMERGENCY STABLING, VETERINARY & FARRIER REFERRALS
WINCH-OUT
COVERAGE ON DUAL-WHEELED VEHICLES
$5,000 THEFT REWARD FOR TOW VEHICLE & TRAILER
WINNER’S CIRCLE ADVANTAGE DISCOUNTS ONE FREE ASSOCIATE
EMERGENCY DISABLEMENT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT
24-HOUR CONCIERGE SERVICE
6 Steps to Rig-Readiness
Use these six steps to thoroughly prepare your rig to haul your horse this summer and beyond.
By Tom Scheve
Take time now to perform a thorough maintenance check on your truck and trailer to minimize the risk of breaking down roadside.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
The weather is perfect, and you’re ready to hitch up and head out—whether to summer shows, grand adventures, or day trips—but is your rig ready to go? By taking time now to perform a thorough maintenance check on your truck and trailer, you can minimize the risk of breaking down roadside, miles from home.
When putting your rig together, keep in mind this rule of thumb: “Horses first; trailer second; tow vehicle third.” In other words, you choose the trailer to fit your horses, and your tow vehicle to fit your fully loaded trailer.
Step 1. Select the Right Tow Vehicle
Your tow vehicle has to have the right pulling power, curb weight, and wheel base to haul your trailer safely. The simplest way to determine if you have enough towing capacity to pull your trailer is to match it to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This information can be found on the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (called the CO or MSO), the title, or on an information sticker located somewhere on the trailer.
Your tow vehicle has to have the right pulling power, curb weight, and wheel base to haul your trailer safely.
Most two-horse tag-along (bumper pull) trailers will have a GVWR of 7,000 pounds. This means the trailer has two 3,500-pound axles. Most standard two-horse gooseneck trailers will have a GVWR of either 7,000 or 10,400 pounds.
The larger and heavier the trailer, the stronger the axles need to be, increasing the GVWR. It’s a good idea to have your fully loaded trailer weighed so you know the actual weight. If you use this actual weight when choosing your tow vehicle, add at least 15 percent to give you a safety
margin.
Once you’re sure your tow vehicle is a good match, check the oil and all fluids in your truck, and make sure it’s in good operating condition. Perform these checks as close to your departure day as possible.
Step 2. Hitch Up Right
For a tag-along trailer, always use a frame-mounted hitch, not just a ball attached to the bumper. The frame-mounted hitch has ratings on how much weight it can hold (the tongue weight) and how much weight it can pull (the carrying weight) that are separate from what the tow vehicle can haul.
Top: For a tag-along trailer, always use a frame-mounted hitch, not just a ball attached to the bumper.
Left: Make sure that the gooseneck hitch rating is enough to pull your loaded trailer safely.
For example, say your tow vehicle could pull 16,000 pounds, while the frame-mounted hitch on it might only be rated to carry 4,000 pounds. The ratings are usually located on a sticker on the hitch itself. The sticker will list two sets of ratings: weight-carrying ratings and weight-distribution ratings.
Use the weight-carrying rating if you have a slide-in bumper-ball mount. Use the weight-distribution-rating when you use a larger slide-in weight distribution ball >>
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
Walk through the horse area and rub your hands over window frames, bar guards, butt/ breast bar brackets, dividers, etc., to feel for sharp edges or any protrusion that could harm your horse. Make sure all ramps and doors work easily and latch well.
mount with two steel bars to attach from the ball mount to the frame of the trailer. This is a frame-mounted hitch.
Next, check the nut that secures the ball onto the ball mount to make sure it’s tight, or check the pin that secures the slide-in ball mount to the frame-mounted hitch. Also, make sure the ball size matches the coupler size on the trailer. The trailer will have two safety chains that should be crossed and attached to slots on the frame-mounted hitch located on the sides of the tube receiver for the ball mount.
There are various types of gooseneck hitches available. Most brands will have a way to remove the ball when not in use, such as one that will flip down into the bed or one that can be removed. Make sure that the gooseneck hitch rating is enough to pull your loaded trailer safely.
After hooking up, make sure the coupler is locked or latched. You can check this by raising the gooseneck
Check your trailer’s exterior outside for sharp edges or any protrusions. This check helps keep your horse safe when he feeds outside the trailer, and during the loading/unloading process.
while the trailer is hitched to make sure it doesn’t come up off the ball. Your gooseneck hitch will have two places to hook the safety chains that are located on both sides near the ball.
Step 3. Perform a Trailer Check
Don’t assume that the trailer manufacturer and dealer have built and delivered your trailer ready for use; perform a check yourself.
Check the ramps and doors. Make sure all ramps and doors work easily and latch well. Do this again after extended use of the trailer—sometimes things settle and stick.
Check the interior. Walk through the horse area and rub your hands over window frames, bar guards, butt/ breast bar brackets, dividers, etc., to feel for sharp edges or any protrusion that could harm your horse. Check the exterior. Check your trailer’s exterior outside for sharp edges or any protrusions, as well. If
the dividers and center posts are removable, practice removing them to make sure you can perform this task quickly in case of emergency.
Step 4. Check Connectors/ Lights/Tire Pressure
Connect the plug. After you attach your trailer to your hitch, connect the electrical plug. Insert your trailer plug into the tow vehicle receptacle, and start the engine.
Check the tag-along cord. On a tagalong trailer, if the cord is tight from the trailer to the plug, it may pull out of the receptacle, so you may need to have it lengthened. If it’s too long, it might drag on the ground, so you can loop it in such a way that it doesn’t drag. Or, you can have shortened. Or, check the gooseneck cord. The electrical cords on most new gooseneck trailers will be long enough to reach the rear plug located under the rear bumper. If the cord doesn’t reach, you will need to have an electrical connection mounted in your truck bed or have the cord lengthened.
Check all lights. Check all the running lights, turn signals, and brake lights. Check the interior lights—they’re often not prewired on the tow-vehicle plug. To ensure the brakes are working, slowly drive your rig forward while operating the brake controller by hand until the brakes grab. Then use the brake pedal to make sure they work through your system, and adjust according to your loaded weight. They should activate slightly before the brakes on the tow vehicle.
Check tires. Check all trailer tires and spares; they should have good tread (at least one-quarter inch) and filled with air to the tire manufacturer’s recommendation. Tires should also be free of dry rot and weak spots. >>
PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Be sure to check tire pressure again before you head back from your trip.
Step 5. Assemble a Toolkit and Emergency Kits
Don’t get stuck on the road without the tools you may need. In addition to a good jack, make sure your tool box includes a tire gauge, screwdrivers, electric wiring kit/tester, hammer, adjustable pliers, various sizes of adjustable wrenches, a cheater bar (to give you more leverage for stuck
Check all lights, inside and outside your trailer, including the running lights, turn signals, and brake lights. Exterior lights increase your visibility in low light on the road.
bolts), a T lug nut wrench for your wheels, duct tape, extra license-plate bolts, Gorilla glue, rope, and bungee cords.
Assemble a kit for a roadside emergency. This kit will include flares, triangles, a multipurpose tool, first-aid kits for horses and humans, water, and extra lead ropes and halters.
Step 6. Perform a Practice Run
The day before you head out, hitch up your trailer, and run down your checklist on both the trailer and tow vehicle. After you’re sure everything is in working order, practice getting your horses on and off the trailer. You don’t want to struggle with them right before you’re ready to roll.
And finally, as you head down to the end of your drive, stop, get out, and walk around the trailer to check everything one last time.
If you’re on the road and you feel
Check all trailer tires and spares; they should have good tread (at least one-quarter inch) and filled with air to the tire manufacturer’s recommendation.
Before you head out, perform a practice run.
something shift, or hear something that doesn’t sound right, safely pull off the road so you can check it out. It could be anything from a loose ball to a downed horse. USR
Tom Scheve owns EquiSpirit Trailers with his wife, Neva Kittrell Scheve. They’ve written three books on horse trailers, including the nationally recognized textbook, The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer. They reside in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Don’t get stuck on the road without the tools you may need.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
After you attach your trailer to your hitch, connect the electrical plug.
PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
10 Tips for Hot Trips
Learn what it takes to keep your horse safe on the road when temperatures soar.
By Barb Crabbe, DVM
Here’s how to minimize the risks of hot-weather travel to ensure that your horse is safe and that he arrives in top-notch form when it really counts.
An important show, a destination trail ride, a permanent move that involves transporting your horses—whatever the reason for the ride, you and your horse are facing a road trip. How can you minimize the risks of hot-weather travel to ensure that your horse is safe and that he arrives in top-notch form when it really counts?
You’re smart to ask, because trailering horses is always risky. Every time you load a horse in that little metal box, close the doors, and head down the road, he could stress out,
hurt himself, or end up sick. And when temperatures soar, the risks increase.
Here, I’ll explain the added risks of hot-weather travel so you’ll understand what you and your horse are up against when you travel in the heat. Then, I’ll give you 10 time-tested tips to help you keep him safe.
Oh So Hot
To help you understand the risks, let’s start by looking at the four basic mechanisms that help your horse cool down—and how those cooling
strategies are compromised when he’s locked in a box.
1. Convection: Heat (thermal energy) is carried away from your horse’s body as air flows over his skin, as in response to a cool breeze or fan.
Trailering challenge: Often, airflow in a horse trailer is severely limited, especially if it’s standing still (picture a breakdown or long wait in traffic). If there’s no air movement, your horse’s ability to use convection to cool is completely lost.
2. Radiation: Heat is lost into the environment because of a difference in temperature between your horse’s body and the surrounding air.
Trailering challenge: When you load your horse into your trailer, his body heat goes no farther than the trailer walls. Simply put, there’s nowhere for the heat to go. With other horses in the trailer, this problem just gets multiplied.
3. Evaporation: Heat is lost when liquid (sweat) is converted into a vapor. Sweating is your horse’s most important cooling strategy.
Trailering challenge: Have you ever unloaded your horse on a hot day, only to
Know exactly where you’re going, and plot the coolest, most efficient route to get there.
discover that the interior of your trailer feels a little like a sauna? Your horse’s sweat is trapped in that air, and when the air is filled with moisture, your horse stays wet. Evaporation can’t help to keep him cool.
4. Conduction: Your horse’s warm body comes into contact with something cooler, such as a spray of cold water or an ice bag. The heat then conducts (transfers) to the cooler object. Trailering challenge: Unfortunately, the inside of your trailer is likely to be hot,
and hot divider walls won’t help cool your horse down.
Cool-Down Tips
What can you do to ensure that your horse can make the most of his basic cooling mechanisms? Employ the following time-tested tips.
1. Plan ahead. Know exactly where you’re going, and plot the coolest, most efficient route to get there. Check transportation websites and apps for slowdowns and locations of detours and delays. If you’re planning overnight stays, download the directions before you leave. Getting stuck or lost on the way to your horse’s “hotel” means extra time in the trailer—and the less time he spends in the trailer the better, especially when it’s hot.
2. Prepare your paperwork. Have the appropriate travel papers in hand before you leave for your trip. Few things are worse than arriving at a border crossing, only to find out you have to wait in the heat for the local vet to arrive and inspect your horse before you can continue down the road. Call your veterinarian well in advance to find out what you need, and make sure it’s all in order before you leave.
3. Leave early. The time of day you choose to travel can really make a
Often, airflow in a horse trailer is severely limited, especially if the trailer is standing still, such as during a breakdown. If there’s no air movement, your horse’s ability to cool is compromised.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
difference so plan to get an early start! Load up, and hit the road in the wee hours of the morning, when it’s nice and cool. Depending on your destination, try to plan your travel schedule so you’ll be hauling through the hottest areas when it’s cool and resting (with your horse safely unloaded) when it’s hot.
4. Ditch the blankets. Resist the temptation to wrap your horse in clothing before you load up. Naked is best! Remove blankets, coolers, and even scrims or “anti-sweat” sheets. If it’s very hot and he’s an experienced, stable traveler, you may even be able to forego protective boots or bandages on his legs. The more skin that’s exposed to the air, the better off he’ll be.
5. Open up. Open every possible vent
and trailer window (those with bars or screens) to maximize ventilation. Air movement is necessary for your horse to cool via convection. And by allowing the wet, hot air within the trailer to be exchanged with the cooler air outside, you’ll help your horse use radiation and evaporation more effectively.
6. Pre-load fluids. Preventing dehydration is just as important as keeping your horse cool when hauling in the heat. He needs plenty of fluid in his system to keep his cooling mechanisms functioning well. To help him load up on moisture, consider giving him soaked hay, bran mashes, soggy beet pulp, or other wet feed sources for several days before you leave. If he’s notoriously bad about drinking on the
Heat Stress 911
Your horse might overheat in spite of your best efforts. If he seems weak or less responsive than normal, unload him, and check him out. The following signs mean he could be at risk of life-threatening heat exhaustion. (For videos on how to take your horse’s vital signs, click here.)
• Rectal temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• Rapid, shallow breathing, with a respiratory rate higher than 30 breaths per minute.
• Heart rate higher than 60 beats per minute that doesn’t decrease to normal (40 beats per minute) within 10 minutes of unloading.
• Dark-pink mucous membranes.
• Entire body is covered in sweat, with small veins popping out under his skin.
If you see any of these signs, take aggressive measures to cool your horse down.
• Take your horse to a shaded area, ideally where there’s a breeze.
• Remove any blankets, leg bandages, or head bumper.
• Sponge or hose him down with the coldest water you can find. Use ice, if available. Hose him off, scrape off the water, then hose again. By scraping away the water that heats up on his body surface and replacing it with cold, you’ll maximize his heat loss via conduction.
• After you’ve hosed him multiple times, apply rubbing alcohol over his neck and chest and the large muscles of
road, you might even ask your veterinarian about administering fluids via a nasogastric tube or intravenous catheter right before you leave.
7. Boost electrolytes. Your horse loses electrolytes (a medical/scientific term for “salts”) when he sweats, and his electrolyte balance is important for his fluid balance and bodily functions. If you don’t administer electrolytes on a regular basis, consider adding them to your horse’s feed or water beginning five to seven days before you hit the road. If you add electrolytes to his water, make sure to provide fresh non-electrolyte water as well; he might refuse to drink electrolyte water. And don’t make the mistake of just giving your horse a dose of electrolytes right before you leave.
his hindquarters. Alcohol evaporates more rapidly than water, allowing maximum heat loss via evaporation.
• Offer him fresh, cold water to drink.
• Monitor his vital signs every 10 minutes. If they don’t show improvement within 20 minutes, call a veterinarian for help.
If you see any signs of heat stress, take aggressive measures to cool your horse down. Lead him to the shade, remove any gear, and sponge or hose him down with the coldest water you can find.
Cool-Down Kit
■ Water from home
■ Water flavoring
■ Water buckets
■ Horse sponge
■ Scraper
■ Electrolytes
■ Digital thermometer
■ Stethoscope
■ Rubbing alcohol
He needs time to drink enough water to balance what you give; otherwise, the electrolytes can actually cause him to become more dehydrated by drawing fluids out of his blood stream and into his intestinal tract. To make your own, mix three parts sodium chloride (normal table salt) with one part potassium chloride (“lite salt”), and give your horse two to four tablespoons per day.
several weeks before you leave, and use it on the road. This will allow you to mask unfamiliar flavors and encourage him to drink.
“Your horse is likely to lose as much as a pound of bodyweight per hour during travel—even in ideal circumstances.”
8. Carry familiar water. Nothing is more stressful than an overheated horse that won’t drink. And you know what they say about leading a horse to water! If your horse is a fussy drinker, he might refuse to drink “funny tasting” water on the road. To circumvent this, carry plenty of familiar water from home. You also can consider adding a small amount of flavoring (such packaged lemonade or apple-juice concentrate) to his at-home water source for
On hot days, open every barred and screened vents and trailer windows to maximize ventilation.
9. Soak his hay. If you’re going to provide hay while on the road, consider soaking it to provide extra moisture. Not only will this help keep your horse hydrated it’ll also minimize dust and help protect him against irritation to his respiratory tract that can also threaten his health when hauling. If he won’t eat hay, a twice-daily mash or ration of soaked beet pulp could also help.
10. Arrive early. Research has shown that your horse is likely to lose as much as a pound of bodyweight per hour during travel—even in ideal circumstances. That loss is likely to be more when it’s hot. To ensure that your horse is at the top of his game come competition time, plan to arrive at the venue with enough time to allow him to recover from his travels. As a rule of thumb, if your journey is 15 hours or longer, allow a minimum of three days to recover. USR
Barb Crabbe, DVM, treats performance horses and other equine patients at her 32-acre veterinary facility, Pacific Crest Sporthorse, located in Oregon City, Oregon. She’s the author of The Comprehensive Guide to Equine Veterinary Medicine(Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.).
This article originally appeared in Horse&Rider, a sister publication of USRider Equestrian Traveler’s Companion. For subscription information, go to www. horseandrider.com.
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO
Northward, Ho!
Ride and camp in the pristine beauty of British Columbia’s Shuswap Country.
Article and Photos by Kent and Charlene Krone
“Shuswap Country [in south-central British Columbia] has its own unique charm, with topnotch riding and camping opportunities,” write the Krones. “It’s an excellent destination if you enjoy nature, friendly locals, and an impressive array of activities and wineries.” Shown is the Larch Hills Equestrian Camp.
North of the border, a wondrous land awaits adventurous horsemen. An area known as the Shuswap Country, or simply “the Shuswap,” has its own unique charm, with topnotch riding and camping opportunities.
The area, which refers to the environs of Shuswap Lake, is in south-central British Columbia, near the town of Salmon Arm. It’s an excellent destination if you enjoy nature, friendly locals, and an impressive array of activities and wineries.
One recent summer, our good friends Ian Hutcheon and Colleen McMechan, invited us up to Canada to go riding. Ian is a former professor of geology at the University of Calgary; Colleen also has a degree in geology, and is a multifaceted bundle of energy and talent. After retiring, Ian and Colleen established an expansive cattle ranch in southern British Columbia.
Without hesitation, we hitched up our living-quarters trailer and took our Missouri Fox Trotters, Cowboy and Nate, to the Shuswap to camp and trail ride. (For guidelines on importing your horse to Canada for a temporary stay, click here.)
Skimikin
Lake Camping
We trailered to the town of Salmon Arm, in the heart of the Shuswap, then on to Skimikin Lake Equestrian Camp.
To reach Skimikin Lake, take the Trans Canada Highway west from Salmon Arm for about nine miles. Some of the highways to Skimikin Lake Equestrian Camp are narrow, winding, and have miniscule shoulders to accommodate any wayward vehicle.
"The fish-filled Skimikin Lake is a magnet for wildlife. [Y]ou might spot rabbits, coyotes, bears, and even the occasional cougar."
The equestrian campground offers 21 corrals, 48 campsites, and two trailheads. Most campsites have two corrals, a fire ring, and a picnic table. Our horses shared a large water tank.
This shaded camp, fringed with fir and cottonwood trees, is an ideal place to relax on a hot summer days. In the heart of this delightful setting is Skimikin >>
Kent and Charlene Krone’s camp at Skimikin Lake Equestrian Camp. “Fringed with fir and cottonwood trees, Skimikin Lake Equestrian Camp is an ideal place to camp and relax on a warm summer day,” note the Krones.
Lake Equestrian Camp.
Crossing into Canada from the United States at Midway, British Columbia.
The group’s seasoned equine travelers settling in at the spacious Skimikin
Peace of Mind
Planning to trailer your horse to Canada? As a USRider Member, you have an extensive network of dedicated service professionals ready to assist you throughout the Great White North.
Lake, a sparkling emerald.
Early the next morning, we took our coffee down to the lake. We quietly watched stately cottonwood trees admire themselves in nature’s mirror. Sunlight stretched and yawned as it rose and relaxed across the cool, still water.
Our morning silence was broken only by the haunting call of a loon and the raucous honking of Canada geese as they skimmed the water. An osprey divebombed for fish. A duck family waddled by. A majestic eagle perched on a snag.
The fish-filled Skimikin Lake is a magnet for wildlife. In addition to our sightings, you might spot rabbits, coyotes, bears, and even the occasional cougar.
Skimikin Lake Rides
Time to hit the trails! Map in hand, we rode across the road to Trail #2, then took Trail #16 over to Trail #22. Ian and Colleen rode their trusty ranch horses—Junior, a Paint Horse gelding; and Gaylord, a Quarter Horse gelding
The trails were mostly abandoned logging roads that wound uphill and went through coniferous forest. It was easy riding, even though we gained 1,700 feet in elevation on Trail #22. We stopped to admire intermittent views of Shuswap Lake by Salmon Arm. Most of the riding was in the trees, and we welcomed their shade on a hot summer day.
Trail #22 intersects with Trail #32. We picnicked here, then decided to ride Trail #32 to the historical site mentioned on the map. We gave it a good shot, but called it quits when the trail deteriorated into a brushy quagmire with no end in sight. Since we couldn’t continue forward, we headed over to Trail #30, intending to make a loop. We came upon a private-property sign, so we backtracked our way to camp. Our ride was about 11 miles total.
Upon arriving back at camp, we met a young woman heading out for a ride. She’s a competitive trail rider who’s participated in the endurance rides hosted here. She told us that if we would have turned
In the heart of Skimikin Lake Equestrian Camp is Skimikin Lake, a sparkling emerald.
Skimikin Lake attracts abundant wildlife to the area. Wild birds include Canada geese [top]and bald eagles [bottom].
right when we came to the private-property sign, we could’ve completed our loop.
We learned that competitive trail riders, including endurance riders, hold competitions here. For a guide to riding trails in the area, visit the Horse Council British Columbia Online.
Another good riding destination is to the nearby Recline Ridge Vineyards and Winery Ltd. in Tappen. Take Trail #10 to Platt Rd. for a partial return loop.
Larch Hills
We wanted to see more riding areas in this vicinity, so our friends took us up to a nearby ski area called Larch Hills. Larch Hills Equestrian Camp is at a higher elevation than our previous camp had been. Campsites are situated amid a large, grassy park with distant views. Eight corrals are aligned along one side of the camp. We had electricity, potable water, and Wi-Fi access.
A large, rustic ski chalet, maintained by the Larch Hills Nordic Ski Club, is available year-round for rent. It has a woodstove for heat and a minimally furnished kitchen. You supply your own bedding.
The Larch Hills Nordic Society works with local user groups to develop a sustainable plan for yearround trail use throughout the area. Using the Larch Hills trail guide, we first rode a loop that offered views of the town of Salmon Arm and Shuswap Lake. This 7.4-mile loop went through dense tree tunnels.
We rode by cedar trees intermixed with fir and aspen, and through open parks filled with wildflowers. Best of all, there were huge patches of raspberry and thimbleberry bushes.
Our second ride was 14 miles long. We began by riding the Skytrail to the Caribou Meadow Trail and on up to the Summit Trail, gaining 1,200 feet in elevation. There was no view at the top of the mountain, but a flat area nearby offered views of Shuswap Lake and the Purcell Mountains. We enjoyed lunch and gazed at distant hills quilted in varying shades of green.
After a few days of exploring area trails, we said our farewells and headed home. USR
Seasoned equestrian travelers Kent and Charlene Krone combine their interest in photojournalism with a passion for horses. They enjoy sharing their horseback adventures and equestrian-travel tips with fellow enthusiasts.
Information board at the Larch Hills Equestrian Campground.
The Canadian and British Columbia flags on the ski chalet at Larch Hills Equestrian Campground. Equestrians may rent the chalet year-round.
The Krones’ Canadian hosts, Ian Hutcheon and Colleen McMechan, ride the Skyview Trail at Larch Hills.
A Summer of Trouble
One summer, this trail rider experienced three truck breakdowns. Here’s how USRider came to her aid.
By Joan E. Bartz
I’m a trail rider who does a lot of traveling with my horse and dog. I generally travel alone. I do my best to keep my tow vehicle and trailer in good working order, but things do happen. One summer, I went on two road trips and experienced three breakdowns.
Interstate Breakdown
On my first road trip, I traveled from Beetown, Wisconsin (where I’m from), through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and then to Michigan.
Once in Michigan, I’d planned to spend the night with horse friends whom I met while camping in southern Illinois. The plan was to continue from their place to Oscoda, Michigan, to ride the 16-day, 230-mile Michigan Trail Riders Association Shore-toShore Trail Ride.
In my second month on the road, I was driving on the interstate in Indiana when my truck just quit. I was barely able to coast to the shoulder. The traffic was horrendous, the temperature was in the 90s, and there I was, parked snuggly next to a guardrail with a dead truck.
My thoughts immediately went to my USRider Equestrian Motor Plan membership, which I’d had for more than two years, but hadn’t yet used in a roadside emergency.
I pulled out my membership card and cell phone, grabbed my little dog, crawled out the passenger door, climbed over the guardrail, worked my way back to my trailer door, crawled over the guardrail again, got into my trailer, and tried to stay calm as I called the USRider emergency-assistance number.
After her truck broke down on the interstate, Joan Bartz still arrived in time for the 230-mile Michigan Trail Riders Association Shore-to-Shore Trail Ride, with the help of USRider Equestrian Motor Plan.
Joan Bartz was stranded in the heat on the interstate with her horse and her dog until USRider Equestrian Motor Plan came to her aid.
Towed to Safety
The USRider Member Care Specialist asked me if my horses and I were okay. I told her yes, but that we needed to get off the interstate—and soon. My rig was rocking from the traffic. Plus, it was stifling hot.
I decided to have my truck towed to a dealer in the area who could accommodate me, my trailer, and my horse. And so the Member Care Specialist’s challenges began.
The dealership she located was in Noblesville, Indiana. She stayed on the line while I spoke with dealership personnel. The dealership had a grassy area for my horse and was happy to take us.
I discovered that it’s not easy to locate a tow company that will pull both a truck and loaded trailer. But thanks to USRider, a tow-truck driver arrived who was able to skillfully manage this task.
The driver kindly left his truck running with the air conditioner for me and my dog, then maneuvered my truck, with the trailer hooked to it, with professionalism and accuracy.
He towed us about 20 miles to the dealership. Upon arrival, we realized the dealership had a roundabout entrance. I was in awe as the driver pulled around all the vehicles and backed my whole rig alongside the grassy area on the back side of the car lot.
I can’t say enough about the hospitality of the dealership personnel. A staff member hooked me up to electricity, offered to shuttle me to the store, and gave me a cell phone number in case I needed anything during the night.
A sales associate then called a family friend to see if she could take my horse in case I had to stay in the area for the weekend. The owner and his son stopped by several times to
see if we needed anything.
The service department had me on the road by the next afternoon.
I was at my destination in time for the first day of the Shore-to-Shore ride the following morning. The ride was an adventure I’ll never forget. I rode across Michigan from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.
Wedding Woes
When Joan Bartz experienced a truck breakdown on the interstate, the USRider Member Care Specialist arranged an immediate tow to a nearby dealership.
My next trip was to South Dakota to attend an August wedding to be held at the lookout tower at Harney Peak. We were going to ride up to the tower on horseback and climb to the top for the wedding.
Since I’m retired, I decided to take my time getting there. I headed west at the end of July. As luck would have it, my truck blew a tire going through Independence, Iowa. I know how to change a tire, but there was no way I was going to get those lug nuts loose. I didn’t panic—I simply called USRider. The Member Care Specialist sent someone out to help track down a new spare and change the tire for me.
While camping in Brushy Creek, Iowa, I headed into town to get a few groceries, went back to the campground, backed my truck into my spot—and everything went dead.
Oh boy, here we go again, I thought. But again, no panic. I just called USRider, even though it was 10:00 p.m. The nice Member Care Specialist gave me the number of a nearby dealership and said to call back in the morning for a tow truck, if I needed one.
The next morning, I was referred
to a repair shop in town. The tow truck was there before I could get my lipstick on. The mechanic there found the problem (two broken wires under the steering column) and had me back on the road by noon.
After the wedding, my friends and I headed to Elk Haven Horse Camp near Keystone, South Dakota, for a couple of days. When it was time to head home, I went to hitch up and noticed my brake light was on. I couldn’t believe it—I had a leaking rear brake line. I’d had my brake lines replaced the fall before, but I guess they missed a section.
The owner of Elk Haven gave me the phone numbers of a local tow company and repair shop. These numbers in hand, I called USRider to arrange to have my truck towed to Rapid City for repairs. After the brake line was fixed, I got home safely.
Peace of Mind
I’m thankful for USRider, the staff, and my USRider Equestrian Motor Plan membership. Traveling is a lot less stressful when you know assistance just a phone call away. The peace of mind my membership provides undoubtedly makes me feel more at ease while driving by myself.
I’ll always keep my USRider membership. I highly recommend the plan to my horse-traveling friends. USR
Summer Comfort
Water Enhancer
Adding Equatic Solutions’ Horse Quencher—a mix of grains and flavorings—to your horse’s water will encourage him to drink more fluid on the road and at unfamiliar destinations. Pair Horse Quencher with electrolytes to mask their taste. (Electrolytes replenish salts lost in your horse’s sweat.) Made from all-natural ingredients found in most horse feeds, Horse Quencher is safe for competition. Available in apple, butterscotch, peppermint, and root beer flavors.
Portable Water Storage
Carry 48 gallons of fresh water on your next road trip with the Half Moon Hayrack Water Caddy, created by High Country Plastics. Made from FDA-approved polyethylene, the tank is designed to fit on your trailer’s roof hay rack. An aluminum drain insert ensures the drain-attachment point will never break, sun rot, or fail. Each tank comes with a hose kit and shut-off valve for groundlevel draining and refilling. Fits most standard hay racks.
Healing Solutions
Help heal your horse’s skin and pamper his haircoat with Equiderma’s equine grooming and skin-care products. Neem Shampoo is designed to improve skin condition without stripping natural oils. After shampooing, strengthen, soften, and soothe your horse’s skin, haircoat, mane, and tail with Equiderma’s Neem Conditioner. The company’s antifungal, antibacterial Skin Lotion helps remedy scratches, sweet itch, ringworm, mane and tail rubbing, and other skin issues. Use the Zinc Oxide Paste as sun protection, as well as to treat scratches, greasy heel, dew poisoning, and mud fever.
Grooming Gloves
These HandsOn Gloves make summer grooming and bathing your horse as natural as petting. These gloves won’t slip or fall off and can be used wet or dry, so they’re effective for both grooming and bathing, at home and on the road. Scrubbing nodules on the fingers provide a deep clean, while increasing circulation and promoting natural oils for healthy skin and coat. Shedding hair comes out easily with the flick of a wrist. You’ll stay clean while grooming your horse to his best!
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Access Discounts: Farm & Stable Supplies
As a Member of USRider, you can enjoy money-saving discounts from our nationally recognized equine-industry partners. You’ll find exclusive deals on items for you and your horse, including trailering products, tack and equipment, apparel, veterinary supplies, equestrian gifts and jewelry, equine publications, services, and more! If you’re a USRider Member, please log in to access exclusive discount codes. Not a Member? Join today! This issue, we spotlight discounts on Farm & Stable Supplies. For more information on each of these companies, and for more Members-only discounts, click here.
Carri-Lite Corrals----------------------------------------------
Make your horse feel at home during your equestrian travels with the lightweight, portable Carri-Lite Corrals. Connecting rods make setup easy and quick, while a low panel height adds stability. The corral’s lightweight aluminum and minimal parts make it easy to setup and store. The company also distributes products for your farm or stable, including fencing panels and gates; stall fronts; waterers; portable generators and inverters; and a ranch welcome star. USRider Members receive free shipping (a $99 value) on Carri-Lite Corrals.
GGT Footing® ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more than 25 years, Polysols, the parent company of GGT Footing produced innovative equestrian-footing products for riding arena construction. With a focus on developing the best combination of synthetic chopped nonwoven material, and combining it with the highest quality sands at proven quarries across the county, GGT Footing has elevated the performance of equestrian footing for all disciplines, and at the highest levels of show jumping and dressage. Whether you need of an arena makeover or you just need to freshen up your footing, GGT Footing’s expert team can help you design exactly what you need.
Heritage Equine Equipment ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heritage Equine Equipment is a family-owned horse stall manufacturing company located in rural Box Springs, Georgia. Owner Mark Hopkins has been designing and building equine facilities for almost 30 years. Heritage was created to provide stalls, Dutch doors, barn doors, etc., for the projects he was building. As the company grew, Hopkins’ wife, Marybeth, joined the team. Today, Heritage is a nationwide provider of custom-built equine equipment. You can count on Heritage for strength, beauty, durability, and long-lasting performance. USRider Members receive a 3% discount.
RosTech® Electronics
RosTech Electronics not only makes closed-circuit television systems for horse trailers, they also manufacturer long-range cameras for your horse facility. Camera kits include the wireless Barn Camera for monitoring your horse barn and foaling barn; the Farm Equipment Camera System (wireless or wired), designed to monitor all activities outside the cab of your truck or tractor; the wireless 4 Camera Sentinel Security System; and the wireless Gate Monitoring System. USRider Members receive a $50 discount on the purchase of a system.
Fly Predators® are nature’s most powerful fly control solution. By killing flies before they hatch, Fly Predators dramatically reduce your fly problem without the use of harsh chemicals. Backed by decades of research and more than 23,000 reviews, Fly Predators are the fly control solution that really works!
Riding-Helmet Tips
By Audrey Pavia | Photos by Heidi Melocco
The most important part of your riding ensemble is your riding helmet, which helps to protect your head in the event of a fall. Here’s how to select the right helmet and how to fit it for optimal function.
Start with Selection
■ Look for the ASTM/SEI label. Helmets that are ASTM-approved and SEI-certified have been manufactured to meet certain safety standards tailored for the horseback rider. “ASTM” stands for the American Society for Testing and Materials, an organization that determines the safety standards of a variety of products. “SEI” refers to the Safety Equipment Institute, an organization that verifies that manufacturers are following the standards established by the ASTM.
■ Find a helmet you’ll wear. Some helmets feature a rugged look, while others have a sleek, aerodynamic design. If you like the way your helmet looks, you’ll be more likely to wear it on every ride.
■ Choose the material. Some helmets feature a shiny plastic finish, while others have leather or felt covers. The material you choose is a matter of aesthetics. Pick the one that best suits your riding style. Leather covers typically have a Western look, while plastic is sportier. English riders often choose helmets with felt covers.
■ Choose the venting. Passive venting allows warm air to escape from inside the helmet, even when you’re stationary. Active venting requires movement to push air through the helmet. A helmet usually has passive venting if there are holes cut in the top. Most helmets with active venting have holes in the sides and in the back.
■ Select a color. Get a color that you like, keeping in mind that lighter colors can be cooler than dark colors in hot weather.
Focus on Fit
■ Measure your head. Measure your head with a cloth measuring tape to determine your hat size. Then look on the helmet packaging to see which size you need, based on your measurements.
Look for a helmet whose basic design fits your particular head shape. This helmet will be more likely to stay put on your head in the event of a fall.
Get a color that you like, keeping in mind that lighter colors can be cooler than dark colors in hot weather.
The helmet should sit straight on your head, covering your forehead. The brim should be two fingers’ width from your eyebrows.
■ Do your hair. Before you try on helmets for fit, wear your hair the way you will when you’re riding. Your hairstyle will affect how the helmet sits on your head.
■ Find the right shape. Look for a helmet whose basic design fits your particular head shape. This helmet will be more likely to stay put on your head in the event of a fall. Make sure the helmet feels snug without too much pressure.
■ Position it right. The helmet should sit straight on your head, covering your forehead. The brim should be two fingers’ width from your eyebrows.
■ Adjust the chin strap. Adjust the strap so it’s snug, yet comfortable, under your chin. Always fasten the chin strap, even when you’re on the ground. An unsecured helmet won’t protect you, and can even be dangerous if it’s knocked out of position in a fall.
■ Shake your head. Give your head a shake while you’re wearing the helmet. You don’t want it to move.
■ Walk around. Walk around the store while wearing the helmet to see whether it’s comfortable as you move.
We thank Troxel, LLC, for contributing information to this article.
