10/14/2026
Let’s start a debate that I’m sure will get some mixed opinions.
Should a horse be expected to load reliably before being booked with a professional transporter, or is dealing with difficult loaders just part of the job?
We’ve encountered everything from horses that walk right on to horses that have seemingly never seen a trailer before.
There’s a pretty big difference between a horse that’s a little hesitant and one that has absolutely no understanding of what’s being asked of it.
Some people believe that if you’re paying a professional to transport your horse, getting that horse onto the trailer should be part of the service. Others believe it’s the owner’s responsibility to make sure their horse has the basic training necessary to load safely before scheduling transportation.
And then there’s the question of how much time a transporter should reasonably be expected to spend trying to load one horse, especially when there are other horses on board and clients waiting for their arrivals.
So where do you draw the line?
Is loading the horse entirely the transporter’s responsibility, the owner’s responsibility, or somewhere in between?
We’d love to hear from horse owners, trainers, and fellow transporters. I’m sure there are some interesting stories and differing opinions out there.
