Walking On Volume 3, Issue 9, October 2016 | Page 12

Back to Basics

USRider: Preparation
For Winter Trailer Storage
By USRider Equestrian Motor Plan
Another hot summer has come to an end; another
show season for the books. It may be hard to imagine
those snow-covered roads, and depending on where
you live, they could be just weeks away. Some of us show
horses year-round, but for others it’s that time to prep
the trailer for winter storage and perform preventative
maintenance so your rig is as ready as you are come
spring!  Then there are USRider members in Florida
and other southern states where winter is their ride and
show season.
Many make the mistake of unhooking from their
trailer and leaving it for the winter – Out of sight, out
of mind. What horse owners need to remember is that
your trailer provides a safe way for your horses to go to
and from horse shows, veterinary appointments, trail
rides, etc. They represent a significant investment and
should be well maintained.
With help from Neva Kittrell Scheve, and her husband Tom, author of The Complete Guide to Buying,
Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer and designers/owners of EquiSpirit Trailers, here are
some helpful tips to keep
your trailer in top shape
throughout the winter.

stored outside, cover the tires with vinyl tire coverings that are easily removed in case you need to
activate your trailer quickly in an emergency. If the
tires are over six years old, now is a good time to
replace them. Whether the tires have good tread or
not, the integrity of the tire changes, glues weaken,
etc. There is a build date on the tire that states the
week and year the tire was manufactured. For more
information visit tirerack.com.
• Lubricate mechanical moving parts, such as the
hitch and suspension parts that are exposed to the
weather. Leave some windows partly open so moisture doesn’t build up in the tack or stall area, causing
mildew and mold. Since it will be out of service for a
while, it’s a good time to have the bearings checked
and greased, the brakes checked and adjusted, and
the lights, turn signals, and electric brakes inspected.
Along with these recommendations, it’s also a good
idea to store your trailer inside, out of the elements if
possible. If you do not have a place, you may want to

• Remove the emergency
breakaway battery and
store inside, out of the
weather. Charge the
battery at least every
90 days. If the trailer
has an additional RV
battery (a popular option) remove and store
battery properly and
charge before re-installing it when putting the
trailer back into use.
• Inflate the tires to the
maximum psi and if
12 • Walking On

©STEVEN DAMRON