Ramp or Step up?

[horse_lover]

Wich one do the mojority of Canter Culture members perfer? because Mom mom and I are getting a new trailer, YAY, and the ppl at the trailer place mostly have step ups and I don't think they have any trailers like we want with a ramp... Should we go ahead and get a ramp and get our horses used to it or wait till a ramp trailer comes allong, I have realized that most western ppl like sep ups and most english ppl have ramps... I'm english and all of our horses like ramps, they've never used a step up.. has anyone had a bad step up ex-peirence before? and Wich do YOU ppl prefer?

[zansgoodnews]

I'm English as well and I prefer step-ups. For some reason most horses I come across around here prefer step-ups and most horse owners around me have step-up trailers. I haven't ever had any bad experiences with them, and they are def what I prefer. I have had bad experiences with the ramps where a horse will back up crooked and step off the ramp to the side then panic and end up getting hurt.

[StarGirl]

I personally thinkramps are safer, I've had horses back out of step ups and injure themselves by catching themselves on the legs or panicking when they can't reach the ground....things happen, I would go with a ramp...

[hoovesfirst]

well i have a step up and have no problem with it but young horses can trip comeing out but i think it doesn't make that much diference if your horse gets used to it i suggest buy a step up and on a day when your not in a rush and not going anywhere practice loading and un loading your horse to get the horse used to it that way it will be safe :D

[mhoney05]

all the horses we trailored hated stepups so we converted it to a ramp trailor. its pretty cool ;)

[iluvcreek4vr]

I dont have a trailer but the people that i usually ride with have a step up but ramps are probably a lot safer compared to step ups.

[PrissyBritches]

I could go either way on this. I like both. But I have a ramp load :)

[DixieGirl]

I have a step up and I like it a lot. What kinda trailer are you getting??

[silverleprichuan]

Ramps are easier for bad loaders and nervous horses, but step ups are more convenient.

If you have a bunch of easy loaders then a step up is faster and usually cheaper.


I have seen nervous horses refuse to back out of a step up trailer (it took us close to 45 min to get him out). Not the way you want to start a morning at a show ;)

[zansgoodnews]

One of the main reasons why I have always prefered step ups is because I have had quite a few bad experiences with them from my yearling who was asolutely terrified of the ramp but would hop up nicely on a trailer without a ramp to several horses I have seen rushing to get off the ramp and ending up hurting themself.

However, I DO likes ramps if it's a two-horse straight load because its really difficult to have horses load onto that kind of trailer without a ramp. PrissyBritches has that sort of trailer and I couldn't imagine getting any of our horses onto it without a ramp. My instrctor has a nine horse slant load and I couldn't imagine that thing with a ramp. I think it all depends on what kind of trailer you are looking for.

[Manda]

i've always used step-ups. never had a problem with them :D and wes isn't the best loader around either lol.

[Haley]

I've only used ramps, and I prefer them. Step-ups are fine if you only have one horse, or all easy loaders, but many horses dislike them. Also, they're easier to load than to unload with; horses seem to much rather step up than step down, especially if they are backing out.

[horse_lover]

ok, here's what's going through my head:
I have a 3 yr old horse who is a little skittish, and all our other horses arefairly good loaders. So, I'm thinking of going ahead and going with the step up, I know a ramp is safer, but step ups are easier and we would have to pay like $500 more to get a ramp put on, and most our orses are pretty sensible and smart about trailers, I told my mom that when we got the trailer I would want her put it out in the pasture for a few days, the first day for them to just get used to it and explore it and stuff and the second day for me to get them all better at loading in it by using this indian natural horseman guy's trailering ideas that sould AMAZING and like they would work great! So what do you guys think...?

[DixieGirl]

Good idea!! What brand is the trailer you are getting?? How many horses does it fit in it??

[zansgoodnews]

I think that as long as the three year old has been introduced to the trailer and you are calm with the horse around the trailer then everything should be fine. The natural horsemanship thing sounds good too :) I like doing natural horsemanship with my horses and it has helped a lot.

[Raggle]

I suppose it depends on the horse and the situation. I'd like to have a ramp if it is needed for that event, but a step up works just as well in my opinion. I've seen a lot of success with horses being trained to load on a step up trailer. But again, I think it depends.

[PrissyBritches]

One of the main reasons why I have always prefered step ups is because I have had quite a few bad experiences with them from my yearling who was asolutely terrified of the ramp but would hop up nicely on a trailer without a ramp to several horses I have seen rushing to get off the ramp and ending up hurting themself.

However, I DO likes ramps if it's a two-horse straight load because its really difficult to have horses load onto that kind of trailer without a ramp. PrissyBritches has that sort of trailer and I couldn't imagine getting any of our horses onto it without a ramp. My instrctor has a nine horse slant load and I couldn't imagine that thing with a ramp. I think it all depends on what kind of trailer you are looking for.


I agree 100% :)

[horse_lover]

Good idea!! What brand is the trailer you are getting?? How many horses does it fit in it??


Shadow brand and it is a three horse slant-load

[PrissyBritches]

Shadow brand and it is a three horse slant-load


I want a three horse slant load really badly. :) Like zansgoodnews said, I have a 2 horse straight load with a ramp. I got that trailer used for 2,000. Dont know what brand it is though. Since I have three horses now I want a three horse slant load step up. :)

[zansgoodnews]

Shadow brand and it is a three horse slant-load

In that case I would def stay with the step-up.

[horse_lover]

ok! thank ou ALLL SO MUCH!!!!