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Penny Gillette has been involved with public safety for over 21 years. For five years Penny was responsible for patrolling Arizona's interstates and two-lane highways. She has responded to many situations where trailered horses were involved. Penny's own experience with horses, along with her experience as an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer, makes her Tucson's resident expert on trailer safety. Regardless of the number of years of experience you have trailering horses, please read the following information taken from Penny's presentation at the April 20, 2002, TDC General Meeting. You may pick up a few tips to help in a difficult situation; or better yet, prevent an accident from happening.
BEFORE YOUR TRIP
The most important thing you can do before hitting the road with your horses is to educate and prepare yourself for things that could potentially go wrong. Think about situations that may happen and how you will react if put in an unfortunate situation. Along with mentally preparing, follow Penny's "Ten Point Safety Check" before you leave the driveway. It is also a good idea to perform this check after rest stops along your journey.
Check the hitch connection. Be sure the ball is connected tightly to the receiver; the ball can vibrate off and drop your hitch.
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Check the brake battery and electrical system of the trailer. Pack rats and heat can cause damage to trailer wiring.
Look for beehives under and in your trailer.
Most importantly, check the condition of all tires. Dry rot on tires can lead to a complete and immediate deflation of the tire, or sidewall blow-out.
Follow your trailer manufacturer's suggestions for maintenance, such as greasing the wheel bearing.
Keep a log of the number of miles driven with your trailer. This log will help you know when maintenance is needed.
Routinely check the structure of your trailer, specifically for rattling that may aggravate your horses. Check floorboards regularly.
Be sure you understand your rig and how it handles full before a long journey. Trailers handle very differently full then empty. When you have a trailer or truck that is new to you, practice backing in an empty parking lot. If your vehicle has recently been serviced, it is a good idea to drive your vehicle for a few hundred miles before hauling, just in case it was not serviced properly.
Learn how to change flat tires on your vehicle and trailer before your trip. Practice with help. Women can learn to lay on their back
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and use their legs to lift a tire onto the axle. This practice will also help you to gather the correct lug nut keys you need for your trailer and vehicle.
Check the DPS 800# for detours and construction zones. A single call can help you avoid high traffic areas and delays. If traveling with a caravan, exchange cell-phone numbers, vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers. If you become separated and a roadside emergency is suspected, you can provide this helpful information to officers.
In addition to the "Ten Point Safety Check," routine maintenance to your trailer and vehicle are very important.
WHAT TO HAVE WITH YOU
One of the most important items you can have with you is emergency contact information. If you are in an accident where you are transported away in an ambulance, you can provide officials with information for someone who will come to get your horses. Prepare an emergency notification form similar to the one shown on page 11. Place this form in your glove box with your vehicle registration. Keep this form up to date! If there is no one for DPS to call, it could be one to two hours before help from the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Livestock Office arrives.
(Continued on page 11)
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