Q&A: leaving front trailer door open

• Wednesday, 11 June 2008
• Jon Phillips, Managing Director of the Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer Owners
• 0 Comments

Q: I have towed with the top front door on my horse trailer open on a very hot summer day when we were going a short distance. I have also seen others do the same. Are there any legal requirements about having the doors open or closed?

A: There is no legal requirement to travel
with the front door open or closed. However, the primary purpose of the door is
to allow the allow an exit route from the trailer via the front ramp
— it is not designed for ventilation or to be left open in transit.
The possibility that airborne debris could be blown through the trailer onto
the horses and the actual wind speed makes it undesirable to leave the door
open. Exposing horses to high wind speeds could be both dangerous and
unnatural. It should be remembered that in an open space, a horse will always
try to turn its head away from any prevailing high wind. If they do this in a
trailer it may affect their ability to balance.