Introduction
It is quite obvious that in the United States, horse riding is among the most popular sports. There are a total of around 7.25 million horses in the US!
According to recent statistics, the Horse industry contributes $122 billion to the United States economy annually. Many equestrian sports, such as dressage, eventing and jumping, require the transportation of horses. Nature lovers prefer to take their horses to vacation spots along with them, as people who own horses and enjoy horse riding tend to carry their horses to distant locations and events for leisure activities.
There are two ways by which people usually transport horses: by air and by trailer. Using the air is smooth and requires less time. However, flying your horse by air is expensive, with limited flight schedules. While using horse trailers can be time-consuming, it is a cheap and convenient option for many, especially if you use an experienced transport company to transport horses and livestock, such as U-Haul.
U-Haul has a wide variety of options for rental trucks and trailers. In this blog, we will discuss the types of horse trailers available in U-Haul, the rental process, details about how to pick and return the horse trailers, and the cost and pricing of U-Haul Horse Trailers.
Types of U-Haul Horse Trailers
U-Haul has a wide range of transport trucks and trailers to choose from. Broadly, the types of U-Haul trucks are divided according to the number of horses for which you need the trailer, i.e., single-horse and multiple-horse trailers. Single-horse trailers are usually used for shorter trips and for single horses only. The space isn’t sufficient for more than one horse. For more than one horse, you can opt for multiple-horse trailers. The facilities provided are according to two or three horses and for long distances.
Single-horse trailer includes:
Economy: This single-horse trailer has a dimension of 6’x7′ ft. This one comes with:
- a ramp
- a water bucket
- a hay rack
Deluxe: This single-horse trailer is a little bit larger with the dimensions of 6”x8 ft. Deluxe trailer comes with:
- a ramp
- a water bucket
- a hay rack
- a saddle rack
The multiple-horse trailer includes:
Two-horse trailer: This trailer is quite sufficient to accommodate two horses. The dimensions are 7’x16′ ft. The trailer has the following amenities:
- a ramp
- two water buckets
- two hay racks
Three-horse trailer: This one has space to accommodate up to three horses. The dimensions are 7’x20′ ft. In Addition, a three-horse trailer is equipped with:
- a ramp
- three water buckets
- three hay racks
Hence, the type and size of the trailer you choose depend upon various factors. First of all, you have to decide on a budget. U-Haul trailers are available in multiple price ranges for the convenience of the customers. Then, it would be best if you thought of what you need in a trailer, such as a deluxe or economy trailer. Moreover, both of them have different facilities to accommodate your requirements. Since U-Haul has a multiple-horse trailer as well, one should also keep in mind the number of horses you need the trailer for and the distance they will be traveling to select the right trailer.
If you need any additional accessories, such as a tow hitch and safety chains to secure your horse, you can easily purchase or rent them from U-Haul.
The Rental Process
U-Haul provides customers with options for both online and in-person reservations. Moreover, people can also opt for insurance for the trailer and the horse while purchasing. For reservation, you should first identify yourself through a valid Canadian or US driving license. However, you should take care of certain requirements while making the reservation. To reserve the trailer, you need to have the following:
- Authentic Driving License
- Valid credit card or debit card. The cards that are accepted are Mastercard, Visa, Discover and Amex.
- Any document to prove that you have the insurance of horse and trailer.
Following is the step-by-step guide for in-person and online Reservations:
In-Person Reservation
Step 1: Visit your nearest U-Haul retail store or outlet
Step 2: Inform the customer care representative that you want to rent a horse trailer
Step 3: Select the trailer type according to your requirement
Step 4: Select your location and date of pick-up
Step 5: Provide your personal and payment details to a customer care representative.
Step 6: Confirm your rental and sign the rental agreement.
Online Reservation
Step 1: Visit U-Haul’s official website
Step 2: Select your pick-up and drop-off location
Step 3: Select your pick-up and drop-off time
Step 4: Go to equipment and select ‘Horse Trailer’
Step 5: You can see a variety of options available. Select a horse trailer according to your needs.
Step 6: Add to Cart
Step 7: Review your reservation
Step 8: Enter checkout
Step 9: Add your personal and payment information
Step 10: Click on Submit reservation.
Picking Up & Returning the Horse Trailer
After you are done with the reservation, you have to keep in mind a few protocols that you should follow while picking up and returning the horse trailers.
Pick-up Guidelines
At the time of pick-up, you can visit any nearest U-Haul store. After reaching the store, show the reservation number and ID to the customer care representative. After verifying your reservation, the representative will take you to your rental trailer. At that time, it is recommended to inspect the trailer properly as well as assess the safety and functionality of the trailer. Look for any damage on tires, water buckets, ramp, hay stacks, interior or any faulty brake or tie rings. However, if you don’t notice any damage, you can accept the trailer, and you are good to go. But if you find any damage, report it to the customer care representative immediately.
Return Guidelines
Once you are done using the trailer, you should return it according to the time set and days mentioned on your rental agreement. You can return the horse trailer to any U-Haul location. Go to the customer care representative and provide your personal information, such as your name and your contact number. Inform him that you are here to return the trailer. The representative will inspect the trailer before accepting it. In case any damage is found, you have to pay the charges, so it’s wise to be present while the inspection is being done. Once the inspection is completed, you can hand over the keys to the customer care representative and sign the return form.
Cost and Pricing of U-Haul Livestock Trailers
The rent of horse trailers at U-Haul is charged per day. The least amount of rent you can expect is $150 per day. However, more charges are added depending on the size, the type and the number of days you rent the trailer.
There are other charges that you should keep in mind while renting a horse trailer. These include a mileage fee, which is around $0.75 per mile, as well as a fuel surcharge, which is $0.50 per gallon. The insurance fee depends upon the type of trailer, its value and the total period you are renting the trailer.
Moreover, if you don’t return the trailer clean, then you have to pay cleaning charges of $100 additionally, and if you need other accessories, such as safety equipment or a towing hitch ($20 per day), then you have to pay more depending upon the rental fee or cost of each accessory.
To give you a rough estimate, here is an example of a 2-day horse rental for 200 miles:
- Base rate: 2 days × $150/day = $300
- Mileage fee: 200 miles × $0.75/mile = $150.
- Fuel cost: 14 gallons × $0.50/gallon = $7.
- Insurance charges: 2 days × $10/day = $20.
- Accessories such as towing hitch: 2 days × $20/day = $40.
- Cleaning charges: $100.
Total rental charges: $ 617
Conclusion
All in all, U-Haul has a variety of horse trailers that you can rent for your leisure or equestrian activities. There are various types of trailers that you can choose from depending on the number of horses, duration of the trip, your budget and the facilities you need in a trailer. For instance, a Deluxe trailer has more facilities than an Economy trailer, comparatively.
Customers can make the reservation online and in person. Above mentioned is a step-by-step guide for your ease. For identification, you should have an authentic driving license, and for reservation requirements, you should have a driving license, a valid credit card and insurance proof. Always make sure that you inspect the trailer before accepting it from the customer care representative. Moreover, the final rental amount is dependent upon the number of days you are renting the trailer. You should expect your final rental bill to have other charges included as well, such as fuel charges, mileage fees, cleaning charges, insurance fees and other accessories rental.
You can contact U-Haul through their official website, and you can visit the U-Haul store to inquire more about the size, type and other details regarding U-Haul horse trailers. U-Haul customer care services are available 24/7 and are quite responsive to clear out all your queries.
