Choosing the right trailer is one of the most important ways to ensure your horse’s comfort, health, and safety. If you’re like me, you want a trailer built by a team that understands how important this decision is. You’re looking for a trailer made by horse people, for horse people—and that’s exactly what the people behind River Valley horse trailers are proud to be.
But what does that mean for the design and features of their trailers?
Let’s take a look at some of the key elements:
5 Key Features of River Valley Horse Trailers
1. 20-year Warranty Rumber Flooring
One of the biggest benefits of River Valley horse trailers is that they include Rumber flooring with a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty.
We’ve discussed the benefits of Rumber flooring before, but they’re always worth mentioning. Rumber is tough but flexible, giving horses a firm footing while also cushioning the floor. As a result, Rumber causes much less muscle fatigue or joint stress on horses during transportation when compared to aluminum or wood flooring.
Rumber can be quickly washed off with a hose and its durability helps you extend the life of your trailer.
2. Shallow Ramps
For safe and easy loading, River Valley trailers have 54-inch rear and side ramps, which are less steep than the traditional 48-inch ramps.
Here at Blue Ridge, we’re fans of the side ramps in particular. Side ramps allow horses to come forward down a ramp when unloading, as opposed to backing up, which is unnatural for them—horses will only move backwards instinctively when they feel threatened.
River Valley straight load trailers (both bumper pull and gooseneck) at Blue Ridge come with side ramps. The bumper pull with a side ramp is a two-horse trailer and there are two-, three-, and four-horse gooseneck trailers with side ramps available.
3. Front-to-rear Trailer Ventilation
You want your trailer to be sturdy and tough, but it’s just as important to provide a comfortable, low-stress ride for your horse. River Valley trailers offer front-to-rear ventilation to keep temperatures cool and horses happy.
Double windows in the horse area along with windows above the rear ramp and in the dress wall provide complete ventilation for the trailer. The trailers are also insulated the full height of the wall, compared to the 48-inch insulation in most competing models.
Tubular head and shoulder dividers further improve ventilation while also providing more light in the trailer.
4. Eco-friendly Materials
Here’s where that Rumber flooring comes in again. Rumber is made from recycled tire rubber—the tires get heated, plasticized for rigidity and molded into boards.
The resulting product is not only eco-friendly but also durable and non-flammable.
5. Bang for your Buck
We’ve found that River Valley trailers cost anywhere from 5% to 10% less than competing manufacturers. Add the fact that most other manufacturers are not willing to support Rumber flooring, and you’re looking at a great value for cost with River Valley.
Want to compare River Valley horse trailers to our other models? Check out the Blue Ridge Trailers horse trailer selection or contact us directly. We’re always happy to answer questions and help you make the right choice for your horse.