Expo will showcase horse trailers that have gone upscale
Last year, I know my mouth dropped open and my eyes about popped out when I stepped into the living quarters of an upscale horse trailer during the Ride the West All Breed Horse and Trade Expo.
While there has long been some form of modest sleeping arrangements available for horse haulers, the humble horse trailer—as with other segments of the RV market—has gone upscale with luxurious living quarters complete with tip-outs (also known as slides).
This year there will be three Inland Northwest horse trailer firms at the expo that begins its three-day run Friday at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.
Be ready to walk through impressive “living quarter” units from Horse Trailers Northwest of Post Falls, Huber Towne and Country Trailers of Spokane, and Columbia River Trading Co. of Kennewick.
“About half of our customers are looking for trailers with living quarters,” said Janice Hansen, who owns Horse Trailers Northwest in Post Falls, with her husband Larry.
“We’ve had a hard time keeping them in stock,” she said. “People seem to like the fact that they can stay with their horses on the show grounds, and it is more economical because they save on lodging and food.”
Family adventure
“When we first started selling them,” said Cathy Pipes, owner with her husband, Gary, of Columbia River Trading Co. in Kennewick, “it was the trailer for the person with extra money.
“Now, with a lot of horse people, it’s their recreation and the kids are involved. They spend the majority of their nonwork hours with their horses, doing horse activity.”
Convenience is also a key reason for buying
“So many people are getting tired of putting their camper on the back of the truck and hooking up the bumper-pull trailer,” said Lynn Horne of Huber Trailer Sales. “With these models, everything you need is right there — the living quarters and the horse trailer. All you have to do is back up your truck and go.”
Prices vary greatly, depending on size of trailers, how many horses it hauls (the most popular size is a three-horse) and options. They start in the high-$20,000 and go up from there.
“The most expensive one we’ve had on our lot is a Sundrider that retails at $108,000,” said Pipes. “It sleeps six quite comfortably and comes with a slide, hardwood interiors and leather sofas. It is beautiful.”
With these trailers, however, one can’t lose sight of the primary reason to buy one — transporting horses.
The “business end” of these trailers includes options for a saddle rack, folding tack room, hay rack, loading ramp, mangers and rear video system to monitor the horses during transport.
“Almost everyone is asking for the walk-through door in the bulkhead between the first stall and the living quarters,” said Horne.
Important features for comfort and safety of the four-legged passengers include smooth stall finishes, recessed light fixtures, spring-loaded stall gates and rear-door latches that resist kicks and keep the horses secure during bumpier rides.
“Horses are kind of hard on trailers,” said Pipes, “and the trailers have to be sturdy enough to carry the weight and stand up to the wear and tear. They have to be light yet rugged.”
For more information
• The three-day Ride The West All Breed Horse and Trade Expo opens Friday at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center at Havana and Broadway.
Day tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate (ages 9 and under are free). Friday and Saturday Night Gala tickets are $6, in advance or at the door.
For more information call 466-9639 or visit the Web site at www.ridethewest.net.
• Contact Cathy or Gary Pipes at Columbia River Trading Co., 320 W. Columbia Drive in Kennewick; (509) 586-1610 or (800) 586-1610.
• Janice and Larry Hansen of Horse Trailers Northwest can be reached at 1040 N. Highway 41 in Post Falls; (208) 773-1817.
• Sales representative Lynne Horn will answer questions at Huber Towne and Country Trailers, 13426 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane; (509) 892-0587.
RV 101 workshop update
Last week one of the dates for the RV “Basic Training” classes was incorrectly listed due to reporter error.
The correct information is that the three-hour “Basice Trailing” class is being offered twice — once on Sept. 29 beginning at 6 p.m. at Central Valley High School (course number 7569); and repeated on Nov. 10 starting at 6:30 p.m. at North Central High School (course number 7541). Registration fee is $17.
The three-hour “RV Care and Maintenance” workshop is also being offer twice — once on Nov. 3 beginning at 6 p.m. at Central Valley High School (course number 7570); and repeated on Nov. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. at North Central High School (course number 7542). Same price, $17.
Both classes include handouts.
To register, call 279-6000 or stop by the Iinstitute for Extended Learning office at 3305 W. Fort George Wright Drive between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.