Not too much going on here. We're all good! (0: Got this from a friend on Facebook. Thought I'd share it here too. Because who hasn't been hauling and had some Dirty Dingus Magee tailgate, cut us off, or just plain drive with a blatant disregard for anyone's safety??
I didn't write this. (I did modify it a tad to personalize it) but it is essentially the same as it was before I copied and pasted it here.
Dear Drivers, (and all my non-horsey friends!)
My most valued possession is inside the trailer behind my truck. He stepped into that rolling steel box because I asked him to and he trusts me. He’s a living, breathing creature, and all 1200lbs of him are precariously balanced on four tiny hoofs as my truck and trailer wind down the road.
My horse is not a boat or camp trailer. I cannot stop quickly, or turn sharply, without risking his safety and even his life.
Please understand that I will do just about anything to avoid hitting the brakes with a horse in my trailer. However, if your Suburban is hidden in the blind spot behind my three-horse trailer and I do have to stop suddenly, you’re way too close to stop without ending up in the trailer with my horse.
When I make those wide turns, it's to prevent my horse from losing his balance and scrambling to stay on his feet. Please give me room and time to turn.
And that large distance between me and the vehicle in front of me? It might look like enough room to fit three sedans bumper to bumper, but it’s actually the distance I need to stop softly and safely without throwing my horse into the wall of the trailer.
Those times when we’re headed up a hill, my speed is as fast as I can go, (and my truck even has a HEMI!) My foot has the accelerator pressed to the floor, and no matter how hard you try, your Honda can’t push us up this hill. I promise I’ll move to the right lane when it becomes available or pull over if I find a safe spot on the shoulder, but until then I ask for your patience and some space.
Lastly, my set up weighs 3 tons, and that much weight prevents me from swerving. When you pass me going 80mph uphill on a blind corner, I can't swerve over if you need to suddenly get back into our lane. Your not only putting my horse at risk: Your driving threatens the lives of the oncoming driver, my passenger, me, you, and everyone in the vehicles behind us.
So next time you see a horse trailer, assume an animal’s in there. Please give the them some space and try to be patient. By driving safely, we’ll all get where we’re going.
Thank you, horse owner
