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Trailer Emergency Kit

Click the image above to download a printable version of this checklist.

Dr. James Hamilton, DVM, coauthored Equine Emergencies on the Road with Neva Scheve and recommends the following items for your trailering emergency kit.

  • Properly inflated spare tire that matches the other trailer tires
  • Tire iron(s) that fits the lug nuts on both tow vehicle and trailer
  • Wheel chocks
  • Bottle jack or other jack for tow vehicle
  • Drive-on trailer jack (plastic or metal)
  • Electrical tape
  • Duct tape
  • Flashlight with spare batteries (ideally also with cigarette lighter recharger)
  • Three emergency flares or triangle signs
  • Sharp knife
  • Water: 20 gallons per horse (enough for drinking, cooling an overheated horse, cleaning wounds)
  • Bucket and sponge
  • Spare halter and lead rope
  • Extra fuses and light bulbs for running lights and interior trailer lights
  • Fire extinguisher rated for chemical and tire fires
  • WD-40 or other spray lubricant
  • Broom, shovel, manure fork, garbage bags
  • Jumper cables
  • Tool kit
  • Spare belts and hoses
  • Tow strap or chain
  • Cell phone or CB radio
  • Work gloves
  • Portable air compressor
  • Paperwork: proof of insurance, vehicle and trailer registration, health certificate, registration papers, negative Coggins test, brand inspection or permanent travel card
  • Road service membership and phone numbers
  • Stabling guide listing horse hotels across the country
  • Equine first-aid kit (View a list of suggested items to include here)

For winter travel:

  • Shovel
  • Kitty litter or sand
  • Red flag to attach to antennae
  • Horse blankets
  • Human blankets
  • Candle
  • Matches or lighter
  • Tire chains
  • Food and water



Further Reading


Horse Trailering Emergency


First Aid Kits for Horses and Riders

View Comments

  • You mention tool kit. As a woman, what types of tools are you sugesting to be put in this kit? Pipe wrenches, Hand Saw? A more detailed list would be much more helpful than just "tool kit".

  • This is GREAT!!!! It would also be nice to have a first aid kit check list as well. I have a portable tool kit that I made into a first aid kit and I would love to hear what are the best things to have in it.

  • With the advent on one fan belt. Make sure you have the proper socket/breaker bar to get you going again. AAA is great, but they sometimes take a couple of hours to respond. That's a long time with horses ina trailer.

  • This is great but why would you need kitty litter or sand??? and a first aid check list (horses and human) would be great too!

  • You would need kitty litter or sand in snow just in cause if the roads are ice/ slippery. It helps if u get stuck.

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