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

17 years ago

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View Comments

Mary says:
August 20, 2008 at 5:52 am
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".
Lisa says:
August 21, 2008 at 7:54 am
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.
Dennis says:
August 23, 2008 at 6:53 pm
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.
Amber says:
August 12, 2009 at 8:02 am
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!
Amber says:
January 20, 2010 at 7:01 pm
You would need kitty litter or sand in snow just in cause if the roads are ice/ slippery. It helps if u get stuck.
Kaitlyn says:
December 20, 2013 at 8:30 am
I will need a tack trunk to keep all this in!