Walking On Volume 5, Issue 2, February 2018 | Page 6

Back to Basics
Horse Owner Winter Driving Tips
By USRider Equestrian Motor Plan
With the change of seasons,
USRider – the national provider of
roadside emergency assistance for
equestrians – reminds those who
travel with Horses to be careful
when traveling and to invest time
doing routine preventive trailer
maintenance to enhance their travel
safety.
It is imperative to make sure your
vehicle is ready for winter driving.
Be sure to maintain your vehicle
according to the manufacturer’s
service schedule. It’s also important
to take your vehicle to a trusted
mechanic.
“When it comes to vehicle main-
tenance, especially heavy-duty
vehicles towing precious cargo, it is
better to be proactive than reactive,”
said Bill Riss, general manager of
USRider. “If you have not already
done so, establish a relationship with
a trusted ASE (www.ase.com) me-
chanic. It is essential that you do this
before your vehicle breaks down on
the side of the highway while towing
your horse trailer.”
USRider recommends that you
check tire pressure before each trip.
This is especially important with
temperature changes. If you are
traveling from a warm climate to
a cold climate, air pressure in your
6 • Walking On
tires will drop. On the other hand,
when traveling from a cold climate
into a warm climate, the air pressure
will rise.
A weak battery will usually reveal
itself during cold weather. If your
battery is more than a couple of
years old, be sure to check it prior
to cold weather setting in. Other-
wise, you will most likely be incon-
venienced on some cold morning
when the battery fails to start your
vehicle.
When driving, a good rule of
thumb to follow on the road is
“Rain, ice & snow – take it slow.”
Before setting out on a trip, take the
time to check weather reports and
plan accordingly. Be sure to allow
extra time for inclement weather.
Mother Nature doesn’t care that you
need to be somewhere at a certain
time.
Keep in mind that weather and
driving conditions can change rap-
idly, so be aware of changing condi-
tions, and drive for the conditions.
Always drive with your headlights
on during inclement weather – even
if it is not dark. USRider recom-
mends that horse owners drive with
headlights on anytime when trail-
ering Horses, regardless of weath-
er, because of increased visibility
afforded by using headlights.
Also during inclement weather,
be sure to increase distance between
vehicles to allow more stopping
room. USRider recommends that
you double the normal distance be-
tween vehicles when towing a horse
trailer.
“Stopping on snow or ice without
skidding and/or jackknifing takes
extra distance. Use brakes very gen-
tly to avoid skidding,” added Riss. “If
you begin to skid or jackknife, ease
up on the brake and steer into the
skid to regain control.”
During winter months, traction
tires are recommended. In order to
qualify as a traction tire, tires must
have at least an eighth of an inch of
tread and be labeled Mud and Snow,
M+S, All-Season, or have a Moun-
tain/Snowflake symbol. Since tire
performance can vary, a trusted area
dealer may be able to advise you on
the best tires for your vehicle.
Since it’s difficult to know what
road conditions you may encounter
during the winter, make it a prac-
tice to re-fuel when your vehicle
fuel gauge drops below the halfway
mark. In many states, you can dial
5-1-1 for travel conditions and road
closures.
In some states, vehicles over
10,000 gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR), including some passen-
ger trucks, SUVs, RVs, and vehicles
towing trailers, must carry chains
November 1 through March 31, on
certain highways. Check with the
Department of Transportation or
Department of Motor Vehicles for
information on the states you will be
traveling.
USRider provides roadside assistance and towing
services along with other travel-related benefits to its
members through the Equestrian Motor Plan.
It includes standard features such as flat-tire repair,
battery assistance lockout services, and towing, as well as
roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses,
emergency stabling, veterinary referrals and more.
For more information, visit www.usrider.org online or call
[phone]. For additional safety and travel tips, visit
the Equine Travel Safety Area on the USRider website.