# Hauling one horse in a two horse trailer: Best on left side?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hauling-one-horse-in-a-two-horse-trailer-best-on-left-side/704278
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 10, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hauling-one-horse-in-a-two-horse-trailer-best-on-left-side/704278 "2014-11-10T22:07:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hauling-one-horse-in-a-two-horse-trailer-best-on-left-side/704278/1 "2014-11-10T22:07:42Z")
I’ve always heard that this is the better method (and, if you are hauling two horses of noticeably different weights, the heavier horse on the left), and [this site](http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse_management/trailering_one_horse.htm) does a good job of explaining the rationale behind it.
Plausible, but is it verifiably factual?
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### Author:  [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hauling-one-horse-in-a-two-horse-trailer-best-on-left-side/704278/2 "2014-11-10T23:19:05Z")
Certainly this is the advice given to people in the UK by the experts: (Naturally reversed since we drive on the left)
> [@](#):
>
> Travelling one horse on a double horse trailer
> If a single horse is being travelled in a double horse trailer with partition, it must be travelled on the right hand side of the partition (behind the driver). This will help to keep the trailer in balance as it corners.
>
> If you have a single horse that prefers to travel on a double horse trailer but without the partition, it is essential that you have full-width breast and breeching bars fitted to give the horse support. Use two leadropes – attach one to either of the side rings on the headcollar and tie to either side of the trailer to help keep the horse central and, in turn, aid stability.
>
> [http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/traveling\_general\_advice.htm](http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/traveling_general_advice.htm)
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hauling-one-horse-in-a-two-horse-trailer-best-on-left-side/704278/3 "2014-11-11T00:15:20Z")
Interesting - I’ve always heard to trailer a single (or weightiest) horse on the left, but for a different reason - because then the weight’s behind the drive wheel and thus the area of greatest control.
I have no idea if there’s any merit to that (or the “peak of the road” theory for that matter) but it’s what I’ve heard.
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hauling-one-horse-in-a-two-horse-trailer-best-on-left-side/704278/4 "2015-01-05T03:19:40Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#):
>
> Interesting - I’ve always heard to trailer a single (or weightiest) horse on the left, but for a different reason - because then the weight’s behind the drive wheel and thus the area of greatest control. . . .
But, assuming it’s 2WD, aren’t both of the rear wheels drive wheels?
The peak of the road is one idea that sounds like it has some merit, but whether or not that’s the reality is not apparent. Same with the ‘cornering’ mentioned above–but that would appear to be relevant only to turns done in the direction of the driver (left in US, right in UK).
This sounds like one of those saws that might be true, but so far there’s nothing scientific to back it up.
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### Author:  [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hauling-one-horse-in-a-two-horse-trailer-best-on-left-side/704278/5 "2015-01-05T12:23:39Z")
It was/is probably more true when most roads were/are 2 lane, small, and twisty. I’ve hauled all over the place, and it really does make a difference to handling balance (at least in a 2 horse bumper pull) on tiny old back roads in hilly country. If most of your driving is on big wide and flat interstates and divided highways I don’t think there’s really a difference.
That said, I always put one horse on the left. Old habits die hard 🙂