Buying a horse trailer can mean choosing from hundreds of different models with different features. Buyers can navigate their way through the process of getting a first or replacement horse trailer by breaking it into a series of steps.

If you're on a budget, it may be more advantageous to you (and the horse) to buy a better-quality used trailer than to spend the same amount of money on a lesser-quality new one. There are three basic types of horse trailers to choose from.

The first type is the stock trailer. These trailers have open designs that horses like over short distances, although bad weather poses a real problem. The straight-load trailer is easier to tow, but due to the placement of the manger in many of these models, the horse can't fully lower its head--a potential cause of respiratory problems. Horses ride diagonally in a slant load trailer, which some believe is more comfortable for them, but these trailers are wider and potentially more difficult to tow.

You will also need to consider whether you need a bumper pull trailer or a gooseneck trailer. Gooseneck trailers (the term refers to how the trailer is hitched to the towing vehicle) can carry more weight. Whatever type of horse trailer you decide to get, always make sure there are padded mats for the horses' comfort. Also, be sure to choose a design in which there are no protruding parts that could injure the horses in the event of an accident.

Horse trailer makers include Featherlite, Exiss, Thuro-Bilt, Sundowner, Elite, CM, and many more. Some equestrian websites publish reviews of various horse trailer makes and models, and community discussion forums often contain user discussion of experiences with different kinds of horse trailers.