Store these items in the horse trailer so you always have them on board: 

•  Spare Tire – USRider recommends carrying two (2) spare tires
•  Hydraulic Jack – rated to jack your trailer while loaded
•  Lug Wrench
•  Three (3) emergency triangles or flares  (Triangles are preferred)
•  Chocks
•  Flashlight
•  Electrical tape
•  Duct Tape
•  Equine First Aid Kit with splint (know how to use it)
•  Knife for cutting ropes, etc., in emergency
•  Water
•  Buckets/sponge
•  Water hose
•  Spare halter and lead rope for each Horse
•  Spare bulbs for exterior and interior lights
•  Spare fuses if applicable
•  Fire extinguisher with up to date charge
•  WD-40 or other lubricant
•  Broom, shovel, fork, and manure disposal bags
•  Insect spray (bee and wasp)
•  

For the tow vehicle:

•  Registration for the vehicle and trailer
•  Proof of insurance
•  Jumper cables
•  Spare tire/jack/tire iron
•  Tool kit including wiring materials
•  Spare belts and hoses for the tow vehicle
•  Tow chain
•  Cellular phone and/or CB radio (CB may be more effective in rural areas without cell phone service)
•  Replacement fuses
•  Work gloves
•  Portable air compressor
•  Extra cash/credit card
•  Road Atlas
•  Hawkins Guide: Equine Emergencies on the Road
•  USRider Membership Kit

Check your inventory frequently and replace used or removed items before each trip.

For crossing state lines or attending competitions:

•  Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (Health Certificate) dated within 30 days
•  Proof of Negative EIA (Coggins) usually dated within 1 year. Some states require within 6 months.
•  Certificate of Brand Inspection if applicable

If you are in an accident and have been injured yourself:

EMS personnel and police will most likely not be capable of taking care of your Horses. Prepare for this situation by keeping some sort of emergency directions in a very visible place. Write the name of someone you know who can be called to help or to advise what to do with the Horses if you are incapacitated – a knowledgeable friend, your veterinarian, or someone else who is familiar with your Horses and all current telephone numbers. The USRider Membership Kit contains a specially created emergency information placard (Horse trailer interior) and an accompanying emergency notification sticker (Horse trailer exterior). Please contact our Administrative Office if you need new trailer safety decals.

Neva Kittrell Scheve is the author of The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer and Hawkins Guide: Horse Trailering on the Road. She and James Hamilton, DVM, co-authored Hawkins Guide: Equine Emergencies on the Road.