her horse—including the Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco held at the
Cow Palace and the Reno Rodeo.
As a first-time horse owner, Candice knew hauling would be part of the dream—but she didn’t anticipate how intimidating it would feel at first.
Candice’s partner in adventure is Sunny, a palomino Quarter Horse gelding. While Candice dreams of someday upgrading to a big truck and a living-quarters gooseneck trailer, Candice’s current setup includes a Chevy Tahoe and a gracefully aging Circle J bumper-pull. It may not be glamorous, but it reliably carries Candice and Sunny to drill team competitions, rodeos, and mountain trailheads.
Based in Sacramento, Candice and Sunny travel extensively. They’ve competed at the Grand National Rodeo at the Cow Palace in San Francisco and the Reno Rodeo. When not performing, Candice meets her friend Marilyn to ride portions of the historic Western States Trail—home of the Tevis Cup—and explore the breathtaking terrain of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
That’s a lot of miles for any rider—especially one still gaining confidence in hauling.
Joining for Peace of Mind
It was Marilyn who first mentioned USRider after seeing an advertisement. As someone relatively new to trailering, Candice didn’t hesitate to sign up. The thought of being stranded on the side of the road with Sunny was enough to make Candice uneasy.
From the very first interaction, Candice was impressed by the friendly, knowledgeable customer service team. While Candice hoped she’d never need roadside assistance, Candice felt reassured knowing support was only a phone call away.
There’s a powerful difference between hoping nothing goes wrong and knowing someone has backup if it does.
A Sunday Morning Flat Tire
That reassurance proved invaluable on a recent Sunday.
On the way to meet Marilyn for a trail ride in the Sierra foothills, a trailer tire suddenly went flat. With Sunny onboard, the situation could have quickly become overwhelming.
Candice contacted USRider, and a tow truck was dispatched immediately to install the spare tire. From the time of the call to arrival was less than 30 minutes. Even more comforting, representatives called multiple times to check on both Candice and Sunny, ensuring they were safe and calm.
But the service didn’t stop there.
During one of the follow-up calls, Candice mentioned that replacing all of the trailer tires was already on the to-do list. The dispatch representative—based in Oklahoma City—took the extra step of locating a tire store open on a Sunday less than five miles from the breakdown location.
The store even allowed Sunny to wait comfortably in the parking lot while the tires were replaced. Within a short time, Candice and Sunny were back on the road with brand-new tires and renewed confidence.
More Than a Tow
Breakdowns can happen to anyone—regardless of experience or equipment. Candice has heard stories of seasoned horse owners with newer rigs stranded in remote areas like the Sierra mountains or the Nevada desert, sometimes relying on friends to drive hours for help or discovering their roadside coverage didn’t fully support horse trailers.
Candice’s experience reinforced what Candice now shares with fellow riders: true peace of mind comes from knowing both horse and handler are covered.
USRider didn’t simply respond to a flat tire. The team checked on Sunny. The team solved a problem proactively. The team understood that hauling horses is different from everyday driving—because precious cargo is involved.
With many more miles ahead—drill performances, rodeos, and mountain trails—Candice continues to haul with confidence, knowing that if something goes wrong, Candice and Sunny won’t face it alone.
