Rising gas and diesel prices don’t have to keep you off the road. Here’s how to stretch every gallon.
Staff Report
Summer is peak travel season for horse owners, whether you’re chasing points at shows or hitting the trails. With fuel prices giving many owners pause, a few smart habits — before, during, and between trips — can add up to real savings.
Get your tow vehicle in shape
Keep up with recommended oil changes and air-filter swaps — dirty oil and clogged filters both cost you mileage. A faulty oxygen sensor alone can hurt fuel economy by up to 40 percent, so don’t put off repairs. Keep tow-vehicle and trailer tires properly inflated and aligned, and track your fuel economy over time so a sudden drop tips you off that something needs attention.
Plan smarter trips
Cut unnecessary weight from your rig, plan routes that avoid heavy traffic and peak hours, and if your schedule allows, favor one longer trail-riding trip over several short hauls. Splitting a trip with a trailering buddy can cut fuel costs, too — just make sure all horses involved load and travel quietly, and have everyone sign a liability release first.
Drive efficiently
Run the A/C rather than the windows once you’re at highway speed — open windows create drag that costs as much fuel. Avoid jackrabbit starts and aggressive driving, use cruise control on the highway, favor high and overdrive gears, and coast toward stops instead of braking hard at the last second. Mileage drops fast above 60 mph, and excessive idling gets zero miles per gallon, so shut the engine off rather than sitting and idling when you can.
Track your diesel mileage
EPA fuel-economy ratings don’t apply to heavy haulers, so diesel truck owners won’t find official mileage figures — but you can calculate your own. Reset your trip odometer at a full tank, then divide the miles driven by the gallons needed to fill up again at your next stop. For example: 403 miles driven ÷ 31 gallons purchased = 13 mpg. Tracking this over several trips helps you spot problems early and manage travel costs more precisely.
Adapted from the Summer 2026 issue of USRider’s Equestrian Traveler’s Companion.
