Trailer Layout

      I went down to SC with Kat and her grand-daughter Taylor, we had a fun trip to go talk with Risa from Balanced Ride Trailers. Risa could not have been nicer, she took us out to check out the two Hawk trailers on the lot (there aren't any Balanced Rides in stock right now.) and did so in the rain, no less! She talked with us for a while about designs (this is the most AFFORDABLE, and most CUSTOM trailer I could ever imagine having,) and to keep the cost down and the trailer smaller, I have decided to only have a tack "closet" up front, instead of the dressing room. The cost is about $1000 difference, and I wanted the "Max" version, the one with more upgrades and a lot more windows for ventilation in the NC heat (plus more ties, running boards, and 11' total length.) The dressing room has never been something I have to have, I just need a place to put my tack. Of course, she hopped right on that idea to help me out. Doing this, I keep the length of the trailer at 14', give or take a little. Nice and short and simple!!

       I asked Risa about having a trailer large enough to accomodate a draft horse, if one follows me home from an auction someday ;) Fortunately, because it is rear-facing, the ceiling does not need to be any higher because the horse no longer needs to raise their head to balance. Yay! So, the body length became 6" longer in the horse area, and we went to the full 80" for width, so it should accomodate everything from ponies to drafts, and have plenty of room for everyone. Yay! Good to know we won't outgrow it someday, no matter what I own. That gives a roomy 11' length for the horses and 38" width. If I have anything wider than that, it's time for a diet!

     She is also still working on a head divider that will have to fold and rotate somehow to pull into position - I have no fears though, a nicer or less-pushy person I will likely never meet again. Seriously, BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER! You know, the kind that makes you feel all is right in the world??

       All in, for everything in the "Max" version, she quoted me $12,700, which I think is beyond reasonable for such a well made custom trailer. And, she is excited about trying the platform like I am! Maybe Dakota will get to model in a demo pic? We must start losing some pounds... ;)

     Here's the floorplan, which I created in a moment of boredom...