2715 S. CR 1208 - Midland, Texas 79706 -  1-800-745-1306

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   I am now on my second Brenderup trailer, having upgraded from the earlier model (purchased twenty years ago) to a Baron HB about six years ago.  (Thanks for the great trade-in and easy delivery, by the way!)  I don't trailer often, which is one of the reasons I really like my Brenderup.  I bought it so that I could transport my own horses when changing barns and, more important here in Southern California, so that I could evacuate them myself when wildfires threaten.  So far we have been through two fire-related evacuations over the past eight years, plus one false alarm just last week.  I love the fact that I can hitch up the trailer, by myself, in only FIVE MINUTES (I timed myself this last occasion), even when I am under stress, and I've never yet found a horse who wouldn't load in it.  Mine walk in by themselves, but the extra space in front means that it is also perfectly safe for someone to lead a horse in, stand comfortably on the other side of the chest bar, tie up the horse, and exit easily.  The easy-to-remove central partition was a great help when we needed to load my friend's mare and foal; the mare was an old trooper, but it was the first time for the baby, and with the open, light interior and nice shallow ramp, he went right in after the mother.  My anxious old Thoroughbred was much calmer with this trailer than conventional ones because he could back out onto the ramp and stand on it a moment, checking out his surroundings, before backing the rest of the way off--most trailer ramps aren't long enough for the horse to stand on and are really too steep for a horse to pause on this way.  The rubber ramp matting provides great footing in any weather, too.  My friend had also borrowed the trailer to take a sick youngster to the vet hospital, and she really appreciated the fact that she could easily see through the big front window of the trailer that the horse was still on his feet and traveling well.  Thanks for adding to my peace of mind; this is a great trailer for those of use who don't trailer often, because it is so simple to use, and I'm sure all these features are also appealing to those who are off to a horse show every weekend. 

CS

It's too bad more people can't experience the Brenderup. The hardest part for me was spending so much money on a non-traditional trailer and not knowing how it would handle or how my horses would like it. This might be true for other potential customers. After I purchased it, I received rude comments from my horse friends about the trailer (regarding safety, tipping over) but I knew they hadn't researched the trailer. I could just smile at them and list all the safety features. I always mention how much I love it. I did practice driving it without my horse several times, and then like I mentioned in my earlier e-mail, finally took my horse in it a couple of weeks ago. It was like night and day from my previous hauling experiences. It handles so much better than my old trailer. We have many hills where I live and it just takes care of itself when we are descending. With my old trailer, I would have had to think about braking far in advance to get stopped at the bottom of a hill. With the Brenderup, I touch my brake and it stops smoothly. I'm sure it was much easier on my horse as well. I know it says it in the advertising but everything about the trailer has been easy. I like not having to be perfect when I backup my truck to get hitched up. I can be close to it and that's good enough. I'm glad I finally took the chance and bought it. I feel like it has opened up opportunities for me because I don't dread trailering any longer. It more than lives up to the advertising. Thanks again!

D.

I just bought a  '99 Royal Brenderup, and a '96 Toyota Tacoma, V-6, 3.4L engine, to tow it with, despite the hysterical admonitions of the anti-Brenderup people across the (internet) board. I've never hauled horses in my life, and I had to move my two average size beasties (15.3 and 16.1 TBs) about 45 miles through New Jersey highway traffic and back rural roads. High speeds and hills. I started out Sunday morning with my heart in my throat and ended up at the barn with the greatest elation I've felt in years.

Frankly, I can't tell you that the Brenderup handles better than other trailer because I've never towed another trailer. And never will. I CAN tell you that you forget it's back there, that the dreaded semis buzzing you at 80 MPH on the highway might as well not be there, for all the effect they have on the truck and trailer (my truck WILL get buffeted WITHOUT the trailer, so I consider the Brenderup an added safety device in windy situations). Certainly the trailer NEVER pushed me downhill, even on a very steep and muddy, rutted slope we had to negotiate as we left the first barn. I did try to remember to allow more braking distance before stops and turns, as I'd been cautioned to, but the difference was minimal. My husband, following behind me in his SUV, said the horses spent their journey looking out the window and nuzzling each other

...So, we are off to the races

Z.E.

I bought a Royal last December and have had plenty of experiences with it and wanted to give  you some feedback. I had never pulled a trailer, but have no problem hitching, loading, or unhitching the Royal. Horse ownership has become very liberating.

My Isuzu Rodeo pulls the trailer effortlessly, in fact, it is undetectable when empty. The trailer never pulls, tugs, weaves, or rattles. ... My notorious bad loaders have gotten very fond of traveling and need only to be lead to the ramp and  released. They load up on their own. ...

T.T.

We have our Brenderup Prestige for about five years. It sounds a little crazy to be in love with a horse trailer, but we are. It is a dream to pull and the horses love all the room inside. We have had the big trucks and big trailers in the past. After having our Brenderup, we'll never go back to those heavy, loud old fashioned horse trailers!

A.L.

Prior to purchasing my Brenderup, I left trailering to everyone else.  To tell you the truth, it terrified me!    Not so much the actual driving issues, but more the safety/comfort issues for the horses.  I'll now trailer almost anyone, anywhere!

L

I tow with a Grand Cherokee Jeep V-8.  I have a new Brenderup trailer that weighs 1900 lbs.  I have had no problems what so ever.   I have trailered in wind, rain and on hills.  My Brenderup doesn't require sway bars, and I don't even know the trailer is back there.  I always keep an eye on RPMS, and it has never gone above 3000, usually under 2000.  I have towed with two horses, although usually just one and have not had any problems.  The Grand Cherokee says the limit is 5000 lbs., which I always obey.  I realize this is not the ideal tow vehicle, due to its short wheelbase...that is why I bought the Brenderup.  It has inertia brakes that never push your vehicle.

L

I purchased a Brenderup this June and have been very impressed with it.  Our first significant haul was 9 hours and our 17hh 1/4 Belgian / Thoroughbred appeared as happy as a horse could be after nine hours on a hot day in a trailer.  One of the local old timers commented that is construction would favor the horse in an accident as if it were knocked over the top would probably come off and free the horse.  He advised us to use a long trailer to tie to the front rings so the horse would be able to get up after an accident, but still be attached to the trailer.   Chris Barr (the owner of Brenderup and the guy in the video) pointed out that it is better that the trailer get damaged than the horse.  Fortunately, I haven't been in an accident with the Brenderup, but a friend of ours had their aluminum trailer T-bone by a drunken kid.  The horses did OK, just lacerations, but the trailer was totaled.   The lesson to me was no matter what kind of accident, the trailer will not probably survive well.  The interior construction, however, will make a major difference in how well the horse does in the accident.  Brenderup seems to have paid a lot of attention to this issue.  I should point out that this is both my first horse and first trailer, so I would be the last person to hold myself out as an expert.  I will say that I enjoyed dealing with Chris Barr, believe that I received good value for my money, and my wife (5ft and just slightly over 100 lbs.) is able to manage the trailer in my absence. (BTW if you are importing a trailer into Canada e-mail me and I will share my experience...)

Well, we've had our trailer for a little more than a week now and I can honestly say it was a great buy! It took our horse about four different attempts to finally load with no problem with our 12 year old daughter taking him right in. He actually loads easier now than he did with our trainer's 4 horse trailer where I have to front load him and them back him in to a stall.  I've driven him around in it twice, the second time he was much quieter but the car does not feel any of that movement. I had my daughter watch him out the back window and he was fine. Connecting and disconnecting is very easy, it takes all of 3min or less, my daughter can do it.
Pulling the trailer back from the MD shore where we bought it through a windy rain storm was a cinch. I cruised at 60-65mph switching lanes with no sway or worry. I was nervous the first time I took the horse out so I kept the speed at no more than 45mph. The second time out I did 55mph on the Hwy, it took a while longer to get up to speed but I had that same experience with a truck and conventional trailer. On my second trip I took a road with a sharp right turn and a steep incline to see what would happen, it was so easy it gave me great  confidence. I was pleasantly surprised With the Lexus RX300 I just need to be sure that overdrive is turned off just as you mentioned. My husband is going to take the Lexus in for routine service next week to see if we should more  frequently have the transmission fluid looked at and to see from the mechanics perspective how the car is running, so far I see/feel no problems as I drive the Lexus more than my husband. 
At our barn the trailer has been a novelty. The kids love it because of the dressing/tack room, lots of envy. The women (moms) are impressed with the easy of use, no heavy items to lift or work with. The conventional trailer people have all been amazed and it seems to me that they are surprised with how sturdy and how safe they see it is. I've had people rethink that in an accident where their metal trailer might split or rupture with metal shards poking their animal mine will not have that issue. What is amazing is the balance and aerodynamics. Already I would never want a conventional trailer, I love this trailer. As I get older (and I'm no spring chicken), I know that I can handle this trailer on my own with my daughter as my husband is not a horse person.
We are very happy we made this decision and we are very happy with Tavel Lane Trailers. They took lots of time to show us how to use and care for our new trailer and said to call them anytime day or night.
Chris, thank you for your help as well and for sending us the DVD. We'll keep in touch.