| One prominent name in the horse trailer manufacturing | | | | welcomed the change. Then over a decade the |
| business is the Featherlite Corporation. Since the early | | | | negatives of using all aluminum began to appear. Parts |
| 1970's they have been engineering their quality brand | | | | of the horse trailers deteriorated faster than with steel. |
| of horse trailers in El Reno, Oklahoma. By 1988 the | | | | The separators could shear in even a minor accident |
| company had successfully achieved sales of twenty | | | | and injure your horses. Now Featherlite is using a |
| million dollars annually with a workforce of seventy | | | | combination of steel and aluminum. |
| two people. The company of today has evolved into | | | | The available models include bumper pull, gooseneck |
| an industry leader with sales in the US, Canada and | | | | and those with living quarters. One model is specifically |
| other parts of the world. | | | | built for tall horses. The basic two horse model seems |
| Recognizing the company's potential the Clement | | | | perfect for a newcomer to the show circuit. The hitch |
| family purchased it in 1988. Conrad Clement became | | | | type is bumper pull, it stands 6'7" wide by 10' high with |
| CEO and he along with two sons, Eric and Tracy | | | | 40" wide and 7'6" high stalls. Each has a drop down |
| moved the business to Grand Meadow, Minnesota. | | | | feed door and an outside window. It is covered by an |
| They continued the production of excellent quality | | | | 8 year limited warranty. Additional safety features |
| horse trailers. Over the last twenty years the | | | | include rubber material on the walls and rubber floor |
| company expanded its line and currently produces | | | | mats 3/4" thick in the horse area. |
| horse trailers in standard models and also takes | | | | At the other end of the spectrum is model 8581 which |
| custom orders. They have an extensive line of other | | | | includes living quarters with amenities too numerous to |
| kinds of trailers too. They next moved the | | | | list. It has a gooseneck hitch, is 8' wide and comes in |
| headquarters to Nashua, Iowa where the main | | | | various lengths. There are from 2 to 6 horse options |
| manufacturing plant is located. They employed 460 | | | | with stalls being 40" wide. Each stall provides the drop |
| workers at the time of that move. | | | | down feed door and windows. The walls are covered |
| When horse trailers were all made of steel it became | | | | with rubber and the rubber floor mats are 3/4" thick. |
| obvious visually that after years of wear, they were | | | | Slant loading with optional hydraulic lift and an 8 year |
| no longer "a pretty sight." The steel would eventually | | | | limited structural warranty are a few of the other |
| corrode and rust. While still functional, they did not | | | | features. In all Featherlite horse trailers safety is the |
| adequately represent the quality of the show horses | | | | first concern and appearance is secondary. You will |
| they transported. From the late 70's into the early 80's | | | | note that these are high quality trailers both functionally |
| Featherlite substituted aluminum for the building of | | | | and aesthetically. You can be as proud of your |
| horse trailers. | | | | Featherlite trailer as you are of the horses inside as |
| Aluminum has many advantages over steel such as | | | | you drive into the showgrounds at any event. Family or |
| lighter weight for easier towing and saving on fuel. No | | | | employees and horses arrive in excellent condition, |
| painting required and no rust are other appealing | | | | relaxed and ready for the competition. |
| factors. Although the sale price was higher, people | | | | |