Horsebox and Livestock Trailer Check

What this sheet is for

Check the floor properly before every trip, and run the same pre-travel routine each time so the animal side is not left to memory.

Who it is for

Horse owners, smallholders, livestock keepers and anyone towing a trailer with animals in it.

How to use it

1. Lift the mats and look at the floor — from above and from underneath.
2. Work through partitions, ventilation and water before you load, not after.
3. Finish with the coupling, tyres and lights walk-around before pulling away.
4. Sign and date it; keep the sheets so the floor's history is visible over years.

What is on the sheet

The layout is fixed at a size that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the A4 and Letter files are visually identical and print at full size on either. Rows are set at a height that an adult can actually write a date and a few words into with a pen — most printable tables are built in a word processor and never tested with one.

Questions

Why is so much of this sheet about the floor?

Because the floor is what fails on these trailers, and it fails from underneath where a quick look inside will not find it. Mats hold moisture against the boards, and a floor that looks sound from above can be rotten below. Lifting the mats is the single most useful thing on this sheet.

Do I need a licence or authorisation to tow animals?

Requirements differ by country, and often depend on whether the journey is connected with a business, how long it is and what you are carrying — journey time limits, vehicle standards, authorisations and certificates of competence all vary. Check what applies to your journey with your own authority before you travel.