Getting ready to travel involves a lot of preparation for most people. Traveling with horses adds another dimension, requiring additional tasks such as prepping the horse for shipping, packing feed and supplies for the horse, and maintaining the trailer and tow vehicle.

Among the tasks involved, one critical item to check before hitting the road is air pressure. This applies to the tires on your tow vehicle as well as those on the trailer.

"The number one reason horse owners end up on the side of the road is tire issues," said Mark Cole, managing member of USRider, a national provider of roadside emergency assistance for horse owners.

Flat tires are the leading cause of disablements involving horse trailers. While horse haulers can never totally eliminate the risk of a breakdown, the risk can be minimized by taking the proper steps