3.5 lorry travelling without breastbar question

[Marigold4]

I'm looking at upgrading my 3.5 to something newer but still secondhand. I've been looking at an Oakley racemaster and a Bloomfields professional online. Both have a way of travelling horses in what they call "tubes", so rear-facing with no breastbar. I can't quite get my head round this way of doing this. What would happen if you had to stop suddenly? I guess because they are rear-facing, the force backwards would go against the bulkhead? We have some steep hills round us and I wonder what would happen if horse has nothing to brace against? I currently have solid doors in front of horse with a U shaped grill above for horse to put head over but stop them going over the door.

Anyone travel their horses like this who could give me some feedback on how this works?

 

[cold_feet]

I have one like this, travel my 17hh TBX. There is a hook on rubber strap thing which I assume is designed for the job. But I’ve never come across an occasion when it would be needed. I guess a rear end shunt might send him forwards? No hills here - we are in East Anglia.

 

[little_critter]

My lorry is like that.
yes, harsh braking results in them bracing their bum against the (reinforced) bulkhead.
You’d have to be careful about pulling away abruptly so they don’t bash their noses, but that’s standard horse box driving technique anyway.
I have a camera in the back and have never noticed mine having an issue with travelling like that.

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't use one. If you were stationary in a queue and got a rear end shunt the horse's face would smash into the wall.

I think the best compromise is a demountable breast bar, nothing is going to be perfectly safe.
.

 

[Squeak]

I've got to admit I've never had a problem without a breast bar and we go up and down some steep hills. As YCBM says there are pro's and cons to everything, at least in a tube there's nothing for them to get caught on and plenty of space.

Is there actually enough space between the wall and breast bar to stop them also banging their heads? I can see it might help take some of the weight but usually the wall is still relatively close to the breast bar - certainly closer than the length of their neck and then potentially if they've got more space/ length then potentially they could balance/ save themselves where if they couldn't put their front legs forward because a locker/ wall/ whatever is there they couldn't? A bit like where people recommend taking out the partitions and giving the horses more space to balance themselves.

 

[ycbm]

I think it's enough to stop them breaking their neck, but not from grazing their face.

 

[Marigold4]

In my current Theault box, the horses heads hang over into the "living area" so plenty of room. Disadvantage is that that's where their haynets go too - so you arrive with your tack covered in hay! Squeak is right though about not being able to put their legs forward - mine have sturdy doors instead of a breastbar. I would love a newer THeault but a) too expensive and b) secondhand ones are hard to find.

 

[Red-1]

Mine is a Bloomfields with no breast bar. I have travelled some unruly youngsters in there as well as Rigs and BH. All have travelled well. With the unruly ones, I don't need to worry if they get giddy as there is nothing to get caught on.

If I brake then they simply sit on the reinforced bulkhead. I don't accelerate hard anyway. My big lorries (herringbone travel) didn't have breast bars either, and I never worried about them.

I guess a rear end shunt could be an issue but then, in a little 3.5 tonne van, I think there would be issues whatever was restraining them as I suspect they would become somewhat shorter!

I would never travel a forward facing one without a breast bar but feel happy with herringbone or backwards facing. What I won't do is the ones with a breast bar and weave grid, where the horse pokes his head through a little opening. Far too likely to injure, IMO, if there is an accident. I have also known 2 horses get their headcollars caught in a weave bar. Also, having seen a pony go through a little window at the front of the trailer (it opened up like a sardine can) I wouldn't out it past one to still try to get over and get into all sorts of bother!

 

[Marigold4]

Mine is a Bloomfields with no breast bar. I have travelled some unruly youngsters in there as well as Rigs and BH. All have travelled well. With the unruly ones, I don't need to worry if they get giddy as there is nothing to get caught on.

If I brake then they simply sit on the reinforced bulkhead. I don't accelerate hard anyway. My big lorries (herringbone travel) didn't have breast bars either, and I never worried about them.

I guess a rear end shunt could be an issue but then, in a little 3.5 tonne van, I think there would be issues whatever was restraining them as I suspect they would become somewhat shorter!

I would never travel a forward facing one without a breast bar but feel happy with herringbone or backwards facing. What I won't do is the ones with a breast bar and weave grid, where the horse pokes his head through a little opening. Far too likely to injure, IMO, if there is an accident. I have also known 2 horses get their headcollars caught in a weave bar. Also, having seen a pony go through a little window at the front of the trailer (it opened up like a sardine can) I wouldn't out it past one to still try to get over and get into all sorts of bother!

Thanks for replying. I like the weave bar above door! Mine is tied up on other side of weave bar so can't pull back behind it. It's a bit claustrophobic for the horse but it means they ard no way going over the door. Had this arrangement for 10 years now and not had a a headcollar get caught - there's nothing to get caught on as it a smooth U bar and grill holes sre square and v small, not like a stable one. I guess there's not perfect answer - all of these arrangements have a certain level of risk.

What do you think of the build quality of your Bloomfield?

 

[rara007]

I really like those stallion style boxes. The professional transporters use them for a reason. I wouldn’t do long distances in a box that doesn’t allow them to get their head down when you stop.

 

[Red-1]

What do you think of the build quality of your Bloomfield?

Fabulous.

 

[Marigold4]

Fabulous.

Thanks for your input. I am just about to buy a secondhand Bloomfields Legacy! Very excited.

 

[Polos Mum]

I have a stallion layout and camera - the 'tube' is really long and mine travel right at the back so nowhere near the front wall. they have the haynet so in triple worst case scenario they would have that to cushion a grazed nose.

Unless lots of safety features breast bar is too much of a risk vs. someone crashing into the back of me. One very well regarded box manufacturer said you shouldn't use their breast bar layout without a harness to strap the horse down !!

If you google there are soooo many examples of horses stuck over breast bars and you rarely hear of incidence with people crashing into the back of stallion layout boxes. Anything with a fixed bar you have to get the firebrigade to take a tin can opener to your box to free your horse if he's really stuck over !

Mine are young and I have witnessed too many random incidence of horse self harm - so I do alway think worse case scenario!!

 

[Xmasha]

i like this bloomsfield design . We copied it for our own build, as breast bars in boxes freak me out.

 

[onemoretime]

Thanks for your input. I am just about to buy a secondhand Bloomfields Legacy! Very excited.

We bought a new Bloomsfields 3.5 ton in 2021 and are very pleased with it. The build quality is fantastic and we have the sliding partition which is brilliant.

 

[Squeak]

Congratulations on your new horsebox, from everything I've heard about Bloomfields you wont regret it and it should be a great box

 

[Marigold4]

i like this bloomsfield design . We copied it for our own build, as breast bars in boxes freak me out.View attachment 108702

That's the one I'm getting! The photo doesn't show it so well but the shelf slopes so they would slide off it. I phoned the manufacturers and the shelf is made of the same thing as the floor so horse won't go through it. You can also push the partition right over to make a stud box or have it at an angle for more room. As you can probably tell - I am v excited! My old box has done 234,000 miles and is looking somewhat tired.