3.5 new horsebox solid sloping wall or collapsable breastbar / emergency rear exit

[minimex2]

Potentially looking for new 3.5t

It seems more and more are now being built with a fixed sloping wall between horse and tack area.


What are the pros and cons and what is the likelyhood of actually needing to get horse out via the back door.

thanks

 

[milliepops]

huge pro of a solid barrier for me, safety aside, was not getting the grooms area full of hay and other debris.

con is that it reduces space in the grooms area. and if retrofitting then you might need to consider ventilation in the horse area (I had an extra window put in when mine was revamped).

I just never wanted to be in a situation where a horse might need to exit through the back, even if there was a wide enough door... it just means something has gone wrong. so a full height wall gave me peace of mind.

 

[MissTyc]

Can also have both - mine had a solid wall that is also a door that can be opened for emergency exit. I went for this after my friend's ramp got damage in an accident and it turned into a big deal to get the horse out!

 

[sport horse]

I have one that has fill height double doors from horse area to tack area - they would only really ever be used in an emergency plus a rear door wide enough for a horse to exit in said emergency. No breast bar. Think they are called stallion boxes.

 

[Xmasha]

ive had a full sloping wall put in mine, no door to tack area at all. Had my first camp in it at the weekend and it was great. I used the area that the door would have been to create some storage .Which was sensibly used to store wine ,wine and crisps.( and clothes )
I wanted the full wall as it seemed a safer option,so far all horses have travelled well.

 

[minimex2]

ive had a full sloping wall put in mine, no door to tack area at all. Had my first camp in it at the weekend and it was great. I used the area that the door would have been to create some storage .Which was sensibly used to store wine ,wine and crisps.( and clothes )
I wanted the full wall as it seemed a safer option,so far all horses have travelled well.

Where did you sleep? And have you banged your head on the sloping bit?

Thanks

 

[Xmasha]

Where did you sleep? And have you banged your head on the sloping bit?

Thanks

The sloping bit is only in the storage after . It’s full height in grooms area . The two seats and table converts into a bed

 

[Bernster]

Never had an issue with horses going over the bar into the grooms area but have heard of it happening. I would still def recommend full partition between horse and groom area. Wide emergency exit handy but I do wonder how many times that’s ever needed. Lorries don’t have multiple exits, even those with side ramps.

 

[minimex2]

The sloping bit is only in the storage after . It’s full height in grooms area . The two seats and table converts into a bed

Thank you - much appreciated

Who build yours ?
X

 

[minimex2]

Never had an issue with horses going over the bar into the grooms area but have heard of it happening. I would still def recommend full partition between horse and groom area. Wide emergency exit handy but I do wonder how many times that’s ever needed. Lorries don’t have multiple exits, even those with side ramps.

Yes I wonder to - in emergency wonder if you would try and get horse out of back

 

[Xmasha]

Thank you - much appreciated

Who build yours ?
X

Chatham horseboxes , Smallwood Cheshire. Reasonably priced too.

 

[Squeak]

I agree with the others about how often you'd actually use the back door to get a horse out and that other horseboxes usually only have one exit point/ ramp.

The ones with the sloped wall look like they would allow you to maximise storage space, Asha yours looks a great set up. I've got one with stallion doors and the tack in the 'living' in the back and it's really easy to use and makes it very safe and easy tacking up on the lorry as you can get in to the horse very easily BUT it means I don't have anywhere to sit very easily and I do miss that. When I'm doing more eventing I'm wondering about the feasibility of having some sort of tent or marquee or something by the back door.

 

[sport horse]

I bought mine as above, after speaking to the owner of a very major show & event centre. They have barely had one show when they have not had a horse go over the bar and have had to call the fire brigade and vets on multiple occasions. If you only need to use the back door once then it is worth having it - the alternative is hving to cut the horse out dead or alive - not pretty.

 

[milliepops]

The ones with the sloped wall look like they would allow you to maximise storage space, Asha yours looks a great set up. I've got one with stallion doors and the tack in the 'living' in the back and it's really easy to use and makes it very safe and easy tacking up on the lorry as you can get in to the horse very easily BUT it means I don't have anywhere to sit very easily and I do miss that. When I'm doing more eventing I'm wondering about the feasibility of having some sort of tent or marquee or something by the back door.

I hired a stallion box today (bloomfields) really lovely box and very safe but yeah, I had loads more room in mine with a sloping wall and it would have been a bit limiting as my normal transport. even in my little one I liked to keep a fair bit of stuff in it and having room to sit or get changed etc was so useful.

 

[minimex2]

thanks all, tried one with a sloping wall at weekend and surprised at amount of space. My horse doesnt like bars and confined spaces so the stalion style wouldnt work for us.

Back onto emergency rear exits - from what i can see they are mainly used to help if horse goes over breast bar - but if you have a full / sloping wall that wouldnt happen ?

 

[Xmasha]

thanks all, tried one with a sloping wall at weekend and surprised at amount of space. My horse doesnt like bars and confined spaces so the stalion style wouldnt work for us.

Back onto emergency rear exits - from what i can see they are mainly used to help if horse goes over breast bar - but if you have a full / sloping wall that wouldnt happen ?

That was my rationale too. As someone else mentioned, you don’t have another means of exit on. 7.5t , and the 3.5s with a sloping wall are pretty similar in design internally .