3.5 tonne - wheel arches in horse area

[SEL]

I'm shopping.

I've seen quite a few rear facing where the horse's front legs would be next to the wheel arch. All plastic coated obviously but do people find this is an issue travelling or not?

Perhaps its too many years of having horses who can find something (anything) to injure themselves on....

 

[Squeak]

I don't find it an issue but I find how they have been covered a good indication of build quality. I personally wasn't keen on anything square/ flat that they could either stand on or catch a corner but something that was taller and rounded or some of them have tack lockers over them, I'm happy with.

 

[RHM]

I have that in my lorry. They are well covered and not been an issue for me at all!

 

[Tracking_up]

Well covered, and a strong sloping plastic structure with a small ledge at the top just under window, approx level with breast bar and about the size of 2 hands/palms and fingers outstretched.

Doesn't cause any problems at all (except when Mr Impatient decides to kick/scrape it to attract my attention!!)

 

[SEL]

I don't find it an issue but I find how they have been covered a good indication of build quality. I personally wasn't keen on anything square/ flat that they could either stand on or catch a corner but something that was taller and rounded or some of them have tack lockers over them, I'm happy with.

Thank you - you're all making me feel more positive.

I saw one van where they intruded pretty substantially into the horse space and were a large rectangular shape, but the one I'm looking at currently they are smaller and more rounded.

 

[DressageCob]

In the 3.5t I borrow they are sort of cone shaped. There isn't a ledge for the horse to stand on, but rather rounded and smooth and gradually narrowing. The top was just beneath the tie rings. Even the most unreliable of travellers seem to travel well in that box.

 

[Bernster]

I prefer a ‘clear‘ travelling area so I avoided those.

 

[Hallo2012]

having stallions who like to climb and destroy i actively avoided these!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I prefer a ‘clear‘ travelling area so I avoided those.

Me too, I have a long wheelbase coachbuilt - so the locker and seat in the groom section cover the wheel arches and completely clear of them in the horse area.

 

[SEL]

Me too, I have a long wheelbase coachbuilt - so the locker and seat in the groom section cover the wheel arches and completely clear of them in the horse area.

That's more the style I was looking for. Been a bit of a struggle to find one that ticks the right boxes.

 

[Flame_]

I have a full wall to the groom's area and a breast bar set back a bit. The wheel arches sit either side in the gap. I liked this a lot as felt the same way as you about having them by the horses' legs. Good designs are out there anyway, I bought mine used.

 

[webble]

Mine are in the grooms area so don't affect the horse area

 

[mavandkaz]

I'm another with a long wheel base so they are in the groom's area.
It's certainly not an uncommon arrangement ( of the 5 on the yard, only one is short wheel base) so keep looking.

 

[blodwyn1]

Mine has them half in the horse area covered with rubber they haven't caused a problem.

 

[estela]

Mine are also in the groom's section. I also avoided having them in the horse area as they seemed to take up so much room. Good luck!

 

[DressageCob]

I don't think this style takes up too much space in the horse area. It is more where their head and neck is than the legs.

 

[Squeak]

For those saying that you have them in the grooms area, are they stallion stalls? I'd always thought that even LWB you got the setup as above in dressage cobs photo where they are half in the horse area and half in the grooms area and that it was only ones with a breast wall/ with the horses head in the grooms area that the wheel arches were in the grooms area as the horse area is shorter?

 

[Fluffypiglet]

Alexander’s York lorry has a good indication of the set up without the wheel arches in the horse area (Only their York model I think) That and Travel Two sold boxes pictures on their website. The travel two would definitely be where I’d go if I was to buy as they are the layout I would want with emergency exit, nice open space, no wheel arches in horse area & breast bar. My horse scraps and digs with his front feet whenever he’s cross tied (not just in a lorry) so those cones/ short wheel arch covers are a complete no no for me as he’d damage them and himself.