3.5t horsebox for the big horse

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archiesmum

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In the next 12 months I am looking to go from my current truck and Bateson trailer to a 3.5t horsebox as the truck is very thirsty, rusting and I am doing longer journeys. My ridden horse will fit fine it's my youngster who is the sticking point - she is a 4yo ID and currently looking around the 17hh mark and 7'0 in rugs although will still have several years maturing on top! 🙈 Are there any 3.5t boxes out there that would safely cater for the larger horse?
 
Mine has 8’ headroom, and a payload of 1150kg, so woudl take your boy fine.
However,you may need to move the partition depending how long he is. There is plenty of width, and mine takes one in a 7’ rug fine, but If yours is longer than that, you may need to make partition wider, so she would be able to stand at a slight angle.
 
This last weekend I popped a 17.1 hefty ID (7ft 3 rugs) in my box to take her home. Fitted easily.
That said, mine is purpose build (not a conversion van type) and I have the partition wide, she fitted to the breast wall and had her head over & was comfortable in there. Mine is a Racemaster box. Not beautiful but a very good workhorse that I had built for me.
As she weighs 660ish at present, a, her owner was amazed there was lots of headroom and width, but b, we agreed that I wouldn't even pop one of my 2 mini ponies in alongside her as both plus me and gubbins would take us over the limit.

Happy shopping :)
 
Personally I wouldn't. I would want a larger, heavier box than a 3.5t for a large, heavy horse. It isn't just about whether they physically fit and the payload is sufficient. All this seems to assume they will stand still. It doesn't feel safe to me to be able to feel a horse moving around in the back as you can with a bigger animal in a 3.5t. I want the box itself to be sufficiently heavy and stable that I don't feel that. I really wouldn't want to be driving a 3.5t if a 17.2hh 700kg ID decided to throw its weight around inside. I want to stay safely on the road and for the box to be substantial enough to contain the horse if that happens. Also check out reinforcement or otherwise of the bulkhead between the driver and the horse. I wouldn't want a big horse coming through it and squashing me in an accident either.
 
A big horse will be fine travelling solo in a well designed and strongly made coach built 3.5t, like this one, payload permitting. It has a low centre of gravity, and the horse area is within the two axles, so is well supported. My 740kg maxicob travelled really well in this lorry.

I’ve seen many a 7.5t lorry swaying and lurching over to one side when loaded. The centre of gravity is much higher and often the horse area is out the back, beyond the rearmost axle, so is not as stable.

CB1BE6F2-4E66-401B-8152-EDA14A4644EF.jpeg
 
My very large Clydesdale was transported fine in this box.
Tiddlypom said:
ll be fine travelling solo in a well designed and strongly made coach built 3.5t, like this one, payload permitting. It has a low centre of gravity, and the horse area is within the two axles, so is well supported. My 740k
Click to expand...
 
I used to travel a large 17hh ISH in mine (the same as the one tiddlypom posted) he was 7ft in rugs, there was room to spare, we went for absolutely miles in it. Felt much much safer than a trailer and he travelled better in there than a 7.5t as he preferred standing backwards than at an angle. My current horse is only 16'1 and she looks quite small in one of these and travels perfectly in them x
 
I also have a racemaster and I bought it off a lady who had a 17hh horse. Plenty of room and as TP says the low centre of gravity does make them very stable. My biggest horse is 15.3 now and he looks teeny tiny in there :p
 
My 17hh traveled well a number of times in the exact same box pictured above, in fact possibly that box! Plenty of room but he did travel alone. Agree about the low center of gravity and proximity of wheel axles giving a stable ride.
 
Mine would fit one in comfortably space wise. It’s old and heavy though so as above you’d just need to shop round for a better payload. They are out there. As bit of an afterthought though be careful as some of the lighter more modern ones I’ve seen actually look pretty flimsy compared to mine.
 
I've just sold my Ifor Williams 511 and bought a 3.5T Peugeot Boxer / Equitrek Sonic for my 6 year old 16.3 ID. It's rear facing and he has so much more head room! I can only carry him and one pony with the payload, which is fine for me and he travels the opposite side from the ramp so the weight distribution is equal. He travels and fits in it so much better than the trailer, i'm sure you'll be fine as long as you shop wisely.
 
Thank you so much for your replies and a relief I'm not completely barking up the wrong tree and I won't have to just stick to a trailer or have to take another test! :-)

My initial thoughts were that a 3.5t would more stable than a 7.5t but it is definitely something I'll consider. I was thinking of Racemaster/Marlborough or possibly JMS depending on what second hand stock is available. Are there any opinions on which builders would be best to look at for strength, durability and safety for the big girl in mind - doesn't need the bells and whistles :-) also engine size recommendations to have enough grunt to get up the hills :-)

Thank you!
 
I suggest that you hire or try out a box with your horse in before you shell out to buy, I always try to hire before I buy before I change my horse transport. I’ll be doing just that before I change my trailer.

The 3.5t box that I showed the pic of above (and quite a few HHOers know) is a Marlborough Hunter Stud box. It is owned by Mustang Equine Transport near Chester. They do both self drive and with a driver. Bear in mind that I wouldn't even travel a mini Shetland in many 3.5t boxes, but if I had enough pennies I’d buy a Marlborough Stud box.
https://www.marlboroughhorseboxes.co.uk/stud-box/

https://mustangequinetransport.co.uk/horsebox-hire/

There are other good makes around, along with the ones to be avoided.
 
I regularly travel my 18hh+ horse in our 3.5 t, he weighs 720kg. He is only 6'9 in rugs so has plenty of room- about a foot spare but I do have a longer wheel base Ducato and had the living space reduced so there is more horse space. The height is over eight foot. For the bigger horses I think the stallion layout is best as it is more roomy.

People regularly comment on travelling a big horse in a little box and make all the points Tiddlypom has listed. Also alot of the bigger lorries actually have smaller horse areas, my lad had his nose up against the window in a big Oakley Supreme when he was delivered to us and when I measured up other 7.5 t + boxes before deciding on our little box again there was less space. I have the option to uprate mine to 4.5 or 4.9 (I cant remember which) which i will do once I have passed my C1 and then I will be taking my other 17.2 horse out at the same time.
 
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