Anybody have a Bateson Trailer with the "Van Door" alternative to a Ramp?

J

Javabb94

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 November 2010
Messages
2,611
Location
Up north
Visit site
Hi,

When searching the web for which trailer to purchase, i noticed when looking at bateson that as an aternative to a standard ramp on the back of the trailer, you can get whats known as boston doors on the back.

They just open like a van and the horse simply steps into trailer.

I wondered what advantages these doors are meant to have and whether they help fussy loaders. as my horse java when he gets halfway up the ramp he simply stands there and refuses to budge!

So will having no ramp help as he can just "step in", i guess it also makes it a little safer as he cant fall off the ramp and to the horse i guess its more like just walking into a stable with a little step up
 
The Bateson Deauville Boston has a pull out ramp so the horse can either step up and in or use the ramp...

I have a Deauville (standard ramp) and it is a fantastic trailer. Easy and light to tow.
(Sorry- not much help as to whether it'll help a fussy loader!)
 
No experience of these type of trailers to relay, other than I once saw a horse loaded in to one at a show and he very undramatically just stepped up in to trailer. Sorry am not more use!
 
Yes I do, it's so much easier!

There is a small ramp that you can pull out. It is very small though and horses tend to just step over it. I usually only pull it out for new loaders, then after the 1st time never use it again.


I would never go back to a normal ramped trailer. I think ramps are the main reasons horse don't go in. The doors also open only give the horse one option to go forwards. They can't skip sideways down the side of the trailer.

(actually with my friends little 12hh NF we don't even bother opening both doors, just 1 and she pops straight in! So simple!)
 
Last edited:
I have a henra trailer that can either be a ramp or door. I use the door for bad loaders. Psychologically once the head and neck are inside the trailer it is easy for the body to follow, and you can get head and neck in before the feet reach the trailer.
 
I had one for ages, and am about to buy another as I am going back to a trailer.

It was great, never needed the pull out ramp the horses just stepped up. Also had the advantage that you could shut one door once you had loaded the first horse to keep it in. much safer too, no nasty accidents with getting bits of you trapped under the ramp if it drops when you are trying to open/close it.

I also used to open the doors at events to screw in my rear studs and groom the horses tail without taking him out of the box.

You can also load it with a forklift or from a tractor with pallet forks. Great for picking up hay/feed/bedding etc.

As someone else said I wouldn't have anything else now.
 
My friend has one, not a Bateson but a French make of trailer (which escapes me now).

I have only seen her horse loaded into it (lots of times) and he just hops up. They look fab to me :D
 
Spot_the_Risk said:
We've been keeping an eye out for one - did you know that Ifor Williams do this options too? I've only ever seen one trailer of their's like it, but it is (or maybe was for the older models) an option.
Click to expand...

Thanks, really want and ifor and the fact that they have this option is great i never knew they did one!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top