Anyone know of any CHEAP transport companies....

silvershoes

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Hello! Need my horse movng to Wales this weekend from the County Durham area so was wondering if anyone knew of any cheap transport companies in the area. Tried C+C Transport but they quoted £360 :eek: so preferably cheaper than that.
 
Sounds quite reasonable for a professional, not sure where in county durham and wales you are looking at but it must be over 250 miles, its going to take them at least 4-5 hours with tacho rules so a complete day driving with rests and with no return load, bearing in mind it probably costs them about £1 per mile with driver, insurance, fuel etc?

If you tried to hire a trailer and do it with a 4x4 you'd have to go both ways to return the trailer and then back again, take a day or more, plus the worry of moving, fuel costs.....

Hope the move goes well.
 
Thanks, I know it doesn't seem that bad when you take things into consideration. I have asked a few friends to see if they can help me out. I don't have a tow bar on my car otherwise that would have been an option. I looked down the route of self hire horseboxes too but they don't work out much cheaper than C+C!
 
I would agree that you have been quoted a fair price. Beware anyone doing it cheaper as they may not have adequate insurance or experience. You need to make sure that your precious horse is transported safely, comfortably and handled correctly.

There are also serious implications for the driver transporting someone elses horse for reward (even fuel costs) and hours worked (including job not driving) so be midnful of this if you have a friend "helping out". Also it is a heck of a drive for someone not experienced or confident 5 hours each way driving a car would be bad enough.

Have you considered a shared load with a larger transport company? It may work out cheaper, but your horse may well have a longer journey. You may also find it easier to arrange if you can be a bit flexible with dates. You would also have had a better chance of this with more notice.
 
I would agree that you have been quoted a fair price. Beware anyone doing it cheaper as they may not have adequate insurance or experience. You need to make sure that your precious horse is transported safely, comfortably and handled correctly.

There are also serious implications for the driver transporting someone elses horse for reward (even fuel costs) and hours worked (including job not driving) so be midnful of this if you have a friend "helping out". Also it is a heck of a drive for someone not experienced or confident 5 hours each way driving a car would be bad enough.

Have you considered a shared load with a larger transport company? It may work out cheaper, but your horse may well have a longer journey. You may also find it easier to arrange if you can be a bit flexible with dates. You would also have had a better chance of this with more notice.

I have offered for the "friend" to stay the night if they want to so they don't have to do the trip there and back in one day as I did it myself a month ago when I took my fiance and his horse down and it is a very long journey. My wagon is waiting for work to be done so isn't able to come down yet which is why I'm looking for transport.

The quote I was given was on a shared load to Ireland. I know they have insurances etc but it worries me he'll be sharing with "god knows what" on the way there :confused: but if that's my only means I suppose it is the risk you take! I just thought I'd ask around and see if anyone knew any companies that could beat that price, not to be told that it is a fair price as I'm aware it probably is!

For example I rang a very well known professional company in Scotland (Eric Gille) who unfortunately didn't have anything available this week and they even suggested trying to knock the price down a bit.
 
Google Ready for Business Horse Transport.

Used them recently for a short trip and were fab, very well priced and are DEFRA reg./insured etc.

Based in Derbyshire but do travel around the country :)
 
Hello! Need my horse movng to Wales this weekend from the County Durham area so was wondering if anyone knew of any cheap transport companies in the area. Tried C+C Transport but they quoted £360 :eek: so preferably cheaper than that.

To be honest I think you will struggle to get anyone to take the job cheaply this weekend. We had one transported from South Wales to Sunderland as a sole traveller and it cost us £500.00.

A shared load will probably be difficult to find this late in the day.

I have just paid £220 plus VAT for Gillies to bring a pony from Inverness to the same area. Pony left Inverness Friday and arrived Sunday am as part of a shared load. I was quoted approx £170 by Gordon Hamilton for the same trip but he couldn't give me a date.

Gordon Hamilton might be worth a try? Just google him as I don't have his number. Good Luck!
 
Thank you everyone for your response...a good friend of mine has offered to take him for £280 so I'm very grateful!

I tried "Ready for Business" and he was very helpful and is going to get back to me but couldn't take him until Monday so I will just let him know I managed to get sorted.

Off to start a new life of horses in Wales!

Thanks again peeps.
 
where about in wales are you off to, im moving to wales in september for uni from edinburgh and was quoted £400 to transport him 455 miles working out at 90p a mile
 
where about in wales are you off to, im moving to wales in september for uni from edinburgh and was quoted £400 to transport him 455 miles working out at 90p a mile

Gwalchmai which is North Wales, the Isle of Anglesey, 10 mins from Holyhead :) I'm moving down to live with my fiance who is working for someone down there riding their Show Jumpers...very exciting!
 
I've just noticed this thread, and see you have managed to arrange transport.
For future reference though, I had a pony transported from the New Forest in May. She was picked up from a little place called Calshot, which is right beside The Solent, south of Southampton. It was a shared load, included an overnight stop, stabled in a livery yard near Penrith. She was delivered to me the following morning at a yard 14 miles south of Edinburgh. The journey was about 500 miles (including stops to pick up/drop off other horses) and cost £324.
I had a quote from the same transporter to bring a horse from Inverurie (near Aberdeen) to the same yard, (around 200 miles) which was £170.
The transporter was Gavin Jamieson, who is based at Ayton, in Berwickshire (10 miles north of Berwick Upon Tweed). He does regular journeys up and down the UK, is fully licenced and insured, very professional, and a nice friendly down to earth man. He also keeps in touch throughout the journey, told me the route he was taking, phoned to say he had arrived at the yard near Penrith, phoned when he left the following morning, and again when he was nearly at the yard to deliver my pony. My 2yo New Forest filly had never travelled before, (spent the first 2 years of her life living "wild" on the New Forest), but walked straight on to Gavin's 4 horse Oakley lorry (he also has a 10 horse lorry), and arrived with me very relaxed as she had travelled very well.
I would always use Gavin Jamieson now if I needed long distance transport :)
 
I've just noticed this thread, and see you have managed to arrange transport.
For future reference though, I had a pony transported from the New Forest in May. She was picked up from a little place called Calshot, which is right beside The Solent, south of Southampton. It was a shared load, included an overnight stop, stabled in a livery yard near Penrith. She was delivered to me the following morning at a yard 14 miles south of Edinburgh. The journey was about 500 miles (including stops to pick up/drop off other horses) and cost £324.
I had a quote from the same transporter to bring a horse from Inverurie (near Aberdeen) to the same yard, (around 200 miles) which was £170.
The transporter was Gavin Jamieson, who is based at Ayton, in Berwickshire (10 miles north of Berwick Upon Tweed). He does regular journeys up and down the UK, is fully licenced and insured, very professional, and a nice friendly down to earth man. He also keeps in touch throughout the journey, told me the route he was taking, phoned to say he had arrived at the yard near Penrith, phoned when he left the following morning, and again when he was nearly at the yard to deliver my pony. My 2yo New Forest filly had never travelled before, (spent the first 2 years of her life living "wild" on the New Forest), but walked straight on to Gavin's 4 horse Oakley lorry (he also has a 10 horse lorry), and arrived with me very relaxed as she had travelled very well.
I would always use Gavin Jamieson now if I needed long distance transport :)

Thanks for this, I'll keep him in mind! And £324 isn't bad for travelling practically the whole country! And an Oakley lorry is just a bonus, travelling in style :p
 
Thanks guys. Luckily a friend has offered to take him so I'm over the moon!

The original quote I received was on a shared load too so couldn't have got it cheaper.

I've been told about some companies I'd never even heard of so thanks for that, will keep them in mind :)
 
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