Bateson trailers

[algeredge]

Anyone had any experiences with Bateson trailers? I purchased one from new in 2001 and was thoroughly pleased with it. We chose it as the floor was made out of a specialist treated wood that does not rot. Unfortunately however my horse put his foot through the floor last week end and has now severed his extensor tendon and had to have emergency surgery on his fetlock joint. He will be out of action all year and may not ever be sound again.
I have now found that Bateson have changed the design and have widened the metal frme around the floor making it a good 4" wider as they were experiencing problems with the floor getting soggy around the edge. We were not informed of this and the trailer was not recalled at any time. Please, please check your trailers if you have one of a similar age.
Any tips or similar experiences would be appreciated. Bateson have refused to come out and see the damage.
Thank God it was not a worse accident, although the whole of the eventing season has now been written off!
Also, if anyone has experiences with rehab for this type of injury I would be grateful.
Bev

 

[Bubbles]

Oh God, I do hope your horse recovers, no experience of that kind of injury but it sounds awful. Shocking that Bateson won't come out, perhaps a little publicity on HHO will help them change their minds!!

 

[suzysparkle]

That is awful. I have a 510 with a wooden floor and when I bought it I noticed a soggy bit at the side. Took it to an old fashioned blacksmith who said other than this bit the floor was sound so he cut that bit out and laid an aluminium floor on top, it's bolted right through to the sides and is rock solid. I will say I never noticed the soggy bit until I lifted the mats and had a poke about - you couldn't tell from underneath. I think it's normally suggested to rip the wood out but this guy was adament that it was better to have the double thickness.
The scary thing was that the girl I bought it from was travelling her Horse in it right up until I bought it. The worst bit about trailer floors is that you really have to go prodding about to find weak spots. I know all Ifors (for a few years now) are made with aluminium floors but these are also not failsafe. I guess having both in is good then!
No idea about rehab but I hope all goes well.

 

[Louby]

Sorry no idea about batesons but I did read that the Richardsons now have some kind of plastic floor???
I bought a 2nd hand Ifor years ago, it was about 4 yrs old at the time. I thought the sellers had been nice by jet washing it before I seen it. More fool me, they had more likely jet washed it to hide the fact the floor was already wet through and rotton all round the sides. I was a bit too trusting then and although we did look at the floor didnt realise you really should go in with a screw driver to test it so we bought it. The scary thing is I travelled my friends horse to Leahurst the week before I took it to IW for a service. They told me I had been so lucky that it hadnt gone through. God I cringe at the thought.
I hope your horse makes a full recovery.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Sorry to here about your poor horsey - I hope he makes a swift and full recovery. Can't offer any advice just best wishes for you both.

 

[Kenzo]

Bahill trailers (well a certain model) also had the same fault.

Rubber matting on a wood floors is a no no in my experience (unless of course the horse is slipping etc) and you lift it up alot to check the foor, because that way you can clearly see where the floor is damp, rotting, bowing etc plus your more likely to clean it out more often, to keep the floor dry and clean.

Rain water seeps through the edges and eats away at the floor, most people only check where the horse soils the floor.

 

[NikkiF]

Sorry to hear about your horse, hope he recovers ok.

I too have a Bateson bought in the same year..........BUT (and this is not having a dig, just some advice for all trailer owners) I take it back to the dealer that sold it to me every year for a full service and checkup.

If you have a lorry you have to have it plated every year, to be honest I've come across a lot of trailer owners who don't do any maintenance on their trailers for years.