Bateson trailers

[chestnut cob]

In particular the Boston 55 model...

This model is the one with the small ramp, instead of a proper full size ramp. What are people's experiences of these? Do horses find them easy to load up, or are they likely to make a tricky loader worse?

Thanks

 

[Patches]

What's Monty like with steps? Actually...I know the answer to that, he walks up the step into my stables fine, doesn't he?

You really need to find someone with a CL trailer so you can try the back ramp/door arrangement. A friend of mine used to have one (2000XL rings a bell) and she could use the back as either a ramp or a door so the horse could step into the trailer instead of walking up the ramp.

Wonder if this would help Monty? They're so low to the ground compared to Ifor's too, so it's not a big step.

 

[chestnut cob]

I don't know anyone with a CL. There's a Bateson Boston 55 on Ebay ATM, hence the question.

Problem I have is that everyone I know, bar one with a HUGE Equitrek, has IW trailers so I've no idea whether he would be any better in a different make. I honestly don't think he'd be any different in a 510 as they're still quite dark and claustrophobic compared to the CLs or Bateson (or your Richardson).

 

[MagicMelon]

I've seen 2 people with the "mini" ramp batesons - one person doesnt even pull out the ramp at all, horse just hops in. Never seen them have any issues. I've got a Bateson Ascot, we had the choice of the American door version but I didnt like that when closed, the gap at the top wasn't very big (not like with our normal-ramp version).

 

[chestnut cob]

I've seen 2 people with the "mini" ramp batesons - one person doesnt even pull out the ramp at all, horse just hops in. Never seen them have any issues. I've got a Bateson Ascot, we had the choice of the American door version but I didnt like that when closed, the gap at the top wasn't very big (not like with our normal-ramp version).

Thanks MM Does your friend have a good loader anyway though? The only person I've ever seen with a Boston model Bateson used to have trouble loading her mare, though I've no idea whether the horse had previously loaded well in other trailers (come to think of it, I'm sure we loaded her no probs in my 505...).

 

[QUICKFIRE]

I have the Boston with the barn doors, I never use the ramp, horse always steps up, even horses that have never been in it before step straight in. I have in the past with a really bad loader reversed it up to a wall leaving just enough room to open doors so they touch the wall, then walked the horse behind the box then closed the door in front and behind, leaving no where for them to go but on the trailer, (not the best solution I know but needs must and all that). Batesons in my mind are the best by far.

 

[chestnut cob]

Thanks Quickfire, that's interesting.

I have got to a point where I am going to have one more go at seeing if the loading issues can be resolved (please note he is not awful and 80% of the time he goes straight on, but 20% of the time he just stands at the bottom of the ramp for anywhere between 5 mins and 1hr before he suddenly decides to go in.. he used to be genuinely terrible to load and travel, had an IHRA out and do regular groundwork with him, he now travels beautifully, isn't in the slightest bit stressed (obviously, anyway..no pounding heart, sweating, shaking, not tense to touch), snoozes on trailer, eats his hay, will stand for as long as needed when we arrive at a venue... it just has to be his idea to go on). If not, I think I am going to have to bite the bullet, sell my trailer and accept we may have a summer of going no where while I find something he will go on 100% of the time

 

[QUICKFIRE]

If he is good when traveling then it sounds like that he is not really scared, with most bad loaders is not fear of going on the box or traveling, its a form napping when they refuse to go on a box, have you tried using some form of controller headcollar? 9 times out of 10 they work.

 

[chestnut cob]

If he is good when traveling then it sounds like that he is not really scared, with most bad loaders is not fear of going on the box or traveling, its a form napping when they refuse to go on a box, have you tried using some form of controller headcollar? 9 times out of 10 they work.

Yeah, I've got a Dually. He can be quite a nappy horse anyway and he tends to use the "i'm too busy looking at that horse over there who is doing something fascinating" excuse to avoid going on. I am just a bit frustrated ATM as when I practised loading last week, he was perfect, even loads himself (literally..I only have to send him up the ramp while I stand at the bottom, he will walk up calmly, stand and wait for me to walk on, then wait for me to walk him down the front ramp and off) on a good day. Then refused to load on sunday to go XC schooling however, nearly every horse on the yard was being prepped to go somewhere at the same time, boxes everywhere, loading going on, like Picadilly Circus, so that got him wound up. He was then in that mindset all day and was a sod to load coming home.

However, he usually goes on within a few mins so he's not one of those who would happily stand at the bottom of the ramp for 3 hours. I had a chat with an IHRA this afternoon who said that she can work with me to at least come up with some more answers to his evasions in the short term. Another RA session is a damn sight cheaper and easier than having to sell one trailer then buy another, so worth a go while I decide what to do re. trailers anyway.

He isn't scared at all though, just awkward *rolls eyes*

 

[QUICKFIRE]

Nothing worse than an awkward sod, and it normally runs in every male species lol, its just a case of practise then, and having a set routine for loading, good luck with your efforts.

 

[chestnut cob]

Nothing worse than an awkward sod, and it normally runs in every male species lol, its just a case of practise then, and having a set routine for loading, good luck with your efforts.

Funnily enough, I think you are right about the loading routine. He is a super sensitive boy and he knows when anything is different, even slightly so. When we've been loading to practise recently, it hadn't even occurred to me to put on his travel gear. Obviously I put it on to actually go somewhere, and he knows something is different. I honestly think he knows that when he has travel gear on, he's going to actually travel rather than walk in and out a few times. Practise with loading gear on needed I think!

 

[kibob]

I have a Bateson Deauville with the boston doors and pull out ramp. All of my horses load without the ramp.

Ok, three horses - one would load into anything anyway (have trouble stopping her lol).

The second horse had only travelled in a IW trailer a couple of times and had loaded ok, she'd always needed a bit of time but was just a baby about it rather than a "bad" loader. This gradually got worse with the Bateson, with the ramp pulled out. Decided one day to try without the ramp and she just marched in. She's never been a problem since.

Third horse, typical stubborn pony. Was never very good to load, always had to get a lunge line out. She now marches in , every time, without the ramp.

So I love my Bateson. I think a lot of tricky loaders can fuss about the ramp, they are far more confident stepping into a trailer. Guess they know where there feet are

 

[kibob]

Sorry,,, more from me

The ramp is very short and with the back doors open, the horses head and neck are in the trailer before he/she even knows about it. I would think this would help with a tricky loader.

Another thing i love is that you can have one horse in and shut the door behind it whilst you load another.

Hope that makes sense. I just love mine

 

[baeloclaudia]

I have a Bateson with the American doors and love it. All 3 of mine just walk straight in. With the 2 older ones I never use the ramp, they just step up. With the foal I put the ramp down as the step was a little high for her to understand!

I had an Ifor before and found a tricky loader would mess about, on the ramp, off the ramp.... go so far and rhen mess about. With the Bateson they are in before they know it and there is no messing about.
They travel really well in it too, and the unloading angle is nice and easy. Big thumbs up from me.

 

[whizzica]

I have the Bateson Ascot with the american doors and small pull out ramp.
I only used the ramp the first few times after getting it as watching the horses load not one of them put a foot onto the ramp! so now I never use it and haven't had any trouble with loading any of mine. Even the foal is happy to hop up and in.
I think they are fantastic trailers - horses load and travel really well in them and have had quite a variety of horses in it with no issues.