Best (and safest) small horse boxes to carry big horses

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Sandy200

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Hi

I would be very grateful for any advice/recommendations for small horseboxes that are suitable for carrying larger horses up to 17hh. I am old enough sadly, not to have to worry about the driving licence restrictions so would be looking for an uprated model, probably 3.9 or 4.5 tonne, but smaller than my current 7.5 tonne.

In particular does anyone have any of the boxes without a breast bar and if so do your horses travel well in them? Really want something that the horses will be happy and travel well in and also need to take a large dog with me so have to fit her in it too! I am in the South East so any recommendations for makers based there would be great too.

Many thanks all
Sandy
 
Although you are 'fortunate' enough to be able to drive up to 7.5 tonnes there are huge advantages of sticking to a 3.5 tonne box if you only have one horse. You only need an MOT rather than plating, servicing and parts are cheaper, and they are very economical on diesel. There don't seem to be many advantages of the boxes between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes, except that they are a bit smaller, as they still need plating.

There are a lot these days in which the horse is in their own compartment which has a wall between it and the 'living' area, mostly for safety. This does tend to make them a bit longer and heavier than those with a breast bar, but again if only taking 1 horse, you would still be within the weight limit. My friend has one of these and I don't much like it - I think the area available for the horses head is too short. I tried putting my 17hh in there and he looked very squashed. (Not to travel, just to experiment). But I expect there are others with more space, which might mean compromising on the living.

Another friend had a Thorpe box which was 6 tonnes, forward facing. That did carry two big horses easily with a lot of space. It was a nice box although expensive.

Personally I have an older Equimark 3.5, which I have always admired for the quality of the build and size and strength of the partitions. I can't afford one but their current range looks fantastic. They are in Suffolk.
 
I have been looking in to this as well and group the smaller horse boxes in to:
3.5 Tons Van Type Best manufacturers are Bloomfield, Boss and Oakley.
6.5 Tons Van Type Best manufacturers are Equicruisers, Gazeley Horseboxes
6.5 Tons Truck Type Best manufacturers are Oakley, Priory Stud, Gazeley Horseboxes You can get some very compact ones that are only 18 Feet from the front of the cab to rear of the container.
7.5 Tons Truck Type Best manufacturers are Oakley, Priory Stud, Gazeley Horseboxes You can get some very compact ones that are only 18 Feet from the front of cab to rear of the container.
The difference between the van type and the truck type is that the van type are narrower and the engine is approached from a front panel so you don't need a tilt cab which adds weight.
The truck type are wider and one really needs a tilt cab to work on the engine.
I had a delightful 6.5 ton built on a truck chassis with the horses on a Diagonal and the container was built by C & R Day in Toddington Bedfordshire. Easy to park and a nice high container.
 
Thank you for your responses. I do need to take 2 biggish horses so don't think I will get enough capacity with a 3.5 tonne. Perhaps am better off the 6.5 tonne so will look through the ones that Owlie has highlighted, haven't seen all those manufacturers before so can have fun looking. Thanks again.
 
I have a 3.5 pton Boss which is an amazing lorry, no breastbar, as such and both of my horses (separately) travel amazingly well in it. They don't move!, it's a 5 seater cab so you would have the room for your dog but I doubt even uprated that 3.9 would be enough for 2 horses. We were undecided about sticking with a 3.5 or going slightly bigger but stuck at 3.5 as it's always just me and 1 horse. I would highly recomend Freddie Gover Horseboxes, we were very tempted by one of his small bigger ones, possibly a 4.5ton? He's based near Gatwick and has done some work on our old lorry and has a brilliant reputation around the area.
 
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