Best horse trailers?

I have a Bateson (Ascot) and think its great. Wish I had bought the Deaville now as I would like to be able to lock my saddles on the trailer. I have space on the Ascot but it is just the racks so not as secure. I also didn't put tack in there previously as old horse used to like to run his teeth down anything nearby.

Things to take into considersation - height of the horse. Batesons take upto 17 hh, Ifor 505/506 is upto 16.2 with the 510/511 upto 17.2. Batesons have the side ramp on a different side (so horse would unload onto the road which I personally preferred. Ifor argue that the ramp should be on the opposite as safer but having been stuck on a lorry with just a steep ditch, my preference is onto the road. Avoid the early 511 as there were a lot of problems - the old 510 or very new 511s are a better bet. Check what comes with your trailer - so Ascot tends to have the see through part at the front of the trailer (means my passenger can see my horse) and a mirror at the front of the trailer so I can see when reversing to hitch up. These are standard on an Bateson but can be extra on an Ifor. I would not buy one with a wooden floor unless someone had checked it very very carefully for me (but the ascot does not have that). If buying a second hand trailer, well worth asking for the serial number to check it is not stolen as well!.

There are other makes but I would say that the 2 I have mentioned are the most popular. Budget for the wheel clamps and hitch locks as well. It won't stop a truly determind thief but would deter someone chancing their luck. Check the car you are looking to tow with as well - there are a lot of helpful posts if you search so you can work out what you can tow comfortably with. Please don't be one of those people though who are looking to get away with the maximum towing weight - the guidelines are just that!

In terms of pricing, have a search on the normal sites to get an idea of what the trailers will cost you.
 
I have a Bateson Ascot, which I bought second hand and I'm really pleased with.

If money were no object, and I were buying new I think that this time around I'd look at the backwards facing one(s). I know Richardson do one, I don't know who else.

Apart from that - my current one has the following, and I'd want all of this:-

- I can do it in all ways on my own
- a fitted tack locker inside
- nice access and egress for the gee gees including a left hand exit side
- a reversing mirror above the tow hook
- option to open the top half of the front ramp so fresh air can get in, but ponies can't get out when parked in a field
- easy to tow and manoevre

plus I also want a water tank fitted on the outside :)
 
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I've just bought a Bateson Ascot (I've had one before), and its really great.

I'm intending on fitting a water tank to the outside. But I'd really like a flip down mounting step attached to the outside.
 
Just to correct one little inaccuracy - the IW506 is the same height as the 511 - it's just the length that changes

I own an IW506 and while I like it and you can lock it (using padlocks), I actually wanted to get a Cheval Liberte Obliqe2+ - the horses load from teh back and travel at an angle and it gives you a double saddle rack and tack area
 
I have a Bateson Ascot (my tack locker is lockable????) Brilliant trailer. Wouldn't swop it for any other make. So well designed and thought out.

(they are also a great company to deal with if you need spares!)
 
I have the Bateson Deauville and love it.

My husband bought it for me because due to worsening of my disability, I could no longer even get into the cab of my lorry :(

After trying loads of different trailers - British and from abroad - we settled on the Bateson.

1/ It was the only trailer I could handle alone. Ramps, hitch up and off
2/ The interior is massive, very light and airy with long front window and air flow channels.
3/ Insulated roof so you don't get old problem of condensation they had previously.
4/ Steel quadrant floor
5/ Fabulous to travel in with the air ride system. My boy loads himself.

Combined with the Tetra II system on my Yank Tank it pulls like a dream.

Not having towed for 10 years, I'm a convert to the Bateson, although I did shed a tear as Dolly the Lorry went off down the drive.

Paddy
 
galaxy23 said:
I have a Bateson Ascot (my tack locker is lockable????) Brilliant trailer. Wouldn't swop it for any other make. So well designed and thought out.

(they are also a great company to deal with if you need spares!)
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Have you had something done to your Ascot? My Ascot just has a saddle rack in the nose whereas the deauville has an actual locker. Please advise if you have!

And by measurements on the Ifor - I was going by the size of the horse you can carry on board - no idea on the heights of the different trailers..
 
Ifor williams 100% :) I have the HB511 absolutely brilliant! They also deliver for you if it's a long way to go to pick it up, and it is a very trustworthy trailer :) Spacious for the horses, easy to clean ect. x
 
Pricey new but if you can find one used I'd recommend a Pegasus - really nice and airy, great for big horses, you can view the horses travelling through the centre glass jockey door and it has a great tack locker. Mine has been sold on and never a problem even with the new owner, now must be 12 years old.
 
I had a Deauville for years & it was fantastic. It rode lower than other trailers so was very stable & smooth to tow. It was light,airy & inviting for horses to load into. It had the saddle racks at the fromt that were useful. The floor was a composite resin & was rot proof. The after sales service was great. I needed a part, I phoned them & within 24 hours it was delivered to me. They also don't depreciate very much so you can use them for years & still sell them for a reasonable price, I did. I only sold mine because I needed a lorry for away shows etc. I sold it to the first person who came to view & got the price I wanted for it. :)
 
I had an ascot just great nice to tow and yes a lockable tack cupboard , 100% recomend one compared to a Ifor they are like a rolls royce I was suprised at the differnce between towing the bateson smooth and hardly knew it was there with or without a horse to the ifor borrowed from a friend which jerked and bumped behind and it was a brand new 510!!
and my bateson a few years old at the time, I wish one of the mags would do a trailer test it would be very interesting ...
 
I have a Bateson Ascot too - Love it. One of my mares travels really badly in IFORs but she is perfect in the Bateson, so there must be differences in the ride quality.

Mine is 10 years old, and I'd have another without a doubt.
 
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