Best trailer for a hard to load horse?

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SMIS

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I have a 16.1hh 500kg TB who does not like travelling in my Dad's Ifor Williams trailer on his own (the trailer is the biggest old style 505? trailer - the ones that came in maroon, green and blue) but there is no travel buddy available.

I have read that Ifor Williams are not particularly "load friendly" and was wondering if anyone has or had a hard to load horse which trailer would you/do you use?
 
I have to say that I wouldn't personally load something over 15.2hh in a 505. Just my opinion but I don't find them big enough which doesn't help when it comes to a horse that is difficult to load.

My TB used to be very difficult but once I bought my own trailer and was able to practice he became much better about it, by the time I'd sold the trailer (to get a lorry) he was very keen to load!

I got the Ifor 511 which was very light and airy inside. I had it made with the front ramp on the passenger/curb side of the trailer as I found it gave the larger horse (which should always travel on the drivers side) much more room to unload. I never had a problem with mine.
 
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I think I might have the 505 bit wrong then as this Ifor Williams was the biggest one on the market then. My Dad has a 17.2hh and his friend a 16hh which travelled together in the box. It was advertised as able to carry two 17+hh horses at the time.

By curb side do you mean your trailer is side loading rather than rear loading? I wondered whether side loading might make the trailer look more roomy?
 
The 505 has two side panels, the bigger 510 has three.

The new style 511 is big airy and very inviting for horses. Even the difficult loaders went into ours no hassle. With the partition taken out even the most stubborn loaders were fine.
 
SMIS said:
I think I might have the 505 bit wrong then as this Ifor Williams was the biggest one on the market then. My Dad has a 17.2hh and his friend a 16hh which travelled together in the box. It was advertised as able to carry two 17+hh horses at the time.

By curb side do you mean your trailer is side loading rather than rear loading? I wondered whether side loading might make the trailer look more roomy?
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Ahh it's probably the 510 then which is plenty big enought for a 16.1hh :)

Sorry, I meant that the front ramp is on the curb side! I found that when I unloaded my horse from a ifor with front ramp on the drivers side he would knock himself coming out as it's a difficult angle for them to get. This made him rush out and knock himself even more. Once the new trailer cam with the front ramp on the curb side I never had an issue unloading him.
 
I doubt the horse dislikes the ifor to load into. They're no different from the vast majority of trailers. If it walks straight onto other trailers I stand corrected though

Potentially it doesn't like travelling in there (I find ifors noisy and bumpy ) or potentially the horse would be happier with no partitionor maybe you need to practise on your own or maybe it would prefer to travel backwards. There are so many variables it is hard to guess what they dont like but if it is fine in their with company I seriously doubt there is anything wrong with your trailer!
 
Thats really interesting. My Dad's unloads on the drivers side and my horse does tend to panic/rush out - I think he has knocked himself when unloading because you are right it is a difficult angle and quite tight.

Perhaps I need to upgrade to a 511 trailer.

I am hoping that if I can get the set up right i.e. buy the easiest most welcoming trailer ever then it will make the job of getting him comfortable travelling easier!
 
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