Collecting at a service station, is this wise? South Mimms/Birchanger

[mhorses]

I have offered to go and collect a long term friends horse for her, the horse has been on loan in Norfolk for 2 years. Circumstances have changed and the loaner has offered to meet us half way to break the journey in half for both of us.
Half way is North London/Herts area. Loaner suggested either South Mimms/Birchanger. I am a bit wary of unloading a horse in a motorway service car park.
Does anyone know either of these service stations and would you feel it was safe unloading a horse there? The horse is generally calm but can be a little spooky at times.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I personally wouldn’t, I bought a horse few years back from Warwickshire, he was 17.2 in a trailer, I knew he needed a leg stretch but would never risk it, I didn’t really know him to be fair.
in the dark especially i wouldn’t risk it. Can you find a car park somewhere away from a motorway? Then use a lunge line to transfer, just in case ?

 

[ycbm]

I've changed over horses, buying and selling, many times over the the years, the last one on the grass verge beside a busy dual carriageway! (Buying, not my risk. )

I would say that the right motorway services at a quiet time is probably one of the best places, they have space, are a long way from the fast road, a lot of people around to help if needed, grass verges the horse would likely stop at if it got free and you can sit in the cafe while you wait. .

 

[Quigleyandme]

It‘s common practice for horses transported to the UK from Ireland to be transferred to local carriers at motorway services pre-dawn given that the sea crossing is overnight. I think a quiet corner of the coach or lorry park would be best if you’re going to do it. Let the horse stretch his legs and have a pick of grass and take your time.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't unload in a car park especially near a motorway South Mimms is really busy I wouldn't want to risk it there, I don't know Birchanger sorry how big are both of the vehicles being used?

 

[criso]

A friend did at just that at South Mimms, transporter couldn't drive in to the LEZ to the yard in North London. That was over 10 years ago though.

 

[Abacus]

I wouldn’t rely on the ‘lots of people around to help’ and would be fairly wary of doing this. Maybe a very calm horse and a very good loader.

 

[Griffin]

This might sound like a really silly idea but are there any livery yards/riding schools/competition venues in that area that you could contact and ask if you could do a transfer in their car park? I am just thinking that they would be more likely to have a quieter area to sort everything out in. I am not sure how insurance would work though and I would expect to pay something for the trouble. As I said, probably a silly idea.

 

[Hallo2012]

if the horse is an excellent, reliable loader and can 100% be relied upon on to just walk on then i would do it but i would take as many spare people with me as i could fit the car/lorry and and use a bridle and lunge line and have buckets of feed ready just in case.

i would not do it with a tricky loader as all you need is for them to start messing around, slip over, pull you over, get free............i would use FB to find a nearby yard you could use.

 

[EllenJay]

RVC college is near South Mims - you could do the swap there

 

[Bernster]

Eek I wouldn’t do it. I’d try and find a nearby equestrian place and see if you could use their car park etc. RVC is nearby but has a gated car park so unlikely you could get in. Depending on the route, there could be a show ground on the way.

 

[Cortez]

If the horse is good to load, why not? I’ve transferred horses at service stations in the UK, I’ve also had to transfer one on a motorway verge (emergency), needs must, and a good reminder why we should make sure horses load well.

 

[Landcruiser]

Given that it's not your horse, OP, I don't think I'd want to take the risk. A lot could have changed with the horse in the 2 yrs on loan, so even if it was a reliable loader before, it may not be now. I'd be wanting to go and get the horse from the yard it's been living I think, if I were the owner or owner's representative.

 

[Getbackboys]

totally depends on if horse is a good loader and high spirited ie a racehorse not too sure a lil pony, hunter, cob then yes again depending on how far away the service is from the actual motorway road

 

[sassandbells]

What will the horse be travelling in? I met the transporter for my youngster in a services car park, we lined up the ramp of the 7:5t with the side ramp of my 3.5t, blocked the edges and just swapped her over. Was no real issue doing it that way and the horse couldn’t get anywhere. Would probably be more wary of going from a lorry to a trailer where you can’t make a neat little tunnel.

That being said if the horse was anything other than 100% to load I probably wouldn’t risk it.

 

[Lady Jane]

South Mimms is really busy. But the suggestion of a local ivery yard is worth investigating and the RVC is 3 miles away although there is a width/weight restriction as I recall which makes it a bit longer in a 7.5t.The RSPCA is less than 3 miles away too.

Where are you coming from?

 

[Getbackboys]

if one has a choice, aside emergencies then better to be safe then sorry

 

[Green Bean]

Although busy, South Mimms has enough room in the carpark to find a quiet spot (quiet as in no other cars and people streaming past while you are trying to load). If I was thinking of doing this with my horse it would be a no, purely because she is a difficult loader, that doesn't have to be the case if the horse in question is an easy loader. Whilst on holiday in South Wales, we stopped at a small services and there were ponies being hand grazed, I assume to give them a break in a long journey so it can be done

 

[Sealine]

RVC college is near South Mims - you could do the swap there

You'd need to arrange with the RVC as there is a barrier and security to access their car parks.

 

[hollyandivy123]

ok perhaps rather than meeting half way and a swap, it might work out the same cost in a shared load with a transporter? (it was for me once we factored in fuel and time)

 

[criso]

I wouldn't have thought the RVC would allow it. It's a security and bio security risk to have unknown horses on the premises and they'd be considering things like what if the horse gets injured in the transfer process.

As said there's a barrier and gatehouse and if you are not recognised, they'll ask who you are coming to see. Actually several barriers as additional ones once you're past the gatehouse.

Lastly their carpark isn't huge. I've been there at a busy time and it's been so full struggled to find enough space to park and unload.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

There are a few yards in the area maybe see if you can swap over in one of them, I'm not far away hence why I asked how big the vehicles are as I have a sweeping drive you could use I parked my 3.5 ton here but anything bigger wouldn't work.

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

If you are nervous about using a service station, if you have concerns about the horse behaving, then I would try to find a completion venue. How about Brook Farm if they are heading east around the M25? There are a number of venues in different directions, depending on where you are driving on to. Obviously you would need to check with them in advance (or at least make sure it was a completion day when lots or people are using the car park).

 

[sunleychops]

RVC college is near South Mims - you could do the swap there

Exactly this

 

[maya2008]

Or use a transporter...

I'd swap a calm one over anywhere - have often parked on streets etc to go hacking, have taken horses to the beach (so obviously car park not enclosed area) and so on. Mine load multiple times a week though as we have no arena, so travel out for everything bar local hacking. Might be different with a flighty horse who doesn't load well.

 

[Suncat]

I don't know the area at all, so no immediate help, but if I'm considering a long trip that would need a leg-stretch break I look for something like a country park close to the route that I can check has a decent sized car park (thank you google satellite and street view) in a quiet setting and plan to arrive off peak.

 

[Sealine]

How about one of the car parks for Epping Forest which should be en-route from Norfolk and is just off the M25. This link gives details of car parks that are suitable for horse boxes:

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thi...n-epping-forest/horse-riding-in-epping-forest

ETA: You could try Coursers Farm, St Albans AL4 0PD - just off M25 and offers XC course hire etc so they are used to visitors. You can find them on Facebook.

 

[rara007]

South mimms is busy and no verges, it’s notorious for dogs bolting, but you know the horse... I only have a 4.5 tonne but take that in the car/caravan park rather than HGV as it’s calmer. Maybe contact Mymms hall? They must be within a miles.

 

[Starzaan]

I’ve done this many many times and never had a problem. As long as you’re sensible you’ll be fine.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It's not something that I would ever do. It's all grand until it isn't, and you potentially have a loose horse heading for the motorway.