Competing and towing by yourself

[Birker2020]

Hi I have towed my horses by myself since 1996. Thank goodness I have never had any issues whilst towing but I have had about three or four accidents which have resulted me being taken to hospital for a CT scan and xrays whilst coming off jumping. The organisers have had to contact either my partner who has contacted my parents, or my parents that have had to contact my partner. They all meet up and my partner tows my horse and trailer home and my parents follow behind the ambulance in the car. The last time this happened was over two years ago and I got knocked out after my horse jumped me out of the saddle at the last fence in the jump off! Dad and my partner turned up as the woman who owns the centre knew my partner anyway so was able to contact him quickly for me! ANyway I was given the all clear at hospital. My partner works as Head Groundsman at a big riding club centre so he is used to horses but he has to walk onto the yard when he arrives at the stables and find someone to help him unload the horse and then he is able to park the trailer away and put my tack away for me! Bless him.

Last time I fell off at Weston Lawns in October this year (October is always falling off time it seems!!) I had a rotational fall in the air when my horse bucked me off and I landed on my back from about eight foot in the air (I have since bought an air jacket and Bailey has had physio and his saddle rechecked!) I had a lovely couple with a daughterr help me untack and load my horse when I was struggling with the pain I was in but it was a nightmare to drive home. Luckily I'd not been knocked out that time!

BUt I have to say that I might fall off say once in about every sixty-seventy outings so for me the dangers of towing on my own are not really that high. I enjoy being on my own, and I enjoy 'escaping' from teh yard and just spending quality time with my horse without having to worry about others with me that might be cold/tired/bored/hungry/fed up, etc.

 

[NZJenny]

How do you get your horses to stand quietly on the trailer?? I will be teaching my new lad to walk up the ramp on his own but at the moment he won't stand calmly on the trailer. He is ok if I stand with him. He has only been in a trailer twice so I would like to get this sorted, thanks

It is simply a matter of practice. My young mare loads fine, but then thinks "well I've done that, now I can back off". So lots and lots of practice - she has been taught with two people, so the trick is just getting her to stand with just me. So when she backs off before I am ready, I just put her back on, until she stays and I can do up the breach bar. You just keep on doing it, quietly, and obviously not on the day you have to be somewhere.

Some people like to travel with a hay net or a feed, but I don't. It still takes a couple of goes, but she is getting there and as she is only a 3yo, once she is going out regularly it will be come second nature.

 

[DonskiWA]

I'm a regular go-it-a loner. The only advice I would offer is to make sure your car and float are serviced regularly and maintained really well. That should 'almost' eliminate the risk of anything going wrong mechanically at least.

 

[Birker2020]

I'm a regular go-it-a loner. The only advice I would offer is to make sure your car and float are serviced regularly and maintained really well. That should 'almost' eliminate the risk of anything going wrong mechanically at least.

Yes and join the Organisation of Horse box and Trailers because its only about £48 if you are already an AA member and they will tow you home whereever you are or if too far from home provide accmoodation and stabling for your horse (s)

People with trailers think they are covered anyway if they are in the AA but as I found out years ago it is actually at the AA rescue people's discretion whether they tow you home or to the nearest garage and a lot will refuse to do so. The one who came out to be did but I would never ask them to tow me again as they didn't have a clue and our outfit with his long van, the fixed tow bar, my car and my trailer must have been about 25 foot long and he was clipping the kerb and not going wide round the roundabouts, it was a total nightmare - my poor boy Billy was thrown around like a pea in a pod!

 

[kassieg]

To anyone who competes alone (either in a trailer or lorry!) how do you manage?

Trailer. My horse is an angel to do. I have taken the partisan out of my trailer so that if it is wet weather I can do everything in the trailer before emerging. I generally do anyway even in nice weather it makes life a lot easier.

Do you ever worry about what might happen when you are travelling alone?
Nope I wear a medical armband so if I come a cropper xc they know to ring my mam & dad to pick the horse up & find me in hospital all joking aside I always make sure they know my times etc so that they can make sure they have phone signal & I always ring after xc once horse washed down etc.
My car tows fantastic & I have breakdown cover which includes the trailer

If you have a trailer how do you find hitching/ loading by yourself?
always have done so never had an issue. its just practice. Find spots on your trailer in mirrors that you know you need to be in line with.

Do you find its stressful going places alone or can it still be enjoyable?!
nope I find it more stressful if people are with me ! I love going on my own.

Thanks!

answered in the quote