Do you travel your horse with trailer top door open?

muff747

muff747

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On a similar note to the thread about leaving your horse tied up unattended, what do people think about travelling with the front top door open whilst doing 30-40mph??
I've seen plenty do it around here but it scares me that those lovely big eyes will get a stone or a fly whacked into them, what do others think?
 
muff747 said:
On a similar note to the thread about leaving your horse tied up unattended, what do people think about travelling with the front top door open whilst doing 30-40mph??
I've seen plenty do it around here but it scares me that those lovely big eyes will get a stone or a fly whacked into them, what do others think?
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I think these people are fools:p
 
i think those people are insane!! i would not do this for any reason, anything can smack the horses on the head, especially a branch of a tree, not to mention the fact there is a wide open window just asking for a scared horse to attempt to jump through!
 
I actually saw someone arrive at a show last week with there top door open with the horse sticking his head over, my 8 yr old pipped up and said mam, isn't that really dangerous!!! Clearly my son has more sense then them!
 
laura7981 said:
I actually saw someone arrive at a show last week with there top door open with the horse sticking his head over, my 8 yr old pipped up and said mam, isn't that really dangerous!!! Clearly my son has more sense then them!
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Do you think they may have forgotten to close it????????:eek:
 
Mines rear unload so obviously no 'window' at the front of mine to leave open, but no I wouldnt leave it open. It makes me cringe when I see people doing that.

Top back, I have a canvas, not a door as such, but I normally close that too. For older seasoned travellers I might leave it open, but Im often travelling youngsters and prefer them not to see a potential escape route back there, or scary traffic.
 
I'd heard it was illegal to travel with top front door open? Don't know for sure though. I would never even consider doing it, the back doors are there for ventilation if you need it.
 
Well, I have to confess that I must be all of the above. My big lad loves travelling with the top open on an IW', so if it is a VERY hot day, and I am not going far or too fast, I leave it open for him. BUT - I have bought him a full face fly mask to protect his eyes and head. I really don't know why IW don't come up with some sort of mesh design to fit over the top door so that you have a choice about this. Before I get gunned down - don't some countries have open-topped trailers for transporting?
 
A mesh grill would be a good idea in fairness.
I have personally never witnessed an injury from the top door being open, but it's just something I personally don't feel I could risk. I know lots of other people do it which is fair enough, their horse, their potential vets bill etc (and I'm sure I do things that other people think silly :D) so each to their own!
 
someone had added a mesh grill to their own door on here.. or a large piece of perspex for a claustrophobic horse..

I'm afraid I don't think a fly mask is going to stop anything 'serious' damaging your horse.

Previous threads have stated that as it is not how the trailer is intended to be used you would likely not be covered by your insurance in the event of an accident.

I forgot to close ours once.. noticed while in the show field tho.. :o
 
A fine mesh sounds like a good idea, small enough to stop stones, insects, small flicked up objects etc.

Ive not heard any horror stories from people I know about accidents caused by travelling like this, but I was told by my OH about being with one of his collegues who had an eyeball ripped out by a thorny branch while driving abroad (open window, branch whipped back) , and when I see trailers with the top door open and the horses heard merrily sticking out on branchy lanes, it makes me feel a bit queasy :o
 
I woudn't consider trailering with it open either. Back top doors open usually unless it's wet, but front door shut. Utter madness to drive with it open, imo.
 
I was following someone yesterday with a ridiculously large horse in a single Ifor trailer, the horse was too long and had too higher head carriage to fit inside the trailer.

When it took a mouthful of hay it had to squidge its bum sideway against ramp. :eek:

To top it off it was fully tacked (so less room), it was raining with the spray of the towing vehicle going up in its face and soaking its bridle to boot. I was so shocked I wanted to take a picture but as I was towing myself (FYI 11.2hh in a 506 with front and 1 back door closed ;)) so asked mum too but she's not great with the iphone so you can't see how much of a squeeze it really was :eek:

IMG_2089.jpg


I did wonder if they were trying to get under the weigh limit to tow without doing the test. But it was shocking!

I will add though that the horse actually seemed happy as far as I could tell and was impressive in the way he ducked a bin wagon!
 
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When I was 16 I had a moped that barely hit 30mph. Occasionally I would get hit in the face by a fly and it really hurt so if a horse was to get hit at 50mph by a bit of grit off the road or even just a fly it could be really nasty.
You see the hunting ladies round here driving around with the front top door open endangering their horse whilst they are driving their 4x4 wearing their crash hat!!!
I don't understand why anyone would think it ok to do it.
 
Never!

I travel with the little doors above the back ramp open unless its a really wet day in which case I will close the one on the horses side (only have on horse in there normally) but would never leave the front one open :eek:
 
We don't have front top doors where I live. I wouldn't even be sure they would be legal under our road rules here but I've never seen someone leaving the top front door/window open when touring the UK either (that being said it's probably because I am way to preoccupied minding the traffic and sticking to the correct side of the road *lol*)
I wouldn't do it if I could, way too scared of tree branches or even the occasional stone smashing my poor pony accidentally. Would also assume it's not particularly nice. Rear doors great, window open, fine but a downright opening where the horse's head virtually sticks into the free air? I don't know...
 
No because they aren't designed for it at all!

However I have a fold down front on the cattle trailer and I leave it down unless it's raining because it's protected by rails and the pony isn't close to it. If I had her right at the front I would shut it.
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Doesn't she slip on the floor FW? It looks like bare aluminium floor. There is usually rubber matting over it, isn't there? And no breast bar, is that legal? What happens if you had to make an emergency stop? Sorry to be a bit direct but I wouldn't feel safe travelling my pony in there, too risky :eek:
 
And ps don't need a breast bar as she travels across the way like a lorry. I was just practicing loading her in that pic because I only just bought her. I have however travelled her in it since then and she loads happily to come home, does not get in the least bit upset, will stop anywhere on the ramp/inside the trailer walking forwards and back as directed and just stands resting a leg the picture of calm.

I would never put her at risk.
 
aregona said:
i think those people are insane!! i would not do this for any reason, anything can smack the horses on the head, especially a branch of a tree, not to mention the fact there is a wide open window just asking for a scared horse to attempt to jump through!
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Exactly this. I dont get why anyone would want to do this?! Do they think the horse likes the view?! Even though they can see lorries etc. passing very close by at speed, getting a strong wind and things like branches/stones etc. blown in its face... Considering that Im sure all of us have seen a tiny stone chipping a windscreen - hate to think what that would do to a horses eye! Is it even legal?!

BTW, I also thought cattle trailers (even if adapted) where illegal to travel horses in? I thought the trailer HAD to be made in the first place for a horse.
 
irish_only said:
Well, I have to confess that I must be all of the above. My big lad loves travelling with the top open on an IW', so if it is a VERY hot day, and I am not going far or too fast, I leave it open for him. BUT - I have bought him a full face fly mask to protect his eyes and head. I really don't know why IW don't come up with some sort of mesh design to fit over the top door so that you have a choice about this. Before I get gunned down - don't some countries have open-topped trailers for transporting?
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I personally think you're crazy. A thin mesh mask will do absolutely nothing to protect his face/eyes. I absolutely dont think IW should come up with a mesh design because its dangerous! Yes, some countries have open-topped trailers but then many countries treat horses very very differently from how we do so its pointless comparing.
 
i wouldnt ever travel with the front top door open, i have however seen plenty who do.

Also i am not sure about the cattle trailers... I see plenty of folk use these for small ponies, i have however also seen someone use one to put two 14/15hh horses in, both facing forwards with no partition between them...
 
Never. Same thing with dogs with their heads out windows in cars etc... I know dogs love it but it really makes me wonder about the intelligence or thoughtlessness of some people!
 
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