Driving a horsebox with a normal licence?!

[Dumbo]

Looking to hire transport and most company's say their 3 horse lorries can be driven with a normal license. I always believed one would have to get an HGV (or similar) license to drive such a big vehicle, especially if it's carrying horses.
Just wondering if this is true? Or have I missed the catch?
Can't quite believe that someone who may just drive a small car would be legally allowed to drive a 3.5ton lorry..

 

[ellie_e]

Depending when you past your test, if it was before 1997 then you can drive upto a 7.5ton lorry, if after then you can drive 3.5 ton.
For example I'm 23 and drive our 3.5 ton lorry, we are upgrading to a 7.5 ton which means I will have todo my category C test, or my mother can drive it in the meantime

 

[carthorse]

You can drive a 3.5 ton but it would only be able to carry one horse or 2 ponies before going over the weight allowance

 

[ROG]

Looking to hire transport and most company's say their 3 horse lorries can be driven with a normal license. I always believed one would have to get an HGV (or similar) license to drive such a big vehicle, especially if it's carrying horses.
Just wondering if this is true? Or have I missed the catch?
Can't quite believe that someone who may just drive a small car would be legally allowed to drive a 3.5ton lorry..

B licence (the car one) = any vehicle not more than 3.5 tonnes GVW

LGV C1 = any vehcile not more than 7.5 tonnes GVW

LGV C = any rigid vehicle with no max weight limit

CAVEAT = as long as the above do not have more than a total of 9 seats