Front facing/Herringbone/Rear facing lorries

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YummyHorses

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Advice required please.

When I travel my ponies/horses they are required almost immediately to go down a steepish hill - so from my barn down my drive and to the road. Spose the drive is about 15% grading and for about 50-80 metres. A few flat bits in between but not many. My lorry is a herringbone set up for the partitions.

We are finding that the ponies/horses are struggling to stay up when going down the hill - in fact my daughters pony fell over which was really horrible. He has been better since we removed the partition and made him face forward more. Trouble is when he has little in the way of partition on a long journey and after training or competing he starts to wobble when he gets tired so I am then struggling to keep him upright on the road as well. Plus it makes it difficult to carry more than horse or pony as they almost need the whole lorry to themselves.

So I have the option of chopping my lorry in for a forward facing one but would it be any better. Anyone had any experiences? A friend told me the other day that current thinking is for rear facing but not sure how that would work with my hill - slightly concerned they would be sitting in the living area after going down the hill!

Thanks.
 
I had 7.5 tonne lorry but found TB was not great travelling in it. He'd raced so used to travelling but having watched him in a lorry through jockey door, would stand with front legs fairly close together and kind of beneath him meaning he would lurch around quite dramatically. Just didn't seem to get the idea of splaying front legs to better balance - dumbass! I now have trailer and have to say both load and travel perfectly and neither sweat up at all - both will sweat up a lot on a lorry. Appreciate the benefits of living quarters in lorry but I mainly hunt and team chase so can live without this as not usually hanging around at show/event all day

Would not go back to a lorry personally as both of mine seem to prefer trailer so front facing seems to be the best for mine
 
Thanks for that. It is interesting as a few friends have said that there horses travel better forward facing - they have opted for a trailer but we do a lot of stay away shows so living is a must.

Its my hill thats a problem - but cant change that.
 
May be worth borrowing trailer or something front facing to see how they cope with your hill before shelling out for new vehicle? My own experience is that mine both def travel better front facing than herringbone but sure some will have different experiences. Worth a shot
 
I have experienced opposite - travels poorly forward facing (trailer) and backwards facing (3.5ton) but travels perfectly herringbone style in 7.5ton & bigger. However this could be linked other factors such as floor height as opposed to travelling direction. As for travelling down hills I'm really not sure whats best, but I do believe horses are just different in what they prefer! Could you borrow a forward facing trailer/3.5ton and/or rear facing box to try out before committing to altering your box?
 
Hi everyone - I have managed to organise a trial run in a forward facing lorry. Not sure which horse or pony I shall use for the trial but there you go!!! Just worry they will fall forward and go down on there knees.
 
Haven't seen inside front facing lorry - would that have the breast bar thingy at the front like a trailer does, either side of partition? If so, should be fine as they'll just lean if they need to balance themselves I guess? Good luck, hope you find the solution!
 
Yep a breast bar/plate that collapses if you have a jumper. Then a partition down the middle so only 2 horse. I can squeeze three in my lorry if I needed to. Side ramp. Yep thanks - I hope it gets sorted.
 
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