Fussy travellers and 3.5t wagons

[Louby]

Cant believe Im asking this as I have not long had my 7.5t wagon but ..............
Has anyone had a horse that wont travel in a trailer but travels great in a herringbone wagon? And if so have you ever tried them in a 3.5t backwards facing wagon.
My horse had only ever travelled in a wagon but I could only afford a trailer. He was never happy in it to the point he became dangerous and although he would load he flew out agin backwards at speed whacking his head on the way. We tried an Equitrek, couldnt get him in far enough to turn him sideways before he shot out backwards and it took a while to get him loading happy again in a wagon.
I just dont warrant this wagon and could have a nice new 3.5t for what it cost but dont want to end up back to square one with a horse that wont load.

 

[stencilface]

We had a pony who would never travel in a trailer, but went fine in a forward facing 3.5T wagon. Have never travelled my horse in a trailer, but he goes fine in herringbone, and backwards facing 3.5 T.

 

[Louby]

Thanks, my friends horse will go in anything but my bratty boy is a law to himself!

 

[stencilface]

We have just bought a new 7.5T (still haven't sold the old one yet) and did consider a 3.5T. But....

As we would be carrying 2x16hh most of the time we decided that we would always be at the upper limit or over the weight limit of the box, and therefore engine etc would always be at the upper limits. Whereas new 7.5T still has plenty of spare weight left, even with the boys with their summer bellies. Something worth considering I think.

 

[Louby]

Noooo dont put me off

I only have one horse and although owning a wagon was something I always dreamed of, I think Id feel better with something a bit smaller.
Today we were coming home and some idiot did a u turn in front of us and then drove about 20 mph. We were coming down a hill and I really felt like I couldnt stop, I was about to go on the other side of the road (no one was coming) to avoid hitting the idiot or having to brake sharply.
I suppose its getting used to the 7.5t really, the brakes feel sluggish and hard and although I realise I couldnt have braked any quicker in any vehicle with a horse in it, I felt today like I was braking but not slowing down.

 

[JS65]

To be fair, if you only really travel your own, then a 3.5t is the better option.
Lighter on juice and no plating.
Also my new one is an "06 and has a 6 speed box so quiet as well.
Go try one and see what you think, Kent will answer any questions and may take yours in PX

 

[Louby]

Jo your terrible.

Got a nice shiny 3.5t in my head now!

 

[air78]

I love my 3.5 ton, but if you had trouble loading into an equitreck, I think you'd have the same problem in 3.5 lorry.

I travel one horse without the partitions in, and all the horses I've traveled have been happy like this I love my little lorry!

 

[Jane_Lou]

I would watch how your horse travels before you make the change. Bay in my siggie constantly fell over in a trailer because he would put his feet together on one side and lean on the partition the other side, when we went round a corner he would loose his balance and fall. He did the same herringbone but on corners just shifted his weight from front to back and travelled fine. I had tried him cross tied in in the trailer without a partition but he fell over as soon as we moved - he was a bit of a muppet by the way! B doesn't travel well in a trailer but you don't know he is there in my current 3.5t which is forward facing but has solid partitions which seems to suit him.

 

[Louby]

How odd. Must be the full length partition as you would think forward facing is .. well forward facing whatever the vehicle.
I only bought the wagon out of desperation as I knew he had travelled well in one before the trailer episode and you wouldnt know hes in now.
I think if I tried an Equitrek now or 3.5t he may be ok as he had lost the plot after the trailer and it did take 4 of us to litterally carry him in the wagon to get him back loading again. A couple of journeys and hes back to his old self now and walks in and travels like a pro.
Mmm dare I try it

I would love a little lorry.