Gillies horse transport

[teach]

Has anyone transported a horse from the Scottish highlands to the NE of England, who would mind telling me the rough price of the transport?
Contemplating getting another horse, and seen one I like, but the distance is putting me off!

 

[bonny]

Why not phone them and ask, it depends on if you can get a shared load and no one else can tell you that.

 

[TPO]

I brought a horse from wales to central scotland in 2014 and its was £450 iirc

I've brought a horse to Scotland from Hereford and Liverpool too (2008) and I think that was around £3-400 at that time too

 

[buddylove]

I can thoroughly recommend Douglas Horse Transport, bought my barely handled 3 year old from Scotland to Shropshire, and arrived calm and happily munching on hay. Fab service

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Gillies are pretty quick to respond by email in working hours.

I could give you NE Scotland to NW Surrey 2018 prices as used them very regularly then, but no point as miles out. I 1st used them in 89 and then sporadically till 2003.
What they saved me last 2 times was 12.5 hours driving each way (not allowing for traffic hold ups) and 1 or 2 nights away, fuel etc too, and time away from home.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Went the other way. Was about £400 per horse on a mixed load. I would pay more for a private trip if I had to do it again with the benefit of hindsight. My horses ended up on the wagon for a very long time in the second day and arrived stressed and footsore. We were the second last stop though and I think it was just a bad trip for some reason but I wasn't ecstatic. They get tonnes of brilliant reviews though so I think my experience was an outlier.

 

[TPO]

I personally wouldn't use Gillies again. The drivers are lovely but the woman in the office is rude and horrible to deal with.

If I was transporting a horse again I'd try Roland Holmes.

 

[PapaverFollis]

That price was about 2 years ago now.

 

[daffy44]

I've used Gillies twice, both times to bring a yearling from Scotland to Warwickshire, and I cant remember the exact price, I'd call them and ask, as others have said it depends on the load, mileage etc. I cant fault the experience I had with them, the lady I spoke to in the office was lovely, and the drivers were great, kept me up to date all the way, and both yearlings arrived chilled, eating and happy. I would be very happy to use them again, and recommend them.

 

[McFluff]

I used Gillies last year, about half the distance you are looking at. £250 for shared journey, and was pleased it’s the service. Horse arrived in good state.

 

[Britestar]

I'll 2nd Seth Douglas, brought a very nervous horse from Edinburgh. Fantastic service. Gillies wanted £100 more and were going to be an extra 5 days.

 

[Goldenstar]

I personally wouldn't use Gillies again. The drivers are lovely but the woman in the office is rude and horrible to deal with.

If I was transporting a horse again I'd try Roland Holmes.

I have had that experience I always used Ghillies the last time I rang to arrange one she was so rude and unhelpful . I just went myself for the horse .
What I would say their drivers are super horse handlers and experienced so there’s no worry’s on that side of things .

 

[gunnergundog]

No issues here with Gillies at all. Used several times....horses all looked after superbly, even when over nighting en route.

 

[Charla]

I just used Hodgsons Equine last week to transport a horse from Scotland to Kent! Lovely modern 3.5t lorry, managed the journey in just over 8 hours and only charged £375. Fab service

 

[teach]

Thanks all! Sorry for the late reply, for some reason my notifications didn't come through!

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I would definitely use John Parkers, I requested two quotes from Gillies and they never bothered getting back to me. Parkers came straight back to me and have been fantastic, they’ve just moved my 4 1,000 miles and their service is fantastic (and the office staff are lovely and helpful too).

 

[Red-1]

I have had that experience I always used Ghillies the last time I rang to arrange one she was so rude and unhelpful . I just went myself for the horse .
What I would say their drivers are super horse handlers and experienced so there’s no worry’s on that side of things .

I had this with a horse dentist. The dentist was lovely but the mother who took bookings was so rude, I took my custom elsewhere. I think the final straw was when I said that I prefer manual rasping to power tools, and she replied, "Why, do you want your horse to die a horrible and painful death?" Outrageous!

Such a shame when the office people spoil a business.

 

[PatchyBabyHorse]

I used gillies to transport a very valuable horse home from vet hospital who’d had a skin graft on his leg. They had extensive and detailed instructions about this horse from myself and the vets - he wasn’t to be allowed to walk normally, he needed a handler each side and baby steps. I was meeting them at the end of the drive with the trailer so he wouldn’t need to walk.

Anyway they rang to say they were 5 mins away. I set off with the trailer and arrived 2 mins later to see a man merrily jogging him down the ramp and swinging him round at the bottom saying ‘Look, no problem with him he’s walking fine!’

I was absolutely furious, this horse had had nearly 4 months hospitalised and his transfer home was really important and had been meticulously planned. I’ve never used them again.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I was absolutely furious, this horse had had nearly 4 months hospitalised and his transfer home was really important and had been meticulously planned. I’ve never used them again.

That is awful. What response did you get from Gillies about it?

 

[PatchyBabyHorse]

That is awful. What response did you get from Gillies about it?

The driver seemed to think I was being silly and neurotic when actually there was ‘nothing wrong with the horse.‘ Then he got all smart arse when he realised how annoyed I was, and said that if the horse was ‘so bad’ he should still be at the vets then, shouldn’t he? With a smirk.
I don’t think the office were interested, as already said the woman is very rude.
It was over ten years ago but I’ve never forgotten it, I can still see the drivers idiotic grin now.

 

[Widgeon]

Has anyone transported a horse from the Scottish highlands to the NE of England, who would mind telling me the rough price of the transport?
Contemplating getting another horse, and seen one I like, but the distance is putting me off!

Yes. A year ago, I used Gillies, it cost about £300, and he arrived comfortable and completely chilled. The woman in the office was also extremely kind and helpful.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

The driver seemed to think I was being silly and neurotic when actually there was ‘nothing wrong with the horse.‘ Then he got all smart arse when he realised how annoyed I was, and said that if the horse was ‘so bad’ he should still be at the vets then, shouldn’t he? With a smirk.
I don’t think the office were interested, as already said the woman is very rude.
It was over ten years ago but I’ve never forgotten it, I can still see the drivers idiotic grin now.

That is a truly awful experience. I hope the horse recovered ok.

 

[Red-1]

I used gillies to transport a very valuable horse home from vet hospital who’d had a skin graft on his leg. They had extensive and detailed instructions about this horse from myself and the vets - he wasn’t to be allowed to walk normally, he needed a handler each side and baby steps. I was meeting them at the end of the drive with the trailer so he wouldn’t need to walk.

Anyway they rang to say they were 5 mins away. I set off with the trailer and arrived 2 mins later to see a man merrily jogging him down the ramp and swinging him round at the bottom saying ‘Look, no problem with him he’s walking fine!’

I was absolutely furious, this horse had had nearly 4 months hospitalised and his transfer home was really important and had been meticulously planned. I’ve never used them again.

I'm afraid I would not have paid for that service, as long as all the requirements were in writing.

 

[PatchyBabyHorse]

That is a truly awful experience. I hope the horse recovered ok.

Thank you, he was sadly PTS several weeks later from complications to do with the surgery. It was devastating.
Not to do with his transport though I must add.

I'm afraid I would not have paid for that service, as long as all the requirements were in writing.

I’d already paid, and sadly not, this was over ten years ago. It was via phone from me and verbally from the vets. I had enough going on at the time and couldn’t face the fight.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Oh god OP, so sorry to hear that, that is so sad.

 

[IrishMilo]

Horseshoo Equine Transport (Chrissie Upchurch) was amazing - I hired her to take me and my youngster to arena hire and not only did she transport us but she acted as groom and photographer too.

 

[MagicMelon]

I personally wouldn't use Gillies again. The drivers are lovely but the woman in the office is rude and horrible to deal with.
.

I have used Gillies several times in the past since they seem to be the biggest / main guys especially up here in Scotland. I also agree and found the woman in the office pretty rude... but I think she may have just retired so you may be in luck! Last time I used them I was a bit peeved as horse arrived after its 6 hour stint with nothing at all to eat (no hay) - IMO 6 hours is too long to go with no food, must have been so boring for the horse and surely risks colic... they said its policy in case a horse has an allergy. That was several years ago, they may have changed it, no idea.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I had a friend who had a similar experience about 3 years ago MM but mine had haylage nets on the way up here 2 years ago so possibly changed the policy.

 

[TPO]

I have used Gillies several times in the past since they seem to be the biggest / main guys especially up here in Scotland. I also agree and found the woman in the office pretty rude... but I think she may have just retired so you may be in luck! Last time I used them I was a bit peeved as horse arrived after its 6 hour stint with nothing at all to eat (no hay) - IMO 6 hours is too long to go with no food, must have been so boring for the horse and surely risks colic... they said its policy in case a horse has an allergy. That was several years ago, they may have changed it, no idea.

All of mine had the no forage thing too. I did ask and was told no in case another horse had respiratory issues.

There was another thread about this and I think someone had said that policy has now changed and it is on the website that they offer forage now.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

The forage rule has definitely changed, have used them 3 times in 2 years for v long trips and each time mine was still munching on arrival. Also wearing tail guard as requested as was a bum sitter in a box.
Yes, scary Mary has just retired!