Herringbone trailers

[teddy_]

I am in the market for a herringbone trailer. After two slightly traumatic incidents involving breast bars, I just cannot feel comfortable with a conventional trailer (completely irrational, I know).

There seem to be two main contenders for these trailers - Ifor Williams 610 or the Cheval Liberté Maxi 2.

This is completely new territory for me so if anyone can offer any advice on either of these models, most appreciated. I am open to suggestions of other trailers, too .

 

[nutjob]

I love my Cheval Liberte Minimax, its the 3 horse version of the maxi 2. There was no maxi 2 at the time. I got mine after my horse had an accident in a conventional trailer as he tends to stamp his front legs. He smashed off the jockey door lock and the door came open causing more panic and a lacerated leg. The trailer is very sturdy compared with a conventional one and as you say there is no bar to get stuck on and its well lined. Mine has sustained a few good kicks and still OK. The partitions are moveable, there's plenty space for my wb who is a very long 16.2. My horse is much calmer on loading as he can look straight out the window so he doesn't have that feeling of being confined as soon as he is in and its great when parked as they enjoy looking outside rather than closed in. The ramp at the back can be conventional or opened as a barn door which some horses apparently prefer. I use it if I am parked close to a fence to get into but not for loading a horse. The brakes need regular attention, more than a once a year service, but mine is used a lot with 1.3 tonnes of horses plus other stuff on board. There's also a bolt that works loose on the front ramp which is a problem. A friend of mine has a fautras which is also for 3 horses herringbone but obv the 3 horse trailers are heavier. The Fautras didn't have sturdy partitions when I looked which I need to keep the panicking horse away from the normal one! Mine has vents in the roof which may not be standard but are worth getting.

The maxi 2 is specifically designed for convenience when going to horse events, there's a very spacious tack locker big enough to get changed in whereas the Ifor I think is a conversion of a livestock trailer it's very flexible to allow for all different combinations of horse sizes to be moved about but it's more utilitarian.

 

[teddy_]

I love my Cheval Liberte Minimax, its the 3 horse version of the maxi 2. There was no maxi 2 at the time. I got mine after my horse had an accident in a conventional trailer as he tends to stamp his front legs. He smashed off the jockey door lock and the door came open causing more panic and a lacerated leg. The trailer is very sturdy compared with a conventional one and as you say there is no bar to get stuck on and its well lined. Mine has sustained a few good kicks and still OK. The partitions are moveable, there's plenty space for my wb who is a very long 16.2. My horse is much calmer on loading as he can look straight out the window so he doesn't have that feeling of being confined as soon as he is in and its great when parked as they enjoy looking outside rather than closed in. The ramp at the back can be conventional or opened as a barn door which some horses apparently prefer. I use it if I am parked close to a fence to get into but not for loading a horse. The brakes need regular attention, more than a once a year service, but mine is used a lot with 1.3 tonnes of horses plus other stuff on board. There's also a bolt that works loose on the front ramp which is a problem. A friend of mine has a fautras which is also for 3 horses herringbone but obv the 3 horse trailers are heavier. The Fautras didn't have sturdy partitions when I looked which I need to keep the panicking horse away from the normal one! Mine has vents in the roof which may not be standard but are worth getting.

The maxi 2 is specifically designed for convenience when going to horse events, there's a very spacious tack locker big enough to get changed in whereas the Ifor I think is a conversion of a livestock trailer it's very flexible to allow for all different combinations of horse sizes to be moved about but it's more utilitarian.

Thank you so much, ever so helpful. I was leaning towards Cheval.

 

[LEC]

I also bought a cheval minimax 3. I have 3 mares and two will not travel with conventional forward facing partitions, this was making life really awkward for me! So bought the Cheval as the horses can travel with another herringbone. I bought the 3 horse box as my horses are huge as the two horse ones were not going to be big enough. So travel 2 in it and they have loads of space. I absolutely love it. I love the tack area and the way it works. I don't use the front ramp as the space isnt big enough for mine but they turn around fine on the trailer. I also have an Ifor Williams 511 but don't keep any partitions in it just have big breast/breech bar.

I don't have a ramp on mine and think the horses load better without it. They just step up. I also have full doors which I prefer with herringbone as more like a lorry then.

 

[Merlod]

I have the 4003 which is the old version of the minimax 3- absolutely love it, my horse scrambles and falls in a forward partition (he's ok with full breast/breach but that meant we could never travel more than one horse at a time). The suspension on a cheval is superior to ifor so if you have a bad traveller it definitely helps!

 

[Goldenstar]

I had an equitrek carriage treka I only ever travelled one horse in it but they where both very large they both travelled really well in it .

 

[Leandy]

I share your horror of breast bars, so it is not irrational by the way! I did look vaguely at this set up of trailer but eventually bought a lorry instead. The ones I liked the look of were Fautras although they are pricey.

 

[LittleVet]

I have a vans fautras obliq 2, mines the older version but I love it so does my horse, who also struggled in a forward facing trailer. Find he’s so much more chilled when we’re out and about too, I assume because he’s not been wound up by not liking the trailer

 

[Helenx]

Hi Everyone, Sorry to resurrect an old(ish) post, but I too am looking at the Cheval Liberte maxi 2 (herringbone) trailer. @teddy_eq what did you go for in the end? Does anyone have anything further to add? I am looking at it for 2 x 15hh, I'm concerned it won't be long enough.... Thanks ever so much for any further info.