Herringbone Trailers

[Millie-Rose]

Has anyone got any experience of either the Cheval Liberte Maxi Three or the Fautras Oblic 3 plus? I have 4 horses and a bateson but my mare won't travel with another in the trailer (travels without partitions and stands herself herringbone). Have to move them all twice a year for grazing purposes so that is three trips rather than two and now would like the problematic mare to be able to go out with the youngster to pleasure rides etc to show her the ropes. They aren't huge 1 x 16.2, 1 x 16, 2 x 15.2 but think the two horse models would be tight space wise. A lot of people like the Cheval but it seems a bit flimsy to me? Also not keen on the curtain top door but think I could get a trailer specialist to retrofit something to sort that.

Other option is do I just go for a lorry (Budget around £15000 for towing vehicle and trailer). Would need to take a c1 test but more worried about the upkeep/plating etc. Either way I will have to run two vehicles as too far from work to run a 4x4 everyday so will need to keep my small car either way.

 

[nutjob]

I have the cheval liberte minimax which is the predecessor of the maxi 3. It's more sturdy than my Bateson Deauville and the suspension is supposed to be better. My horse loves travelling herringbone and when he arrives he can survey the scene by looking over the door or out the window. When he couldn't see out he would constantly stamp and kick out. The rear ramp can be a normal ramp or a door (hop on type). There's enough room for one of mine to turn around and exit via the rear ramp. There's plenty of space for normal horses to exit the front ramp, one of mine is a substantial 16.2 long in the back wb who has no problem, but my other is a wobbler with poor spatial awareness and keeps drifting to the right banging into the wall at the front every time. The tack area at the front is generous and has saddle racks built in. I don't have a problem with the curtain, especially when on the move, it permits air flow and stops the horse seeing lorries etc driving up behind you.

A friend has the fautras, the only problem I had with it was the partitions were not solid but this was a few years back, I'd had a problem with mine in the Bateson and wanted to make sure he was contained in his own area if he started having a meltdown rather than be able to lean into his mate or even collapse the partition which appeared at that time to be held together only by a leather strap. The rear entrance may be hop on only?

You might get 2 of your horses in the 2 horse model, the limiting factor is the length of the back really, not the height.

 

[LEC]

I have an older style Maxi 3 but have barn doors and have to say I love them. I have big horses so only ever travel 2 but they have loads of space. Love it. It’s brilliant to tow and also have an ifor which has something break on it fairly often…..

 

[Millie-Rose]

Thanks both that's helpful I was leaning towards the Cheval will definitely go three horse I think as part of my mares issue in a partition in the bateson is that she can't spread her legs enough so need to make sure she has plenty of room. Hoping to pick up a decent secondhand one and they seem popular so hopefully won't loose too much if they decide they don't like it and I have to sell it again!

 

[LEC]

I don’t have a ramp on mine and it’s a step up so hence the barn door style. I do not miss a ramp in the slightest. I would say they actually load better with no ramp.