Horsebox breakdown cover---advice?

spookypony

spookypony

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Hello all!

I want to get breakdown cover for my wee lorry. Whom do you use, and do you recommend them? What do I need to watch out for?
 
NFU - brilliant sevice every time. When our old lorry had a puncture and nearest depot which had tyres was Newcastle, they offered to transport horses home if tyre wasn't with us before 5pm that day. When same old lorry broke down on the way back from show, I happened to mention we had left early because my mare didn't seem 100%. They immediately asked if we needed a vet for her.
Always quick and helpful response.
 
equine rescue services

www.equinerescue.co.uk

dedicated control room and people in the control room actually know about horses and how sensitive they are!

Would not recommend one company that has been mentioned just do a search on hh and see the results

Good luck
 
I have mine incorporated as part of my insurance through NFU - not had to use it but got it on recommendation from a few people.
 
Equine Rescue Services every time. Wouldn't touch [content removed] with a bargepole after the experience I had with them. After four hours waiting on the M6 hard shoulder and then the box being lifted on a front tow with the horse still in and then being towed at 80mph ( I could see the speedo as I was sitting next to the driver....) I would be very wary of any of the cheap companies - you get what you pay for.
 
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Daft as this might sound, make sure that any insurance you have makes provision for recovery of the horses and doesn't just relate to the box or trailer itself - it has happened that people have ended up in the situation of the recovery people not being equipped to deal with the horses as they weren't covered in the policy. It's also worth checking on cover if you were travelling on the motorway and had a break down - the police would probably have to temporarily close the motorway so that the horses could be got out and safely transferred to another vehicle - and my understanding is that there's a charge for a motorway closure.
 
Equine Rescue Services are fantastic. Not the cheapest but their customer service and care when you need them is second to none. I have nothing but good to say about them.

I am however, leaving them with a heavy heart, to SEIB, who I am told, are also very good with their breakdown service. The only reason I am moving is beacuse they have given me a very good discount for having horse, lorry and breakdown with them and I'm afraid it makes rather a large financial difference to having all three separate.

The main thing I concern myslef with is that, other than to remove you from the motorway to a place of safety, they do not tow with horses on board.
 
Having been rescued a few times in various wagons over the past ten years i would highly recommend SEIB's breakdown service - very quick to come out, especially good when you are out on your own as i often am.
 
i work in the recovery industry and we rescue alot of horseboxes as we cover part of the m25 and the m3 also most of surrey i also would say equine rescue services as they do have dedicated staff and yes you are correct it is illegal to move a horsebox with horses on unless to a place of safety but if your on the motorway you really have no other option unless the box has lost a wheel or broken an axel then your stuffed and will need to get the horses off loaded also you will be statutory moved by the highways agency at a cost of minimum 350.00 so you should always keep your lorry well maintained and have breakdown cover including onward recovery for the horses
 
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