Horsebox Rescue - Horses on board being towed

[Tarandes Bear]

Apologies as I'm sure this had mentioned a 100 times before. Just renewed insurance to include breakdown and my blood has ran cold after reading the small print. My lorry (if mechanically safe), will be towed with the horses on board. If I refuse this option roadside I have to make my own alternative arrangements and foot the bill. There is no option for a recovery box and the horses to be transferred. The insurance is done with Anthony Evans. What recovery policies to you have? I'm beginning to wonder whether I should have insured the horsebox only with ADE and looked elsewhere for breakdown. I'd welcome comments from those of you who have been towed. I'm still within my 14 days cooling off period, but feel very uncomfortable. Thanks muchly

 

[spacie1977]

I have no experience of this, but thinking about it, I'd prefer to have my horsebox towed with horses in (as if it's a trailer) than have to unload my horses on the side of a large busy road. Imagine how terrifying it would be breaking down on the M25 and having to transfer neddies there.

 

[Abacus]

I have done this (with Antony Evans) and they provided a 50 foot low loader which they pulled the box onto. He went very slowly and the horse inside was completely fine, and travelled perfectly the next time and always afterwards. Agree that I would much rather do this than have to unload on the road.

I did have to insist on the phone - they wanted to send the sort of truck that tips the horsebox up on its nose - I said no way. They did argue but eventually agreed, and they paid for it.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

I have no experience of this, but thinking about it, I'd prefer to have my horsebox towed with horses in (as if it's a trailer) than have to unload my horses on the side of a large busy road. Imagine how terrifying it would be breaking down on the M25 and having to transfer neddies there.

They would shut the MWay if you did need to unload on the M25 you know.


We are insured with SEIB and have our breakdown cover with these guys http://www.ohto.co.uk/and I have heard fab stories about OHTO. If I was you, i would be cancelling and going elsewhere.

 

[Cragrat]

Do a search - I am sure someone said this was illegal except under police guidance to remove to a safe place for reloading?

I would hate to have them towed /lifted whilst still on board. I am with PRP- they promise to provide alternative transport. If the police need to shut the road for 20 mins to reload, I'd rather that than being towed.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

this is whats on OHTO website

DVSA and DEFRA now consider it illegal to transport horses on board a horsebox being either lifted or straight-bar towed behind a recovery vehicle. The only exception to this might be to move the vehicle a very short distance to enable safe transfer of the horses to fresh transport. Only DEFRA approved transporters may carry out this transport. All horses in transit must, by law, travel with their relevant passports.

 

[conniegirl]

It is illegal to tow the lorry with horses onboard, it voids your lorry insurance, the recovery companies insurance and your horse insurance.

AE breakdown is cheap for that reason and best avoided.

I broke down on the A55 in my last lorry, just outside the conwy tunnel in the most dangerous layby in northwales (dual carriage way on the way to the port at holyhead.
I had a bad loader on board.
I was insured with SEIB and had breakdown through them. They towed the lorry under police supervision about 600m to the nearest exit where there was a bird sanctuary. We unloaded horses in the bird sanctuary carpark and reloaded them into fresh DEFRA approved transport for the rest of the journey home. It was terrifying being in the lorry with horses whilst towed and not something I'd have liked to have done for any further than absolutly nessecary

 

[webble]

this is whats on OHTO website

DVSA and DEFRA now consider it illegal to transport horses on board a horsebox being either lifted or straight-bar towed behind a recovery vehicle. The only exception to this might be to move the vehicle a very short distance to enable safe transfer of the horses to fresh transport. Only DEFRA approved transporters may carry out this transport. All horses in transit must, by law, travel with their relevant passports.

This was my understanding too.

I used shearwater and they were great, sent out separate vehicles for box and horses

 

[muckypony]

I've thankfully never had experience in this situation but just had to say that, as long as the truck was a low loader, I think I would prefer to be towed than have to change lorries. Purely because I have a really bad loader and can't imagine the carnage that would ensue if I were to try and load him into a different box on the side of a busy road - no one is going to be happy waiting for 4 hours whist a road is closed for my silly horse to get on a lorry!

 

[OWLIE185]

You have all been warned before that many of these policies do not provide alternative transport for your horses.
The only decent policy is the one provided by The Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer owners as they provide alternative transport and accommodation if required for your horse.
All the rest will try to tow your horsebox or piggy back it - both of which are not ideal and can be dangerous.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

If you know your horse is difficult to load and get into a situation where you need to load up into another lorry then request a vet to be there to sedate your horse to make the whole process easier. It will be easier and kinder on the horse in the long run as you can be darned sure that not one single human being will be completely calm and this will transfer onto the horse.

 

[paddy]

We had a horse towed in the horsebox many years ago, after breaking down on the M25 on the way back from buying him. It took us a good couple of hours (and one loose horse) to get him on in the first place and there was no way he was coming off again. The tow driver had done it many times before and explained (and this makes sense) that for the horse it was just like going up a hill. Guess if it's illegal the M25 drivers would just need to fume for a few hours if it happened now.

 

[webble]

You have all been warned before that many of these policies do not provide alternative transport for your horses.
The only decent policy is the one provided by The Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer owners as they provide alternative transport and accommodation if required for your horse.
All the rest will try to tow your horsebox or piggy back it - both of which are not ideal and can be dangerous.

Not true that's its the only one

 

[catroo]

I'm also with AE, we broke down on the M4 last year. When I called them them they said if it couldn't be fixed by the road side then I would be towed under escort to the next junction where the horses would be swapped to an alternative lorry.

IMO this is the best way. I'd rather load/unload in a more relaxed manor, I'm also a serial commuter and realise my preferences don't take precedent over the 100's of people who would of been delayed if they had of closed the m4.

 

[supsup]

I've just bought insurance for my 3.5t box from Shearwater. Their breakdown insurance is provided by Equine Rescue Services and specifically states that horses will be transported in a different vehicle if my own box needs to be towed. The exception is to move the box off the motorway to a safe location to load the horse onto a different box.
I once saw a 7.5t box with horses in (side-facing) being towed with the front of the box lifted up. It must have been awful for the horses to stand at and angle while facing sideways, so I made a point to pick breakdown insurance that will not tow you this way.

 

[EventingMum]

Our worst nightmare was many years ago when I was driving from North of Glasgow to Stafford (Scope). I broke down near Carlisle on the way down and was towed into Southwaite services with the pony on board. Driver was great, let me stand in the lorry while he gently lifted the lorry up and then towed us with great care. We eventually got going again and eventually got to Scope aboout 2am having left home at 10am.

The journey home was much worse; we left Scope about 5pm, couldn't believe it when we broke again down just North of Gretna. We called the breakdown service again but because it was a weekend went through to a sort of call centre. The girl I spoke to told me the nearest mechanic was in Stranraer, I pointed out I had had one attend five days previously from Southwaite and much closer she told me they weren't on her list. The mechanic from Stranraer refused to come out and I asked again about the ones from Southwaite and was told I'd have to find the phone number myself. I duly did so and she arranged for them to come. We sat on the hard shoulder and eventually the mechanic turned up, didn't know what was wrong and told the call centre we needed to be towed.

The call centre said they would send a transporter for our pony but it would be an hour before they could come, after an hour we were told it would be at least another 3 hours. In the mean time the mechanic left as he'd been with us 3 hours and wasn't allowed to wait any longer. The police then turned up and said we weren't allowed to stay on the hard shoulder as we'd been there 5 hours. I patiently tried to explain we couldn't move, so the policeman said he'd have us towed off the motorway, I phoned the breakdown service and the girl there refused to authorise us being towed with the pony on board. The policeman refused to wait for the horse transporter and said he wouldn't close the motorway for us to unload anyway even though at 2am it was very quiet. It ended in the rescue service girl and the policeman having a heated arguement down the phone. The police organised a tow truck and gave us no choice but to use it. The driver was totally unreasonable, despite my requests to lift the lorry nose gently he was having none of it and was very rough. He then drove between 60 and 70 mph including through a contaflow system totally ignoring my pleas to slow down. On arriving at his garage he parked in front of our lorry so it couldn't be moved, refused to let us pay him and went home to bed. In the meantime the road rescue service refused to get help to get me home to get our trailer so we were well and truly stuck. Eventually a friend was contacted and came down with her trailer to collect the pony and the garage owner allowed the road rescue to pay for the tow and he moved his vehicle so another company could take our lorry to our mechanics near home.

Throughout all this our pony was amazing, it was 22 hours from loading to getting home and she never once kicked or became unsettled. The cause of the breakdown was eventually found, a small solenoid costing a few pounds!

Needless to say I complained to my insurance company who weren't very interested and eventually offered me 10% off my renewal premium. I changed to NFU and they have been great any time I've had a problem. To get back to OP's question, legalities aside, having a horsebox towed a short distance to somewhere safer by someone considerate doesn't worry me. Unloading on a motorway wouldn't be funny unless both sides were shut, a horse could easily jump the central barrier and then horrendous things could happen. So from my experience, unless the police cooperate and shut the motorway you really have no option other than to be towed.

 

[Goldenstar]

Not true that's its the only one

Yes my NFU cover defiantly provides for recovery transport for the horses .
I broke down twice with my old truck both times they arranging for a truck to come for the horses .
My friend broke down on the forth road bridge ( nightmare ) the NFU sent a truck for the horses and separate recovery for the lorry the bridge was closed for two and half hours .

 

[WelshD]

It is illegal to tow the lorry with horses onboard, it voids your lorry insurance, the recovery companies insurance and your horse insurance.

AE breakdown is cheap for that reason and best avoided.

But what if AE provide the insurance too? (as in my case and no doubt countless others) surely they wouldn't offer a product that voids their own insurance? (genuine question!)

Personally I am another that isn't bothered by the prospect of the lorry being towed with horses on board, I cant see the problem (unless it does actually void my insurance!)

 

[sidewaysonacob]

I had a bit of a stand-off with traffic police last year on the M62 when I broke down (turned later that out the box's onboard computer blew up). The police wanted the box moved NOW and and I didn't want it towed and absolutely not low loaded. The compromise was it was towed (driven by the other policeman who said he'd handily just taken his towing refresher course) to the next junction, where they shut off a business park to transfer my horse to the rescue horsebox. NFU and their horse rescue contractor were great but I did have to be quite assertive on the side of the m-way.

 

[conniegirl]

But what if AE provide the insurance too? (as in my case and no doubt countless others) surely they wouldn't offer a product that voids their own insurance? (genuine question!)

Personally I am another that isn't bothered by the prospect of the lorry being towed with horses on board, I cant see the problem (unless it does actually void my insurance!)

They have you over a nice barrel there. Check carefully for small print clauses that will state that your insurance will be void if you participate in any illegal activities it is a standard clause in all insurance policies! And as towing with horses on for any distance or without police supervision is illegal any insurance would be void!
I'm surprised they manage to get anyone to tow the lorry tbh! Mind you AE use autohome ( or something similar) which is a caravan and motor home breakdown service.

Seib and Kbis both provide alternative transport for horses and I have used both but now have cover from OHTO

 

[criso]

The tow driver had done it many times before and explained (and this makes sense) that for the horse it was just like going up a hill.

Surely that only applies if your horses are front facing in the lorry, mine is configured so they travel sideways which I would think would make them really unstable with the front tipped up.

Most insurers including AE, give you the option to take out the insurance with or without their packaged breakdown service so no reason why you can't get the breakdown service separately

However I found Shearwater competitive on price maybe £20 more than AE. They use Equine Rescue Services who guarantee they will send alternative transport. When I insured with NFU they used the same breakdown service but not sure if they still do.

 

[webble]

I've just bought insurance for my 3.5t box from Shearwater. Their breakdown insurance is provided by Equine Rescue Services and specifically states that horses will be transported in a different vehicle if my own box needs to be towed. The exception is to move the box off the motorway to a safe location to load the horse onto a different box.
I once saw a 7.5t box with horses in (side-facing) being towed with the front of the box lifted up. It must have been awful for the horses to stand at and angle while facing sideways, so I made a point to pick breakdown insurance that will not tow you this way.

Equine Rescue Services are very good. Hopefully you wont but if you do break down and they come up they will follow up a few days later for feedback which I thought was very good

 

[criso]

I actually had a not that good experience with ERS for a homestart. They subcontracted (which is fine) but the subcontractors, contracted it out to someone else and the call somehow got lost/delayed so I waited 5 hours. It wasn't urgent but I was taking the horse to horspital for some tests and it had to be rescheduled.

However I was very happy with the way they followed it up, dealt with the complaint and compensated me so am happy to continue to use them.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Apologies as I'm sure this had mentioned a 100 times before. Just renewed insurance to include breakdown and my blood has ran cold after reading the small print. My lorry (if mechanically safe), will be towed with the horses on board. If I refuse this option roadside I have to make my own alternative arrangements and foot the bill. There is no option for a recovery box and the horses to be transferred. The insurance is done with Anthony Evans. What recovery policies to you have? I'm beginning to wonder whether I should have insured the horsebox only with ADE and looked elsewhere for breakdown. I'd welcome comments from those of you who have been towed. I'm still within my 14 days cooling off period, but feel very uncomfortable. Thanks muchly

I am with SEIB and I get housing included in my insurance

 

[Slightly Foxed]

ADE's breakdown cover is motor home insurance. We had to use them when the clutch went on the lorry. Managed to get to The show ground. They sent a low loader to transport the lorry but we had two youngsters on board. Fortunately a neighbour was at the show and she had room on her lorry to take ours home. I really didn't fancy driving the lorry up the wheel ramps with the horses on board - I really didn't fancy driving the lorry up the wheel ramps full stop! We're now back with NFU.

 

[oldie48]

The clutch went in my 7.5 lorry travelling on the A40. I have cover which includes separate transport for the horse. I was towed a little way into a lay by, the lorry was taken to Swindon for repair and the horse together with me and my daughter were taken home. The police closed the road while we moved horse from one lorry to another they were very patient and helpful, which was just as well as the silly bu.....r refused to go on the second lorry. Thank goodness I keep a broom in the lorry!The most stressful part was when the horse transport driver asked for the horse's passport, which was at home, and then refused to move him. Fortunately he was persuaded when I started crying (how embarrassing!) You definitely need to have the horse moved separately!

 

[Holly Hocks]

I was with AE insurance and recovery when my 3.5t broke down on the M6. I was on the motorway for nearly four hours before they recovered me. When I initially phoned, I told them that the gearbox had gone - I knew the gearbox had gone as the gearbox fluid had all come out. I told them that I needed recovery. Instead, they sent a man in a van who promptly said that the gearbox had failed and that it needed to be recovered. He then said that the company he was with could not recover livestock vehicles and got back onto AE recovery who decided to send another company. By this time the whole thing had gone on nearly four hours. the other company hitched the van up on a front lift and drove at excessive speed back to my yard. I complained and VOSA said that what they had done was illegal. I contacted AE insurance who argued the point all the way. I don't insure with them because of the recovery. I used Shearwater after that and their recovery is with ERS who have been amazing every time I have needed to call them out.

 

[WelshD]

They have you over a nice barrel there. Check carefully for small print clauses that will state that your insurance will be void if you participate in any illegal activities it is a standard clause in all insurance policies! And as towing with horses on for any distance or without police supervision is illegal any insurance would be void!
I'm surprised they manage to get anyone to tow the lorry tbh! Mind you AE use autohome ( or something similar) which is a caravan and motor home breakdown service.

Seib and Kbis both provide alternative transport for horses and I have used both but now have cover from OHTO

Thank you. Food for thought at renewal time.

 

[OWLIE185]

If the vehicle can be towed off the motorway to a secure place of safety and the horses then transferred then in most cases this will be the safest option.
In some cases it may not be possible to tow the vehicle off the motorway and in that case both sides of the motorway (or a road) will have to be closed to transfer the horses from the broken down vehicle to the recovery vehicle.
Take great care when choosing your breakdown insurance and ensure that they will provide an alternative vehicle to move your horses if this is required and also overnight accommodation for the horses if the journey has to be broken.
(PRP and The Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer Owners are the same organisation).

 

[Goldenstar]

If it's not legal,to move a truck with stock on board what on earth do they do with sheep and cattle , shoot them at the side of the road in the broken down truck?