Horsebox - tack lockers - opinions please

Peanot

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 October 2005
Messages
1,961
Location
Derbyshire
Visit site
Hi, I`m looking for a horsebox and there are a couple of nice ones that I`ve seen but they have the tack lockers that go into the horse area. Does anyone have any opinions on these as I have a mare who is a little claustrophobic and needs light and space etc. Would these tack lockers be a problem. I`ve had a few different lorries in the past but none with these.
Thanks
 
Mine has a tack locker, but its at the back of the horse space which i dont use - mine travel in the middle one. It does take up a fair amount of room, it would be alright to travel a pony but wouldnt want to travel a horse.

However all tack lockers are different shapes and sizes, i would ask for an internal pick if you havent got one already and go from there
smile.gif
 
Hi, we've had lorries with and without tack lockers.
Our current lorry has them fitted all over the place which is useful, but not by choice as the lorry was completed before we purchased it.
The horses travel herringbone, and there are two large lockers at the head end.
It makes it difficult to squeeze through when you've got a large horse in, plus the haynets end up sitting on top.
Ours slope, but it's still too tight to be honest, plus some horses find them handy to kick against.
Given the choice we wouldn't have them in this configuration.
I've seen a lorry built with external lockers into the living area - under seat & under sink which was far better as they are useful for carrying water etc. However we would never put our tack in them - they do lock, but we don't think they're secure enough.
 
To be honest, having heard lots of stories of people's horses getting on top of the tack lockers i the back i personally would avoid buying a lorry with them in the horse bit. Plus it is tricky to get past the horses at the front if you needed to.

We bought our lorry last year, it had no tack lockers and the previous owner had put racks in the back instead in the 'spare' horse space. However, she only travelled one horse so for us, having two in there wasn't really enough room.

We sent it to a guy who fits out/converts horseboxes and got a small tack locker fitted in the living bit that goes underneath the bench seats. It has a secure lock on it and can fit in two saddles and a few other bits and bobs. It isn't huge but does its job and means less stuff in the living area.

I would try and look for a wagon that has lockers in the living. How big they are will depend on what's in the inside of the livingand where your battery etc is situated but I have seen some fairly sizeable ones in wagons.
 
I'm also not the hugest fan....but lots and lots of people have them with no trouble. TBH for my mare and older gelding I wouldn't worry as both small enough to still turn easily, also mare does paw the ground once parked up so might bash her knees! Altho that might stop the pawing.....
I'd worry for youngster for lack of turning space and also have heard many stories including one from the chap who runs the parking at Patchetts a few months ago about horses going up and getting stuck on top of the locker!
The space would be useful tho I must admit!
 
I saw a horse stuck on the top of a tack locker at a show and really put me of. Ours is on the outside under the sink area which i prefer .
 
Mine has one the full length of the horse area,(7.5 tonne herring bone) never had a problem, the space would be unused unless you let the horses put there head out of the window!!! so why not have a usefull tack locker, mine has a partly sloping top which is good support for haynets and stops them swinging around..
 
Mine hasnt got one but it wouldnt put me off as my tack is on racks in the living. I also have under seat storage so storage isnt a problem, just not as easily accessable. I didnt want racks in the horse area as my 3 horse would become 2 (even though I only carry 1!.
My friend has one large one the full length of the horse area. Hers are tall, very substantial but her horse has tried to get on top. God knows how, hes 16.3 so wouldnt have much room to mess about. I have seen them really low, so easy to get on top of and flimsy looking which would be a no no for me as Ive heard of horses hooves going through them. My friends are tall and prob only a foot lower than her windows, her wagon is a professional job. Mine was made by the same builder who said unless he is specifically asked doesnt now put them in the horse area. I did ask about them under my sink/hob but it meant no room for the gas canister or water for the sink as I dont have on board water tanks. I never thought of asking for them under the seats though.
 
We had ours built to our design (sounds posh but isn't!) with the tack locker in the living under the work surface opposite the cooker/sink. Means you lose cupboard space within the living but haven't found it a problem.
 
I know of a couple of horses that have put their feet through the top, one severed it's tendon and had to be put down. They are only made of ply wood and when they get wet it rots the wood and weakens it. Lockers under the living are a better idea. It's also very tight in the back with lockers, makes it more difficult to get around the partitions etc
 
Thanks everyone, I think I`ve decided that I`ll wait a bit longer and look around a bit more for something without the tack lockers in the horse area. Some scary stories there.
smile.gif
X
 
Top