Horsebox to Equitrek or similar for trailer phobic horse

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Louby

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Just a quick question really............
Has anyone had success with a horse that really doesnt 'do' trailers (loads great but freaks when in one and gets out one way or another, including attempting the Jockey door :eek:) going from a horsebox to an Equitrek or similar. I think he cant travel forwards happily or is claustaphobic??, travels great in a wagon but I dont warrant a wagon and was wondering if anyone had success with a trailer other than the normal forward facing one.
I know theres Fautras but they arent very wide and really seem to travel diagonally so Im not convinced he would be any different than in a normal trailer. Also havent got anywhere local to hire one to try before I buy.
Thanks for any replies
 
If you're thinking of forking out for an equitrek,I'd simply put your money towards a little,maybe older lorry. Purely for peace of mind.

There are many horses that will travel happily in a lorry,but not in a trailer. Unfortunate.
 
Thanks,
That was what I was going to do, just sold my newish wagon cos I wasnt using it enough and although I prefer wagons, just had this mad thought tonight that if the damn boy would travel in a trailer everything would be sorted, no overheads and something that wouldnt break my heart cos I wasnt using it enough. Hubbys being driven to despair as only sold it 2 weeks ago and am regretting it already.
My aim was to buy an older cheaper wagon but although its early days, all the ads I look at seem to have awful flimsy horse areas, not bothered about living, just wanted something half decent and mega safe. I dont think it exists for much less than I got for my wagon :(
 
my TB hates forward facing trailers with a passion, he really freaks, but he travels fine in an equitrek or a normal horsebox- in his head the equitrek is a horsebox! shame they are such crappy build quality and IME the customer service is dreadful...if i had my 10k to spend again it certainly wouldn't be with equitrek- it would go on an older lorry. yes you have MOT and stuff but at least your wheel won't fall off when you are driving along :rolleyes::mad:
 
Thanks for replying.
Its a shame another company doesnt make something similar but better build quality. Im sure I read or hear IW were going to bring out a new backwards facing trailer this year, mind you with the problems they have had changing the old model, it makes you wonder.
Looks like Im going to have to keep looking for a wagon. They just seem so expensive at the moment, even the older ones.
 
Hiya :D:D
Had this conversation earlier with hubby, said we would hire one and see if his lordship approved :). We borrowed one off a friend before I got my wagon and he wouldnt go in it. It was a new trailer and my friend was getting a bit edgy with my big lump bouncing on and off the ramp, managed to get him so far in but then he would wallop his head on the way out backwards. We had to give up as poor friend was having kittens over her new trailer, cant blame her really.
This wasnt long after he decided trailers werent for him so he wasnt in the best frame of mind. Took a long time to regain his confidence travelling after the trailer so would hate to go back to square one.
Anyway how are you? :D
 
I have to say that I haven't had any problems with my Equitrek. It is one of the newer ones, not sure if that makes a difference. All of mine load and travel just fine. Even the ones that "don't do travel on anything other than their own 4 legs, thank you very much! :D )
Good luck. :)
 
I have a fautras trailer - they travel herringbone in it - nose to tail.

We got it because Basil would not load or travel in a normal trailer but he loads and travels no problem in this.

I love it!!

(I'm going the other way to you and going back to a lorry now though!!)
 
I would be concerned recommending an equitrek trailer given the poor reviews they seem to get on here. Search equitrek problem or equitrek axle and you may change your mind.
 
When we ought my sister's pony we were told he absolutely only travels on a lorry and only on the very back. We had a lorry at the time so it was fine and just always travelled him on the back. One day my dad transported the horses somewhere for us and put him in the middle, and he thrashed about all over the show resulting in my dad having to pull over and reshuffle the horses on his own :rolleyes:.

Our lorry was off the road a fair bit with various things wrong with it and we did try borrowing people's trailers. In both an Ifor 505 and 510 he couldn't balance at all and leant on the side scrabbling his feet under the partition. We gave up in the end because he was injuring himself and pulling his shoes off.

Then a couple of years ago they brought in the London low emission zone, which unfortunately our yard is inside by 1/4 mile. This meant we had no option but to sell the lorry and get a trailer. We bought a cheval liberte 4003 for the starting bid on ebay and drove all the way to carlisle to get it. It takes 3 horses stood sideways so it's enormous - really light and airy inside. We spent a while putting troublesome pony on and off (again only the back) and built up to short journeys. As soon as he realised it was his new mode of transport to parties he was absolutely fine and we haven't had a problem since. I think he likes to wedge his back left foot against the edge of the ramp which is why he doesn't do conventional trailers or the middle of a lorry.

Since then we've put 3 other "lorry-only" horses in it and again they've all travelled silently and been completely relaxed upon arrival.
 
My hunter mare's spectacular travelling problems were solved immediately with an Equitrek trailer, we never had any problems with it or the company and we now have the supersonic lorry, again, trouble free and wouldn't have anything else. The last pony that I bought had a travelling issue and has been fine since the second time in the Equitrek. I rate them!
 
Thanks for your replies.
Robinhood, I think I seen the Cheval you are talking about on Ebay too, as I was so tempted to buy but scared it would be a waste of money incase he wouldnt go in it If its the same one, I remember asking you via here about it then. Its definately worth a look. I dont think they are very popular so it may be a problem finding one localish.

Forderough, thanks for that, I have read about the build quality of the Equitreks but everyone I know who has them loves them so I think its another 'luck of the draw' sort of thing although really it shouldnt be. A lady came the other day with the Endevour??, she loved it, I didnt see it but Im told it was gorgeous but loads of things had just fell off it in the horse area as in trims, the rubber skirt on the partitions etc. She wasnt bothered by this!! The concept is great though. What problems did your mare have? I wish I could persuade my boy that trailers are ok :D.
 
I think the days of trailers are numbered with diesel at 120pence per liter and tax on newer than 5 year old 4x4s now over £400 yes some people need them for other jobs but if you dont its an expensive, not very convenient or safe way of moveing horses ...I looked at the equitrek with living well not realy living more like a broom cupboard!! and add some extras upwards of £12k then you need a tow vehicle say 5k min suddenly its 20K which buys a very tidy basic 7.5 ton lorry, cheaper tax and more economical than most 4X4 when towing loads of space for tack and living..
 
Hi Louby, she started off with the usual Ifor trick of trying to throw herself down going round right hand bends in the trailer, was okish when travelling on her own diagonally with a single breastbar but when we had to travel two she was a nightmare. We sold the Ifor and bought a lorry with herringbone partitioning as we had to usually travel two and she was just plain dangerous in the trailer, she continued the same trick in the lorry, whether we partitioned herringbone, horizontal, narrow space or loads of space so we sold that on but from the first journey in the Equitrek trailer she reverted to a sane and sensible traveller again.
 
Louby said:
Thanks for your replies.
Robinhood, I think I seen the Cheval you are talking about on Ebay too, as I was so tempted to buy but scared it would be a waste of money incase he wouldnt go in it If its the same one, I remember asking you via here about it then. Its definately worth a look. I dont think they are very popular so it may be a problem finding one localish.
Click to expand...

I've never seen another one so I doubt there are very many around! We paid £3000 for ours when it was 18 months old, although we did drive from surrey to carlisle to get it :cool:.
 
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