how many of you ladies manage a 4x4 and trailer and horse on your own

I am totally spoilt and have a 7.5t lorry and 4x4 and trailer!

I find in generally the trailer is far easier to handle and the ramp is a total delight compared to my 9ft high monster on the back of the lorry!

Hitching is easy - but get a mirror, and make sure the bumper plate is big enough on your vehicle. I also have cameras in both lorry and trailer and wouldn't be without them now, as I like to see if the ponies are ok!

Out of choice I take the trailer hunting, as no way in hell I am taking my shiney lorry down narrow lanes and leaving it on the side of the road!!

For long hauls deffo the lorry as so much easier on motorways and a pleasure to drive. Better travel for the horses and means I have all the gear.

However worth noting we have a farm yard at home and I wasn't allowed out until I could expertly reverse myself out of any situation (including a course of "blue barrels"!). Personally I think the trailer test would be easier than dad's hardcore effort some 13 years ago!! :eek::eek: (Some comment about not wanting to be embarrassed if his daughter couldn't reverse!!)

I find the trailer easier to reverse around things that the lorry, but lorry easier in straight lines, but even with cameras I am more adept with the trailer.
 
scribble said:
I am selling my lorry and swapping to a 4x4 and trailer after advice from my mechanic. It will be cheaper for me in terms of repairs and stuff going wrong. lorries do not like sitting aorund even though i use it locally once every week to 2 weeks. Before i make a mistake though and buy a 4x4 and trailer how many of you ladies (i am quite lighweight) go out on your own with 4x4, hitch up, compete etc and manage without living area and loading horses etc on own. I have a 16.2 3 yr old and would sometimes be on my own and sometimes with a friend hence 3.5 ton lorry no good. or do i get a younger lorry. do you get blown about more in wind as we are having.
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I've had my own trailer and been competing my own horses for 15 years now. I have never experienced any problems with towing, hitching up, loading/unloading. I feel very lucky to be able to go anywhere in the country with just me and my horse and it doesn't phase me in the slightest doing this on my own. The only time I get worried is if I think I might fall off and hurt myself at an event and then I would be stuck, but I know I'd only have to ring home and Dad, partner or best friend would be out to help me in a heartbeat and that gives me some security. I fell of on a fun ride earlier in the year and had obviously gone to the event on my own, silly little fall considering some of the stuff me and my horse do, but the first aider wouldn't let me ride back to the start of the ride and wouldn't let me drive home as I'd banged my head and felt very sick and as I had previous severe concussion they weren't about to take any chances. i had to ring Dad and he and my Mum and partner came to 'rescue me' and O/H towed us home and later took me to be checked out at A&E!

My God parents daughter who is a few years older than me (mid forties) wouldn't consider going anywhere without her husband, Mum or Dad sat in the passenger seat when she tows. I suppose its what your used to and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I am a very independent person anyway, and rarely ask for help with my horse.
 
No problem. I've been towing and going out to events on my own since I passed my test when I was about 21 / 22. Prefer to have my mum or boyfriend with me which usually I do, but can do it on my own fine.
 
I didn't start until a few years ago (when already somewhat past it) but have never had any problems.

Have 'recruited' (temporarily) people in lay-bys and petrol stations when I have needed a pee and not wanted to leave horse in trailer on its own. Peeps have always been incredibly lovely. Including the man who confessed a terror of horses, but was willing to sing to one through the little window at the front. (Horse was not well and was a bit scared of being on its own but was fine if it could see you and you sang to it............)

Always hired a trailer from LOC and Liz was very encouraging and helpful when I was getting started.
 
I found it MUCH more expensive to run a 4x4 and trailer than a small car and a lorry. Don't use mine very much, in fact been sat there a year now as I broke my ankle. but still would not swap it!!

I hate not having anywhere to sit too bloody unpleasant when it rains!!
 
LucyPriory said:
Including the man who confessed a terror of horses, but was willing to sing to one through the little window at the front. (Horse was not well and was a bit scared of being on its own but was fine if it could see you and you sang to it............)

.
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...excellent....I'm having a vision:D

Always found total strangers incredibly helpful , have to say. Although I've never needed to ask anyone to sing for me yet:D
 
For years when the kids were small I took two ponies,two children under ten out over the summer with a old Volvo and a Rice Europa. Only got a lorry when the ponies got too heavy.
Kids now grown up so I back to a Europa, e-bay bargin £500 and I love it. I have a single breech bar that came with it so anything big goes in no probs.
 
I regularly go out on my own but also like to take a friend or groom for moral support sometimes of one can be persuaded!! Always take someone when jumping or eventing though as feel i need to cover all eventualities!! I have a 510 and am happy hitching/unhitching/loading etc on my own.
 
I used to do it alone too, never gave it a thought but for some reason Im now a wreck who worries about travelling, thinking what if this, what if that. Drives me mad!
The only thing I struggled with being on my own was when competing, having to leave her on the trailer to get numbers etc or trying to get her and me ready as she didnt stand on the trailer well and pulled back if tied up.
 
Yep another happy solo trailering person here.
Even went from Norfolk to Kent with no problems, Disco and Richardson Lw16.2 trailer and horse over the dartford bridge and back through the tunnell!
 
I have a TD5 defender landy and a 510 ifor williams, I go hunting once or twice a week, to the beach, vets, farrier everywhere in fact on my own with my horse. If i have to take youngsters out I will get my husband to come with me in case there is a problem, once I know the horse is fine travelling I go on my own, love it !! never had a problem
 
I am not sure the relevance of gender to towing a trailer - the 4x4 does the work:confused:

Anyhoo I have had an Ifor Williams 505 for years, towed it with a variety of 4x4s over the years (Range Rover, Pajero, Merc) happily take my mare out and about to do all kinds of everything. Also happily take my daughter's pony too, for all sorts of fun.
 
I sold my lorry and the biggest problem I had was hitching on. I was fed up with jumping in and out to see if I was in the right place to hitch on until I found a great mirror that saved me doing this. It was about the size of a Bus or coach mirror and its sold as the i4eye hitching & coupling mirror, I bought it from Smile Equestrian on line, it cost me about 12 months ago £20 with postage. Best investment I have ever made and has made life so much easier.Anything that helps!!
 
No probs - frequently take one or two horses on my own - have a Disco and the big Ivor Williams - fine on motorways as long as you dont go too fast
 
Serena15 said:
I sold my lorry and the biggest problem I had was hitching on. I was fed up with jumping in and out to see if I was in the right place to hitch on until I found a great mirror that saved me doing this.
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Likewise, get a mirror attached to your trailer to help 'see you back'. The bigger the better. I initially bought an official trailer mirror. Bit of a rip off at £40 when it's only about 6" x 4". Was supposed to be magnified, but isn't! Then Dad got me a huge lorry wing mirror for £2 at a Boot Fair - much better!

My trailers' parked on gravel so I can't move it by hand. Trailer mirror is a must to save on shunting!

And practice loading and unloading your horse til its 2nd nature and he'll load without any worry... then off you go, alone if you have to, without a care.

First few times I took my 2yr old to outings on my own, I tied her to the back of the trailer as normal, but also clipped a lunge line to her, so I could walk to the back of the car to rummage in the knowledge that if she broke free of the trailer, I'd still have hold of her! She was initially nervous of anyone walking a horse past her, so we had one such incident!
 
I've been towing by myself shortly after I started driving! No problems hitching up or manouvering ,just takes practice! I travel all over the country to events with horse, dog and picnic!! If there's someone free to come I do appreciate the help, especially with the youngsters, but I find there's always some one on the field to do ramp if I need a hand. I have travelled with two by myself but not often or too far as if there's a problem ie flat tyre, one panics, accident or whatever it's hard to manage two horses by the side of the road!! I have a commercial jeep so took out the back seats so loads of room and I usually take the partition out of the trailer so I can stud, tack etc. in the box as at some events ie Riding Club you're not allowed tie up. The only thing I'm worried about is if I had a fall and was injured and not able to look after horse or drive home, especially at events where I wouldn't really know anyone or was far from home but thats all. I know both men and women who won't tow on there own so don't think it's gender thing.
 
All the time. I have a 510 and tow it with a Mercedes Sprinter van which is bigger than the trailer, and I'm always on my own. My only issue is meeting others on single track roads who can't reverse. I once met a lady with a Disco+horse trailer. She couldn't possibly reverse 50 yards to a passing place so I had to reverse 1/4 of a mile to the next nearest one. I can reverse easily but I was running late for a lesson so wasn't impressed. I wish people would learn how to reverse a trailer before pulling one, it's not difficult if you look in your mirrors.
 
Oh, one other thing. At events I always put my registration number plus description of vehicle, emergency contact info and where I leave my keys on my armband. If it's not XC I tell at least 2 people the same info!
 
I tow on own and also tow 14ft farmstock trailer with 30+lambss on so towing is like the back of my hand, on issue of security joined BEIDS and attached one armband to key fob and other on me and hubby knows where I put keys.
 
I hunt twice a week tow an ifor 511 with my jeep grand cherakee can turn it on a sixpence reverse better than others using my side mirrors also when I bought my trailer I was cheeky and asked for a camera free if I bought it and did the deal. Now I have a camera I will always have one you see the horses, have peace of mind.
 
paulineh said:
I take mine to the farriers, so often take 2 horses on my own. I also often hitch up and go and ride some where else, again many times taking 2 horses and ride and lead.
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Sorry to hi-jack OP but paulineh, I'd like to do this with my horse and daughter's pony when she can't ride. How do you get on and then grab the other horse??
 
I started towing pretty much as soon as I passed my test. My dad taught me to hitch up and came with me the first couple of times, but he's not horsey at all so as soon as I could cope I was left to it! I had an ancient Rice rear-unload and a 1960s Land Rover with a crash gearbox - bit of a baptism of fire!

I did practice hitching up lots before I really needed to go anywhere, as I had no chance of moving the trailer on my own, and I had a sticker in the landie's back window which I would line up against a spot on the trailer - that worked without fail.

The horse I had at the time was a bit of a character - he'd only load in long reins, but was beautifully behaved as soon as they went on - walked straight in so I could do up the breech strap and put the ramp up, and remove the long reins from the front once he was tied up. If anyone was standing around watching or, god forbid, 'helping', he'd panic. So really he was ideal for the person on their lonesome :)
 
I have been solo now for about 10 years with no problems. What I have found is that having the right kit can also help, I bought a i4eye Hitching Mirror and 2 good 4 x 4 mirrors and these were probably the two best items which made towing easier for me. The last thing I bought which I also got from Horse Trailer Shop online was two water carriers which I fitted to my trailer.
I know that about 20 years ago when I had an old rice trailer and a volvo and I had no kit and no confidence and gave it all up within 6 months.
Things have moved on since then what with better towing cars and trailers, thank goodness.:)
 
I used to regularly until I got my lorry, had no real problems with the trailer tbh. My friend regularly trailers her horse in her Equitrek using a Disco on her own and she has no problems either.
 
Cope fine and also 14ft tri axle and crew cab full of sheep reverse anywhere, not going to get shown up by men!
 
Yep. One hitching tip I heard, is to put a broom handle against the hitch so you can see where it is. Agricultural suppliers have tractor mirrors for reasonable prices if you want a cheap trailer mirror. One thing I had that was useful was a half size milk churn, great for carrying water and sitting on when you're getting changed. I kept it in the trailer, but I used it to take water to my field for a while, carrying it in the boot of my Sierra. It never spilt a drop!

Is that true about not being allowed to tie up at RC events? I've got a horse who panics in any box, the only way to tack up is to tie up outside or stable him. What would a person do then?
 
I keep a husband to use for this :D He is expected to sit and wait for me when I go hunting (He's given a flask of coffee and allowed to wrap the horse rug round him) and at shows I buy him cake :D

Hats off to all you ladies who do it, I know I'm useless!
 
I often take my horse to events on my own in our trailer. The travelling bit is no issue at all, although I used to try to avoid taking one particular (now sold) horse on my own as he had a habit of occassionally exploding in the trailer so I felt I needed someone on hand! But otherwise I dont find it a problem at BSJA or dressage comps. Have evented on my own but prefer someone there mainly in case I fell off and couldnt drive home! Also prefer someone there to groom for showing. But its easily done ;)
 
It's scarey the first time, then when you realise that you've survived, you are ok.

My biggest thing is what to do with the car keys whilst I'm in the show ring :D
Oh, and finding somebody to hold a stirrup leather for me when I clamber on.
 
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