PaddyMonty
Well-Known Member
Wife and daughter toddled off yesterday in Timmy the 3.5t lorry to keysoe for dressage.
4.15pm I get a call at work telling me timmy started making a really loud screeching noise the smoke started pouring out from the bonnet and now the stop light, alternator lights both on and no power steering.
From the description it sounded to me like the ancillary belt had snapped so dashed to to Vauxhall dealer to get a new one before loading all my tools in to the car and dasing off to the rescue.
They had broken down just on the edge of keysoe village. When I arrived I found the lorry empty and no sign of wife or daughter. Turns out the had broken down right outside Tom the farrier and his wife Carols' place. Horse was happily ensconced in one of their stables and peeps were all drinking tea.
Huge thankyou to TOm and Carol for their hospitality.
So I start fitting new belt only to discover its the wrong one (typical). Also turns out power steering pump had seized which is what caused the belt to snap. Lorry aint going nowhere on its own.
By now its about 6.30pm so a call to SEIB breakdown. Guy on the phone was really good asking where the horse was etc. He did ask if we would mind the horse staying in our lorry while it was taken home on a loaw loader
Put him straight on that one. He also then checked if horse would be best in lorry or trailer and we agreed a lorry would be best.
Within 10 minutes I had a call from the lorry recovery people checking the lorry was ready to recover (horse not in it) and when I confirmed it was ready to go they set off immediately and arrive just over an hour later.
Meanwhile a lorry was despatched from Newmarket for Revel.
At every stage we we were kept informed about arrival times and what could have been a really stressful event just truned in to a little adventure.
So having never had to use the recovery before I can only say all involved were brilliant and a huge thankyou to all.
Tip of the day - If you have to breakdown make sure its outside a remedial farriers home. Not only do you get your horse looked after but also learn a lot about lower limbs of horses.
4.15pm I get a call at work telling me timmy started making a really loud screeching noise the smoke started pouring out from the bonnet and now the stop light, alternator lights both on and no power steering.
From the description it sounded to me like the ancillary belt had snapped so dashed to to Vauxhall dealer to get a new one before loading all my tools in to the car and dasing off to the rescue.
They had broken down just on the edge of keysoe village. When I arrived I found the lorry empty and no sign of wife or daughter. Turns out the had broken down right outside Tom the farrier and his wife Carols' place. Horse was happily ensconced in one of their stables and peeps were all drinking tea.
Huge thankyou to TOm and Carol for their hospitality.
So I start fitting new belt only to discover its the wrong one (typical). Also turns out power steering pump had seized which is what caused the belt to snap. Lorry aint going nowhere on its own.
By now its about 6.30pm so a call to SEIB breakdown. Guy on the phone was really good asking where the horse was etc. He did ask if we would mind the horse staying in our lorry while it was taken home on a loaw loader
Put him straight on that one. He also then checked if horse would be best in lorry or trailer and we agreed a lorry would be best.Within 10 minutes I had a call from the lorry recovery people checking the lorry was ready to recover (horse not in it) and when I confirmed it was ready to go they set off immediately and arrive just over an hour later.
Meanwhile a lorry was despatched from Newmarket for Revel.
At every stage we we were kept informed about arrival times and what could have been a really stressful event just truned in to a little adventure.
So having never had to use the recovery before I can only say all involved were brilliant and a huge thankyou to all.
Tip of the day - If you have to breakdown make sure its outside a remedial farriers home. Not only do you get your horse looked after but also learn a lot about lower limbs of horses.
