Is it Legal? I certainly don't think so!

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katwin

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Some one I know is planning to put 1 horse and 2 ponies in a HB510 trailer to take them to a show which is coming up shortly. Her idea is that the smallest pony goes in the front near the jockey door and the others in the stalls. I have told her that I'm sure this is illegal. Am I right?
 
No idea if it's legal or not but I've seen this done before, 2 mares in the partitions and a foal in the front.

It's sort of a similar set up to the Richardson 3 horse trailers so it may be legal I guess :confused:
 
You can get a rice Richardson trailer that takes 3 horses this way.
There is also an ifor William that is like a 510 that can take up to 5 small ponies.
But I certainly don't think a standard 510 can or should.
What about the safety it the pony?
Stupid person.
 
Probably not if it doesn't exceed the weight limit for the particular box.

I do hope she locks the jockey door with a padlock in case it might open.
 
No idea if its legal, but we were at ashow on sunday an ifor williams pulled up not a large on and they undone the ramp pulled to shetlands off the front then another 2 14.2 ponies from the partitions!!!!:eek: We just stood there in shock!!
 
Ive done it with my 3 however one is shetland and other 2 girls on each side and her at the front however were within weight limit and all ponies get on well.
 
I should think it is illegal, pony in front has no support or breast bar to brace him, the 3 horse trailers are specially made with correct partitions, balance. Very stupid people trying to squeeze 3 into a 2 horse teailer
 
I don't think so - the trailer is not going to be designed for that, the pony will not have sufficient space to braceand balance properly, or be protected from harm - the fixtures and fittings are not going to be built to hold an animal. I would think it contravenes the Animal Welfare Act as it places the pony in harm's way, I can't imagine the traffic cops would look kindly upon it either!

AND even if it is legal, it's still the most ridiculously stupid thing I've heard in a while, frankly:mad: Bloody hell! What on earth goes through people's heads?! I despair, I really do!

ETA I would also imagine that the balance of the trailer would be affected by having a significant amount of extra weight over the front, which is not what the trailer was designed for.
 
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Spudlet said:
I don't think so - the trailer is not going to be designed for that, the pony will not have sufficient space to braceand balance properly, or be protected from harm - the fixtures and fittings are not going to be built to hold an animal. I would think it contravenes the Animal Welfare Act as it places the pony in harm's way, I can't imagine the traffic cops would look kindly upon it either!

AND even if it is legal, it's still the most ridiculously stupid thing I've heard in a while, frankly:mad: Bloody hell! What on earth goes through people's heads?! I despair, I really do!

ETA I would also imagine that the balance of the trailer would be affected by having a significant amount of extra weight over the front, which is not what the trailer was designed for.
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agree totally!
 
Ive seen it done too but 2 ponies in the partitions and a shetland at the front in a IW505. Scary.
 
Over 15 years ago my old YO / family friend would give me a lift to shows approx 10 miles from the yard. In an old double rice trailer would go my 14.2, other liveries 13.2 and the YO's daughters shetland in the jockey area in the front - all towed by a Ford Sierra!!

We didn't think anything of it back then! Luckily I live in the Fens so all nice and flat.

Not sure if it was legal or not but then again that was in the days before the towing test!!
 
I've seen this happen at a Fun Ride and was totally shocked - from reading these posts it almost sounds common practice for some people. Obviously there are plenty of stupid people out there, willing to risk the lives of their animals as well as potentially, other road users, as I'm sure the shifting balance of weight can't be safe and what happens if the one at the front falls over? If it's not illegal, it jolly well should be and I'm sure vehicle insurance companies would have something to say about it. Perhaps you could tip the police off accidently by making a general enquiry as to their view on it.
 
I saw a pretty awful accident where 4 polo ponies had been put in a 3 horse trailer hauled by a Range Rover. Balance was the issue and it all came undone when the RR braked but the trailer was carrying too much weight. Not pretty and 1 horse died.

The issue is less legal than liability. If you were stopped or had an accident, the insurance would probably not cover you.

Not a good idea.
 
katwin said:
Some one I know is planning to put 1 horse and 2 ponies in a HB510 trailer to take them to a show which is coming up shortly. Her idea is that the smallest pony goes in the front near the jockey door and the others in the stalls. I have told her that I'm sure this is illegal. Am I right?
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Don't think it is illegal but the pony might be in for a rough time with two pairs of teeth above it!

It is though illegal to have a human ride in the trailer

To much weight in the jocky area will affect the towing abilities and the driver need to look at the angle of the front of the car from the ground, too much weight over the tow bar affects the stearing of the vehicle.
 
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Years ago I remember a local man arriving at a gymkhana with a "Tipperary" double (quite a large double with a low back ramp) and he unloaded 6 ponies from it 12.2/14 hands. There was no way any of them could have fallen, there wasn't room and a large crowd gathered to see them loaded for the home journey and they all went in happily again. Dont recall him doing it again but maybe he did!:eek:
 
Some one I knew did that, but actually had 2 mini ponies, one went in the nose cone and the other went into the back of the 4x4
 
The first issue will be the weight of the trailer compared to the kerb weight of the vehicle pulling it and also the total weight of both of them. Any of these could make it illegal.
By putting a horse in the front the balance and loading of the vehicles rear axels, tow ball and trailers axels will be effected and could make the car and trailer unstable. It will also adversly effect the stearing of the vehicle as theer will be too much weight on the tow ball.
 
Eeyore.1 said:
I should think it is illegal, pony in front has no support or breast bar to brace him, the 3 horse trailers are specially made with correct partitions, balance. Very stupid people trying to squeeze 3 into a 2 horse teailer
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Agree with this, the breast bar is the key issue. Thought it was a legal requirement for an equine travelling to have a breast bar.
 
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