Jumping over horsebox breast bar - options for lorry conversion

Tiddlypom said:
I'm afraid that you may be a little complacent about 3.5t boxes.
Click to expand...
I'm not trying to say that horses don't climb over the breast bar in boxes too, I just think that it is a potential problem in other forms of transportation too, and I have yet to see solid evidence (which anecdotes on FB are not) that this is more common in rear-facing 3.5t boxes than in e.g. trailers. I get a bit annoyed when stories on the internet make 3.5t vans out to be worse in this regard than other types of transpo when there isn't really good evidence for it.

I do in fact think that Ifor Williams has done an exemplary job of addressing this issue with their outside breast bar release. I think the 3.5t builders should learn from this. In the end, not matter what you do, horses can still manage to get themselves into trouble. You do what you can with the funds that you have. If I could afford a custom built new box, I'd certainly go for an outside quick release on the breast bar.
 
From the statistics from the Large Animal Rescue Service it would appear that this type of accident is far more prevalent in 3.5 ton vehicles than trailers or vehicles over 3.5 tons.
However the reason for this is as yet unknown and further in-depth research needs to be carried out to determine the reason
 
Yes, I've seen the Facebook post. Sounds like that horse might have been very luck but yes there does seem to be frequent accidents with these smaller lorries. I will only put mine in a 7.5 tonne, as I think these smaller lorries are much too claustrophobic and just too small really for horses and so I just won't take the risk. This means I often struggle to get hold of transport as I don't have my own and have to hire a lorry but would rather that than take the risk in a smaller lorry!
 
I converted my front facing, side loader to rear facing.

This meant horses were facing straight into the grooms area. I had a solid panel - it's heavy - hinged onto the top of the breast bar and then bolts into the wall with hefty bolts on each end. It's probably at least a metre wide and a visible deterrent, preventing the horse from jumping over.

Once the horses are out, the panel lifts up and bolts vertically into the wall opening up the living area. When down its a bit of a squeeze to get in and out of the grooms area, but possible should the horse have to stand inside.
 
OWLIE185 said:
From the statistics from the Large Animal Rescue Service it would appear that this type of accident is far more prevalent in 3.5 ton vehicles than trailers or vehicles over 3.5 tons.
However the reason for this is as yet unknown and further in-depth research needs to be carried out to determine the reason
Click to expand...

I wonder if this is because when a horse goes over the bar in a trailer, you can release it yourself, sort the situation out and carry on your way much easier than with the small lorries that have fixed bars and no exit whereby you need to call for help.
 
Tnavas said:
I converted my front facing, side loader to rear facing.

This meant horses were facing straight into the grooms area. I had a solid panel - it's heavy - hinged onto the top of the breast bar and then bolts into the wall with hefty bolts on each end. It's probably at least a metre wide and a visible deterrent, preventing the horse from jumping over.

Once the horses are out, the panel lifts up and bolts vertically into the wall opening up the living area. When down its a bit of a squeeze to get in and out of the grooms area, but possible should the horse have to stand inside.
Click to expand...

This sounds clever... Do you have any photos?
 
I saw the Facebook post and noted that the OP of that Facebook post went on extensively about how unsafe 3.5t lorries were, how they were made of rubbish, how the back door was too small, how they should have grilles etc etc

yet they still chose to put their horse in one....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top