Ladies who tow on their own?

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MyBoyChe

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How do you find it, especially those ladies who are old enough not to have needed to take a trailer test! I am dithering, have a vehicle which is man enough and really need to get some transport so I can drive to a safe place to hack. Realistically a small lorry, which I would drive quite happily, is beyond budget and tbh Im talking driving a couple of miles, once or twice a week. Its the fact that there is a join in the middle which worries me, what if it comes undone!! Also, the practicality, can you manage to hitch and unhitch by yourself, are you comfortable managing to tack and untack your horse away from the safety of the yard. I am a confident driver, its having the responsibility of my horse behind me that is scaring me a bit. He travels in a trailer fine, Ive followed him and he doesnt move so thats one issue I dont have. A cousin has offered to give me some towing lessons using a cattle trailer so same size but slightly different, then if I get on OK another friend has offered to let me borrow their horse trailer to try with Che so everything is in place, I just need to man up and get on with it. Just wondering how others find it? Also any tips for solo towing appreciated!
 
I haven't been out without the OH yet but I can certainly hitch and unhitch unassisted. I do all the driving as OH didn't pass his test until 1997 whereas I passed in 1996.

I would say buy the lightest trailer you can, as it isn't easy to reverse up to hitch without someone to guide you (or that could just be that I'm not used to the tow vehicle yet as we haven't had it long and I drive a small car day to day). I tend to move the trailer the last bit by hand. I have a Bateson Deauville which is big enough for two horses but fairly light.

As neither I or horse are experienced at travelling yet I like to have someone to do the ramps while I stay with the horse for now, but that is because she's young and fidgety not because I can't manage the ramps.

A tip I got from the lady who sold me my trailer was that if you travel without the partition and a full width breast bar you can use the trailer like a stable to tack up in. I haven't tried this yet, but so far my horse has stood tied up to be tacked up. If you aren't travelling far you could travel with the saddle on and then put your bridle on over the headcollar or buy one of those endurance style bridle/headcollar things that you can clip a bit to.
 
Take some lessons if you are that unconfident.

But honestly, it is really really easy. As Kat says the worst bit is hitching up. I always get help to hitch.

Take the horse tacked up if you think that will be a problem. It doesn't kill them to travel in tack and it's much easier that way.
 
No tips really, but I know how daunting it feels to do it alone. I am now very confident and will drive horses two hours or more on my own to horsepital and the like. I actually prefer to do it on my own so I can concentrate better. I remember one journey when a well meaning livery client talked non stop for the whole journey there and back and it was exhausting. The traffic was appalling and trying to keep my eyes on the road, the horse in the trailer (I frequently check I can see their head through the window and therefore know they are upright!), as well as pay polite attention to the non stop talking was a huge effort. I was far less stressed the next time when I refused any offer of company.

I found that I very quickly learnt how to hitch up the trailer myself as I know exactly where the spare tyre should line up to be spot on. Reversing took much longer to get the hang of, but now comes totally naturally. I actually much prefer my lovely Ifor Williams 510 trailer to a horse box.
 
Make sure you have breakdown all in place and your trailer serviced. Knowing my trailer is in A1 nick and that the breakdown people will pick up the horses in an emergency really makes me feel better about it all too :)
 
Why not get a professional lesson?

I have towed a lot over the years and quite a bit by myself--only works if you have a horse which loads easily as they need to stand still while you go round the back to do the breech bar.
I always put the bridle on before unloading, headcollar back on over the top and tied to trailer to do saddle/boots/ramp etc and put anything stealable into car, lock, lock trailer to car, ramp up and away.
 
I loathe trailers but have to drive two cattle trailers around the place. I am usually on my own and they are far heavier than a horse trailer and so being able to reverse accurately to the tow hitch is a MUST. It's easy to learn to do if you keep a cool head about it:D

Tips for solo towing - if using a Landrover then make sure you have a flask or tea making kit on board for when it breaks down, have number of RAC handy, you will also need fags, lighter (VITAL), chocolate, spare horse rugs and prefereably a loo. Can you tell I've been stuck by the side of the road in -4 for 4 hours?:D
 
I have been towing on my own for more than thirty years it's fine.
You will of course have to do the test which will give you confidence to start with and then you just go for it.
I would drive to places that you know to begin with I clearly remembering being nervous of towing when I did not know where I was going.
As other have said get breakdown cover for the horse trailer including recovering the horse in case it goes wrong.
And get a checklist of things to check tyres lights etc and learn how to do it service the trailer yearly it great being able to take your horse places on your own.
I did not enjoy motorways when I started but you get used to it.
 
I tow on my own 99% of the time as my husband works out of country 8 months a year and I tend to meet friends at events rather than go with them due to my location.

I have a Land Cruiser and the large Equi Trek trailer so not a small set up by any means and I have absolutely no problem at all. My first trailer was a 510 and my husband taught e how to hitch it up and we took it empty to a quiet area where I could practice reversing etc without anyone else around. I did this twice and then did a small journey with my horse in whilst my husband was still home.

It is daunting for the first few journeys, you are towing the most precious cargo there is and you will probably be over cautious but that's fine. As you get more experienced you will find it easier and become much more relaxed about it but you will never regret doing it.

I was at an event once when a lady driver pulled in straight across in front of me, turned her engine off & got out totally blocking me in. It turned out she couldn't reverse or turn even though she had virtually a whole field to do so. She told me if I wanted it moved I would have to do it so having no choice I did. You really don't want to put yourself in this type of dangerous situation so you need to get confident at manouvering before venturing out loaded.

As Cuffey has said there are companies that do lessons and training which will get you up and running so that could be an option.

Good luck with it, before you know it you will be doing it with ease :)
 
I have had to tow on my own for a good few years now. If you cannot afford lessons, I suggest you take someone who can tow and practice with no pony in. I have 2 green ponies and I take the time to make sure they both load and travel ok. I started off loading and driving to a friends yard until they where happy to stand and be tacked up. We are now at a stage where I can take them anywhere. One is happy to stand on the trailer at a show, the other is not quite confident enough yet. My advice would be for lessons first. My gripes are hitching up in the rain, and I have to take a deep breath before reversing if others are watching, if no-one watching, I can reverse no probs lol The more you do it the more confident you will become, plus I also have my trailer checked Spring every year so I know its safe to use.
 
My car has a reversing camera which makes hitching really easy. If your car doesnt, you can get some sort of mirror I think which does the trick.
The hardest part is biting the bullet & doing it for the first time.
Make sure you're not in a hurry, just take your time - it's surprisingly easy (& I'm a right numpty!)
 
If you havent towed before I suggest you get lessons.

It's older people that tow like idiots that are partially the cause of decent drivers like me having to spend £1000's in getting a trailer lisence. Not that I am suggesting you an idiot driver - most horse trailer towers are fine... however, I have seen some suspect ones.

Lessons will give you the confidence to drive properly, hitch and unhitch properly, and how to reverse - the hard part!

Also, (god forbid), you have an accident, and someone tries to sue you, if you have had additional training, you have lessened your liability (does this make sensE!)
 
wench said:
If you havent towed before I suggest you get lessons.
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By lessons do you mean professional lessons?

If yes, then I disagree.

Finding a competant tower who is calm, can give you good advice and is willing to go out with you a few times is all that is needed

That goes for those towing on both B and B+E licences
 
i tow on my own (with 4x4 and equitrek) i used to have cameras for reversing and in horse trailer which were a god send as I could hitch up even if on awkward angle with no problems and could also check the horse as I was driving - trying to get OH to put them in new car at moment !! even without though it is really easy.

I would def. recommend towing trailer without horse for a few times - take it round block - reverse it etc until you are really comfortable before putting pony in !

I take Dex everywhere on own and its great - if you are in doubt then take someone as companion first few times you box up with horse. but mostly - just get on with it !!
 
I tow by myself, all the time. I usually carry one 16.2hh, but often take both.

I have a Kia Sorento and Bateson Ascot, which isn't too heavy and is nice to tow, and usually hitch up and put back in place (lots of reversing, gets better with practice!) on my own.

The best thing to do is to try and get into a routine, have a mental checklist if you will, to make sure that you have done everything you need to. For example, after the hosses are loaded and before I pull away, I always walk around the trailer to make sure everything is fastened properly and in its place. This means that you can have far more confidence whilst you are driving, as you KNOW you haven't made any mistakes/forgotten to put the ramp up etc!

Also, get the trailer serviced regularly - all of this will make you feel pretty confident while on your own.

Once you are doing it all regularly, you will be fine - just take your time to start with :)
 
Back in the US, I was towing by myself from age 17. As soon as I got my full license, I waltzed off to horse shows by myself (I'd been driving the trailer under parent's supervision while I had my learner permit). The only time I ever had any trouble was the first time I ever hauled alone. I'd gotten home and unloaded horse, and then I had to back trailer into narrow parking space and you had to back it on a curve, bending it into the spot, as the round pen was in front of all the trailers so you couldn't go straight in. After an hour or so of utterly failing at this, I had to make a very embarrassed phone call to my Dad (not what any 17 year old wants!) and ask him to come rescue me. I learned how to back up the trailer after that.

I drove by myself all over Colorado and the East Coast. Never thought it was a big deal.
 
I have had to sell lorry (gutted!) and so am on the trailer track as it were. Not what i want to do but if i want to go out and about i have no choice so bought a Shogun, and borrow trailers, now got one on loan which i have had serviced and am getting help from an HGV driver who can reverse a trailer out of the smallest spots! Doing ok so far, go steady, always do a dry run on the route first until you get more confident and practise reversing! still not brilliant at this but getting there, i think its like learning to drive when it becomes second nature you have cracked it! Hitching up is routine, practise makes perfect. Have fun!!
 
I tow on my own - only got a float 10 years ago, so remember what it was like. Easy to learn to tow, and hitch etc, just drive without horses till comfortable with trailer - i took mine out for 2 or three drives empty, and then drive slowly with horse, and you can always get some one more experienced to take you out a couple of times. I got tips from a few people I knew that helped.

Main thing is - check all your trailer connections and so forth before you depart, i have a routine, and always check everything myself if some one else hitches up. In no time at all you don't really think about it.
 
MyBoyChe said:
How do you find it, especially those ladies who are old enough not to have needed to take a trailer test! I am dithering, have a vehicle which is man enough and really need to get some transport so I can drive to a safe place to hack. Realistically a small lorry, which I would drive quite happily, is beyond budget and tbh Im talking driving a couple of miles, once or twice a week. Its the fact that there is a join in the middle which worries me, what if it comes undone!! Also, the practicality, can you manage to hitch and unhitch by yourself, are you comfortable managing to tack and untack your horse away from the safety of the yard. I am a confident driver, its having the responsibility of my horse behind me that is scaring me a bit. He travels in a trailer fine, Ive followed him and he doesnt move so thats one issue I dont have. A cousin has offered to give me some towing lessons using a cattle trailer so same size but slightly different, then if I get on OK another friend has offered to let me borrow their horse trailer to try with Che so everything is in place, I just need to man up and get on with it. Just wondering how others find it? Also any tips for solo towing appreciated!
Click to expand...

It's hard enough getting the darn trailer off when you want it off, so it's extremely remote that it'll come off accidentally. I can hitch and unhitch myself, I also have a mirror on the trailer to give me some guidance.

I don't think you'll ever get complacent when towing a horse but that's a good thing.
 
I tow on my own including hitching up etc, to lessons, clinics, shows and just to go for a nice hack Just double check everything and make sure your trailer is in good nick and go slowly and really read the road ahead and plan your moves - dont let other drivers hassle you! Make sure you have phone, mobile, scissors/knife, first aid kit, baling twine and emergency details with you and also drinks, a snack so you dont need to think about stuff like that at any point.

Definitely go out without horse in a few times and then take someone with you the first few times you go out with a horse. You can travel the horse in his saddle and then put bridle on in trailer when there if you are worried about him messing about and not tying up quietly on the outside. I dont tend to boot her up if going short distances. It helps if you have a good horse - mine will load herself, travels very quietly and isnt stressy - its harder when the horse doesnt cooperate! And also have something to put your car key and phone in when you are off riding.
 
I do and have done since I was 19 :)

If I'm going somewhere new (that I don't know what the parking facilities are like- eg secure enough to risk him wandering off when I tack up) or to a hacking parking place I just travel him tacked up :) and make sure that I am ready to just get on and go as soon I drop the front ramp!

I agree the only nerve wracking bit is darting round the back to put the bum bar up :)

Do it and enjoy it!!
 
My OH doesn't even drive, so I have never had any other choice.

I was used to driving a 7.5t but had never towed a trailer.

I helped my fiend move house with my trailer and it helped me get used to it.

Towing with the precious cargo was still scary....down the M6 (nothing like jumping in with both feet :D) but it's a case of get on with it or stay at home forever.

I still can't reverse though :o
 
I passed my test in the 80s so don't need to do the trailer test but I went for towing lessons anyway, I'd really recommend it, my instructor was very good & helped me get the hang of reversing. I'm still not great at it but much better than I would have been without the training.

My OH was taught to tow by a farmer, he was driving animals around the farm when he was 12, the farmer told him to imagine his granny is in the back holding a box of eggs.

I keep that thought in mind when I'm towing.
 
Hi,

I tow on my own, I don't have a problem with hitching & unhitching... if you struggle to line the trailer up try propping a broom against the trailer so you can see the sentre line. Or a hitching mirror (I don't have one of these). I do have parking sensors on my car so I leave them on when hitching up & have learnt that once the noise is constant I can go back a certain amount further.

It's not so much the driving I worry about as the reversing and menouvering on my own with no guide to let me know whether or not I'm going to hit the gate post that I can't see ;)

I'm only legal on my license up to 3.5t so I'm doing my B+E Test, partly to have the confidence that I've spent some time with someone telling me what to do & partly so I know I'm legal with 2 horse in the back and not having to worry about whether it's tipped me over the weight limit. thoat said I wouldn't do the test if I didn't have to, they've not taught me much that isn't part of generally driving or that can't be learned from someone else who has experience and it's a lot of money.
 
Wow, you lot are amazing, thanks for all your positivity. I am going to crack on and give it a go, will be towing on private land to see how I cope with it to start with, before progressing to the roads. Its a shame as I am close to some fantastic bridleways but the mile or so I have to ride on the roads is just becoming too dangerous to risk. Its a rather drastic means to an end but the yard is so perfect for my horse in every other way I really dont want to move him. If anyone comes across a slightly older, rather flustered looking woman trying to reverse a trailer in the North Bucks area, please stop and offer a shoulder to cry on, it may well be me!!
 
Just get an empty trailer, plaster 500 L plates over it and go practise.

I took mine all over and came late to towing. Piece of cake. Bet you never, ever get stuck anywhere, as sooner or later a man with something to prove (or a love of rescuing useless women who can't reverse :P) will show up and heroically get you out of a tight spot. Like an empty corporation carpark or somewhere. Go for it and have some fun before it's too late.

I have a 7.5t lorry now and had to learn to drive THAT when I was even older!
 
Just to reassure you I had no practise before collecting my trailer from the seller. I also had no one experienced in towing to come and sit with me, so the lovely seller helped me hitch up and away I went. I was really very pleasantly surprised by how easy it was, absolutely no sweat, and I had a fairly long drive.

Parking the trailer back at the yard did result in quite a lot of swearing though!

I took the trailer out again unladen for practice and again felt happy about it so the next time I put the horse in. I was glad to have someone there to help with doing the ramps and breeching bar etc as it was my horse's first time travelling in a trailer but all went well.

The only thing I don't feel happy about is my ability to reverse the trailer, DH (who isn't road legal, he's only got a B licence) is better at it than me. But I am sure that if I take the trailer to a nice big empty car park and have a play I will get it, just not prepared to learn when I might take out a small child/pony/car/wall at the yard.
 
Go for it. I swapped from a small horsebox to a trailer two years ago - with no towing experience. I spent a couple of days practising reversing the empty trailer in a field with some cones and then I found the principles of reversing it just clicked in my head.
Hitching up on my own is no problem, sometimes takes a bit of reversing, getting out of the car, then reversing again...but I get there in the end, you just have to take it all slowly.
Sometimes I get into scrapes with it - 45 degree hill start, with horse on board and not enough power in the car to cope with the hill was the worst, but that can happen in lorries too!
You'll love the freedom it gives you - good luck x
 
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