Life and horse trailers.....kicking around options

Can't help on the practical stuff but consider realistically the suggestion of taking a manual test could mean you waiting up six months maybe more to do so given current situation. Some insurers then see you as a new driver with zero experience too (despite the evidence to the contrary) so think about that one carefully.
 
My general thoughts.

Worth dealing with. Because you may need to get her to the hospital in an emergency one day.

As a slightly grumpy person who has spent many years on livery, as a one off, I’d probably pull my trailer out for you to practice. But I would soon get quite put out* by doing it every week (which is realistically what you will need to do)

*unless there was some benefit to me.

I think if there is a fair exchange between you and trailer owner for time/effort then that is what I would do. That could be cash, or some sort of favour/labour whatever works

I’d do that before investing £££ in your own
 
ihatework said:
My general thoughts.

Worth dealing with. Because you may need to get her to the hospital in an emergency one day.

As a slightly grumpy person who has spent many years on livery, as a one off, I’d probably pull my trailer out for you to practice. But I would soon get quite put out* by doing it every week (which is realistically what you will need to do)

*unless there was some benefit to me.

I think if there is a fair exchange between you and trailer owner for time/effort then that is what I would do. That could be cash, or some sort of favour/labour whatever works

I’d do that before investing £££ in your own
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I did think of that but I feel it’s a lot to ask of people, since they wouldn’t be able to drive their car for as long as you’re faffing with trailer training.

We’ve been threatening to buy a trailer for ages but hoped we could put it off by borrowing friend’s lorry once or twice per month to go places. Obviously that’s not going to work because the horse told us she needs a f-ton of very consistent training to become a pony you can take places.
 
what I towed with would depend on the territory. We have towed a lot but always with a vehicle over capacity. We have hills and I have seen a lot struggling with under capacity towing vehicles. By that I mean what the vehicle can actually do to get you out of trouble in an emergency not what it says on the label that it can tow.

The towing vehicle I would use in say the flat lands of S Lincs would be very different to one I used for driving around hilly countryside.

Gave up the trailer for a lorry and so much happier.

ETA I would never lend a trailer unless it was to take to horse hospital and I wouldn't ask to borrow one. Too big an ask for me.
 
My local self-drive horsebox hire company will hire out their lorries on a weekly or monthly basis. Would that be an option to sort out loading for you?

I have a horse who is sticky to load if he doesn't do it regularly or dislikes the box set up - more on the return than from the yard - and he dislikes certain boxes. My friend's lurid pink box was something he self-loaded into - it is bright inside and from the cameras he certainly seemed to travel happily.
 
There are elements of loading that you can practice without a trailer. Really precise groundwork, walking over different materials, going from light to dark, working in narrow spaces, leaving alone tied up (separation anxiety can be a big problem in travel).
Although no replacement, adding a little practice in every day does help.
 
paddy555 said:
what I towed with would depend on the territory. We have towed a lot but always with a vehicle over capacity. We have hills and I have seen a lot struggling with under capacity towing vehicles. By that I mean what the vehicle can actually do to get you out of trouble in an emergency not what it says on the label that it can tow.

The towing vehicle I would use in say the flat lands of S Lincs would be very different to one I used for driving around hilly countryside.

Gave up the trailer for a lorry and so much happier.

ETA I would never lend a trailer unless it was to take to horse hospital and I wouldn't ask to borrow one. Too big an ask for me.
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That is your own “feeling” about towing not actual physics. Have you known anyone where they have had a dangerous situation up or down a hill with a trailer load within the towings vehicle registered towing capacity? That’s what we are talking about here. Not somebody towing with a ford fiesta. Not everyone can afford something that tows 2 horses with room to spare. Plenty of us use 2liter towing vehicles for one horse with no issues.
 
I had a very instructional afternoon at a local show in the pouring rain where the field entrance/exit was up a slope. Predictably it was a bog when everybody started to go home. I was in the middle of doing research for buying my own tow car so I knew the labelled tow capacity of every car I saw attempt to get themselves out and it had very little to do with it tbh. Tyres, and driving sense.

And there was a big f-ing tractor there for when someone couldn't make it anyway!
 
m1stify said:
That is your own “feeling” about towing not actual physics. Have you known anyone where they have had a dangerous situation up or down a hill with a trailer load within the towings vehicle registered towing capacity? That’s what we are talking about here. Not somebody towing with a ford fiesta. Not everyone can afford something that tows 2 horses with room to spare. Plenty of us use 2liter towing vehicles for one horse with no issues.
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Have you towed in Devon? Very steep narrow lanes up and down with difficult tricky steep angled hill starts. Plenty of people ‘just’ within the legal towing limits soon bitterly regret their choice of vehicles. That’s where I learned to drive.

Don’t know of the topography where OP is, but location sure makes a difference as to what vehicle is suitable. If in doubt, go bigger/gutsier.

TP (A level physics, albeit rather a long time ago!) and a long term tower of horse trailers on all sorts of roads (and off-road).
 
Tiddlypom said:
Have you towed in Devon? Very steep narrow lanes up and down with difficult tricky steep angled hill starts. Plenty of people ‘just’ within the legal towing limits soon bitterly regret their choice of vehicles. That’s where I learned to drive.

Don’t know of the topography where OP is, but location sure makes a difference as to what vehicle is suitable. If in doubt, go bigger/gutsier.

TP (A level physics, albeit rather a long time ago!) and a long term tower of horse trailers on all sorts of roads (and off-road).
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Degree in physics & phd here but that’s beside the point IMO. To be fair, no I haven’t towed in Devon so you win on that one :)
 
But is the vehicle underpowered if you’re under it’s stated tie limit?

The topography around us isn’t that tricky unless you want it to be. And everywhere we’d go initially has tarmac or hard standing car parks.

Trust me, I’m from a culture of buying the biggest truck you can. And a truck has been in the cards for a wee while anyway. We even test drove a couple trucks a few years ago when we thought the Mitsubishi might be written off after being rear ended, but the insurance company fixed it in the end. Had they given OH 17k to write it off, this thread wouldn’t exist, lol.

We’re just not sure a truck is a right now thing or a future thing.
 
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m1stify said:
Degree in physics & phd here but that’s beside the point IMO. To be fair, no I haven’t towed in Devon so you win on that one :)
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congrats on your superior education. I am impressed. Sadly I don't have such a high level as you in science. I do however have very many years of experience of towing horses and all sorts of other trailers on hills which for safety require a gutsy and if possible over capacity towing vehicle. That is important to me because of course the safety of my horse is paramount. I realise you may think differently on that aspect.

m1stify said:
That is your own “feeling” about towing not actual physics. Have you known anyone where they have had a dangerous situation up or down a hill with a trailer load within the towings vehicle registered towing capacity? That’s what we are talking about here. Not somebody towing with a ford fiesta. Not everyone can afford something that tows 2 horses with room to spare. Plenty of us use 2liter towing vehicles for one horse with no issues.
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it is not my own feeling it is my experience. yes I have known people get themselves into a dangerous situation on hills with inadequate vehicle pulling power. Last one took our 4wd tractor to tow them out of their difficult situation. I am talking about real life situations. I live in an area that TP describes in post 40. If you get stuck on a steep narrow corner you need the power to get out. A phd would unfortunately be of little use at that point of time. :D:D

Caol Ila said:
But is the vehicle underpowered if you’re under it’s stated tie limit?
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depends the topography. Wouldn't consider it for round here, too hilly and I wouldn't want to be wondering if I wanted to tow somewhere I didn't know and it was hilly etc Bombing up and down motorways no doubt may be fine.
 
paddy555 said:
congrats on your superior education. I am impressed. Sadly I don't have such a high level as you in science. I do however have very many years of experience of towing horses and all sorts of other trailers on hills which for safety require a gutsy and if possible over capacity towing vehicle. That is important to me because of course the safety of my horse is paramount. I realise you may think differently on that aspect.


it is not my own feeling it is my experience. yes I have known people get themselves into a dangerous situation on hills with inadequate vehicle pulling power. Last one took our 4wd tractor to tow them out of their difficult situation. I am talking about real life situations. I live in an area that TP describes in post 40. If you get stuck on a steep narrow corner you need the power to get out. A phd would unfortunately be of little use at that point of time. :D:D


depends the topography. Wouldn't consider it for round here, too hilly and I wouldn't want to be wondering if I wanted to tow somewhere I didn't know and it was hilly etc Bombing up and down motorways no doubt may be fine.
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I would never tow my horses in an unsafe method and your implication that I would is frankly ridiculous.
 
Ive had a 505 and a yeti, pulling is not the issue its stopping and controlling the rig when being overtaken on the motorway. I love the yeti but its light as 4x4 go 1550kg. 505 950kg plus a 500kg horse and gear, no thanks, it will push the car down the hill.
Old volvo s60 1600kg, 401 is 770kg, 500kg horse bit more to play with.
There are 401s and chevals still about.
4x4 Truck would be lovely but the eyewatering cost of running and repairing them made me bankrupt. 25mpg, £300+ tax and now diesel is expected to skyrocket in the next few months to levels we have not seen before.
You could trade yeti for newer Kodiak with is heavier, bigger, and could solve LEZ....
 
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angel7 said:
Ive had a 505 and a yeti, pulling is not the issue its stopping and controlling the rig when being overtaken on the motorway. I love the yeti but its light as 4x4 go 1550kg. 505 950kg plus a 500kg horse and gear, no thanks, it will push the car down the hill.
Old volvo s60 1600kg, 401 is 770kg, 500kg horse bit more to play with.
There are 401s and chevals still about.
4x4 Truck would be lovely but the eyewatering cost of running and repairing them made me bankrupt. 25mpg, £300+ tax and now diesel is expected to skyrocket in the next few months to levels we have not seen before.
You could trade yeti for newer Kodiak with is heavier, bigger, and could solve LEZ....
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The OPS yeti is certified to tow 2.1T not 1550kg so you are not comparing like with like here.

The irony is that if anyone saw the OP put towing with the PHEV outlander no one (unless you knew the tow capacity) would bat an eyelid as it is a bigger car than the yeti. Yet has 1/2 ton less towing capacity!
 
This is where paper and real life do not match. The volvo is also certified to tow 2 tonnes, but towing ANYTHING much heavier than the tow vehicle is not a great idea especially if not 4x4.
A ford fiesta is certified to tow 1100kg, no one in their right mind would hook it up to a 505 and put a shetland in it.
I'm giving real life experience of towing with a variety of trucks, cars and 4x4s across the country.
The op wants options, I've given some affordable ones which can be sold/exchanged/ swapped easily if pony hates it without loosing a fortune.
 
I have a Freelander which can tow 2T. It has towed a lightweight Fautras trailer very happily for years. Ponies love the trailer - loading practice never took long even with first timers and they travelled well.

Fuel economy is better on the 3.5T we have just bought (car is 20 years old and dying) but for occasional use with a car that isn’t on its last legs I would definitely recommend a lighter trailer and a towbar on your car.
 
We have a Volvo xc60, petrol, and it tows an Ifor 505 (975 kg) plus one 500kg horse very nicely, also up (and down) some quite steep hills. I would definitely not put two horses in it, though.
 
A Fautras single or mare & foal trailer may be a good shout if you were able to find one (I think they’re rare enough if you’re not looking for something specific) as think they tend to be very lightweight and they have double doors and a step up rather than a rear ramp which might suit you if you’d prefer not to have a ramp? (Saw one years ago at a TREC comp, got chatting to the owner as was intrigued and really liked the design of it but I don’t have a towing license (or a tow car!) so I’ve stuck to 3.5 ton boxes.
 
Yeah, super rare trailers aren't exactly in the cards. I do like those Fautras ones, though. Some are herring bone loading and step ups.
 
Just think about the training set up, probably better to try loading with the trailer attached to a suitable vehicle, for stability, not just a parked trailer on stands, less likely to be wobbly or move while loading

Never had one but mazda cx5 has a tow capacity of 2. T, the ifor single mare and foal is wider than half a 506 double I believe

If she looks like getting worse than better or panicky there are people who train horses to load, and very good they are, well I used one 1 time, we had a mare odd about loading then her daughter then her grandson, everyone else was fine
 
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Caol Ila said:
Yeah, super rare trailers aren't exactly in the cards. I do like those Fautras ones, though. Some are herring bone loading and step ups.
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Ours is step up, two horse, really light but stable. For sale soon but the literal other end of the country so no use to you!
 
Cant advise re trailers but about loading and travelling i can. Load and give tasty bucket of caff,alfalfa,carrots. Unload. Do many times. Then travel a little way unload give tasty bucket reload go home and turn out. This way the horse doesnt associate the traler with work but with buckets. I had one ghat rushed to the trsiler and loaded easily, because the trailer akways took her to new grazing and nothing else. She soon realised it was a good ting.
 
I dont know anything about your car but I have a BMW X3 with a 2000kg towing capacity and a ifor williams 505 and it easily takes my 600kg horses. most of the time I dont even feel that the trailer is attached
 
There is a big difference between what a vehicle is rated to pull and what it can safely pull.

The Caravan Club advice is that you inexperienced towers should never tow more than 85% their vehicles kerb weight, experienced preferably less than 90% and never more than 100%. This is due to the increasing risk of the trailer snaking and causing the vehicle to lose control. Also known as the tail wagging the dog. Personally I would never drive a car/trailer combo where trailer exceeded 85% kerb weight of car due to 1) relative instability of the load, horses can and do move and lean their weight during travel and this does affect handling 2) preciousness of cargo. I am a very experienced driver and tower with many, many advanced driving and towing courses under my belt. I am not arrogant enough to believe I can out skill basic physics!

A vehicle rated towing capacity relates to what it can pull without damage to the vehicle, not what it can safely pull in real world conditions!

OP Google suggests your Yeti kerb weight is 1420-1560kg depending on trim level. Your vehicle handbook should tell you exactly. Depending on the weight of your horse with a light weight trailer it may well be careful to keep within 85% of this. I have happily and safely towed single horses behind Mondeo estates and similar before, but check your weights carefully. You should be aiming to stay under 1200-1300kg laden trailer weight. Pack heavy loads like water etc in your car preferably in front of the rear wheels (tow bar weight is also relevant but this post is already very long)

As someone who has experienced a full on trailer snaking after being caught by an unexpected gust of wind from just the wrong angle it's not something I ever want to experience again. It took me a both carriageways and the hard shoulder to ride it out until I was able to catch it and I was fortunate it had occurred during a break in heavy traffic. The combination was appropriately weighted, my speed was moderate, it wasn't particularly windy, turned a corner to a very exposed bit of road just at the wrong moment. It was very unlucky. Because I knew what to do and had the space to ride it out the trailer did not jack knife the car and overturn but I also accept I was as lucky with that as I was unlucky with the conditions that caused it. Thankfully horses were uninjured after their brief trip on the waltzers.

Edited to correct some funky spacing in the post and clarify the difference between a vehicles rated towing weight and what it can safely pull in the real world.
 
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