Nervous Wreck Towing - anyone else?

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

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I tow very regularly - often once or twice a week, especially in school holidays for PC but I am so nervous towing it almost makes me feel sick.

I just don't know why this is (although I was once a passenger in a horsebox where all three horses went down and I had to stand on the fetlock of one horse to flatten it so we could get the partition off her) but that was donkeys years ago.

I am always terrified that the horse/pony is going to go down, put a foot through the floor (we have a brand new floor to the trailer), crash, anything! I barely ever go over 30mph I feel every bump and constantly have my daughter looking into the window to make sure she can see a face.

How can I get over my nerves of towing and does anyone else suffer this?
 
Are there no training facilities near you so you could get some expert help ? also if you fit a camera inside the trailer and have the screen mounted on the dashboard you dont need to keep having someone look round all the time , I diddnt mind towing , just diddnt like hitching up and reversing !
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I didn't know there were such things as training facilities for towing - but then I passed my test a long time before you had to take a trailer test.

To be honest I could probably reverse a trailer through a set of bending poles - I find that aspect very easy - its the actual journey thats gets me panicky!
 
Sorry I cant offer any advice but just want to say you are not alone. I used to take my old horse everywhere on my own, never batted an eyelid, then my last horse was a bad traveller and scared me to death. Im now a nervous passenger, driver and owner. I cringe on every bend, listen for any move and only breathe once we are safely home. Its stupid I know but I just cant seem to get over it. I annoy myself with so many 'what ifs'
 
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I cringe on every bend, listen for any move and only breathe once we are safely home. Its stupid I know but I just cant seem to get over it. I annoy myself with so many 'what ifs'

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Yes - thats exactly how I feel
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This is so so selfish and I cant believe Im admitting to this
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but Im no where near as bad when its not my horse in the back. Thats awful I know. (hangs head in shame!!)
 
I was a nervous wreck, but seem to have got over the worst now. I only worry now about longer journeys to places I havent' been before. I need a good supply of fags though, I find I tend to chain smoke whilst towing the ponies. I simply WILL NOT do motorways, I did it once on a weekday and nearly frightened myself to death when the lorries overtook me and "swooshed" me as they went past. I was doing a good 55-60 at the time, so it wasn't like I was crawling along. I only go above 30 when I'm on a decent A road, otherwise I'm another vicar's aunt driver. I need to take the ponies up to Sparsholt for the day in the Easter Holidays, I'm already worrying about that. It's a good hour away with quite a few hills to climb and I'll have to go on the back roads.

Would it help you if you did a journey with the trailer empty, or is it just the responsibility of having the much loved cargo in the trailer that stresses you so much?
 
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You are definately not alone being terrified of towing. I hate it so much that I have a box.

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That's my solution too!
 
No, you are not alone. I wasnt exactly a nervous wreck, but always anxious and 'what if'
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I was also ok if it was someone elses horses I was towing. On one particular journey the trailer began to snake a little which put the fear of God in me. Solution - went and bought a lorry pdq and havnt looked back
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Definitely not alone. I had a trailer accident about 15 years ago and it took me until last November to even contemplate towing again. I bought a trailer, towed it home empty, parked it up and only moved it last week when I moved yards (empty again - I hired a horsebox to move the horses rather than put them in the trailer). I'm now part-xing the trailer for a 3.5t box. Even towing it empty terrified me and brought back all sorts of bad memories.

But if you have no choice but to tow I would go on a course. Most commercial vehicle driving schools (LGV/HGV) also now do towing courses for people who need to pass the test to be allowed to tow. You don't need to do the test but doing the course might help your confidence.

If you're in the North West Myerscough do a trailer maneuvering course that I nearly went on.
 
Can't offer any advice but I am another one who really does not enjoy towing. Murph is not a good traveller and I too constantly have my daughter checking she can see him through the back window of the car. Its very rarely I will go above 35-40 (has to be dual carriageway or similar) and I do feel guilty if I get cars behind me and try and let them past if I can. If its a longer journey than about half an hour or into unknown territory I try and get my ex to do the driving, otherwise I spend all day worrying about journey home
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Would love a lorry, as would Murph but can't afford one I'm afraid.
 
No, you're not alone F! Have to say, it would be my nightmare to tow around Exmoor anyway with those high banks and very often nil visibility around bends there!

I must admit I don't get the chance to tow very often, OH always wants to do it himself - don't think he trusts me!
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but I still hate using a trailer full stop even though the horses travel well and all that; I have exactly the same symptoms of sweaty palms and panic attacks even though he is an excellent trailer driver; his knee has been black and blue before now when we come to roundabouts and junctions, poor man!
I would so love a wagon, just a small one but I can't justify it, we don't do enough; in fact the trailer hasn't moved since last summer until we took mare to stud last week and not likely to again until my mares go to be recovered so I will just have to grin and bare it even though I don't like it!
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How long have you felt like this?
If its been a while, I would seriously recommend some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, if it is still as bad after 12 months or so. I used to be paranoid about having a double blowout in my wagon, and used to carry 4 spare wheels
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I would also be a bit concerned that you might pass your nerves onto your daughter.
Ps. there is nothing wrong with going slowly, dont worry about that.
 
QR - Phew, you have all made me feel so much better!!

I would love a little lorry - but unfortunately, unless some unknown, long lost relative dies and leaves me all the money - theres little chance!!
 
Hi F

I'm the same too. To me they just seem so vulnerable in there!! I prefer the trailer round here to a lorry because I have an automatic...I couldn't bear being stuck on one of the hills round here waiting to do a hill start in a manual!!!
 
The secret is time on the road, practise by loading your horsebox with rubble about a ton and half. practise coming of the gas well before using progressive braking, do all of your braking and gear changing whilst the vehicles in a straight line. keep both hands on steering wheel .Get into the habit of aways walking around your trailer and checking wheel nuts, tyres, coupling,etc. If you understand how your trailer works,ie; overrun braking and when your brakes need adjusting then you will start to feel more confident when towing. The trouble with practising is it takes time and cost money .
 
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