Ramp straps, on 3.5 ton lorries, who uses them?

ElleSkywalkingintheair

ElleSkywalkingintheair

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For the purposes of this thread let's assume that the payload allows two ponies legally etc.

So who uses the ramp straps on side loading 3.5 tonners? Do they work to stop horses swinging bums onto ramps when putting ramp up or more just a mental guide thingy for people?

Curious as never actually seen anyone use one :)
 
I had one fitted to mine and use it at events - it means I can have the ramp down and more air circulating on a warm day but still a gentle reminder to the horse to stay in the space and not turn their rear end down on to the ramp. I suppose it depends on the horse- mine are calm and stand quietly. I wouldn’t use one with all horses.
 
I really don’t like the straps, my friends Marlborough has them and when Boggle goes with her he’s always on the outside as he loads fab, but I never use the straps as I just feel they look like an accident waiting to happen. Would get loading gates instead if needed :)
 
I use the ramp strap on my 3.5 tonne. I don't suppose it would stop a stray hoof on the ramp, but it is a visual guide to the horse to remain in the box, and it would give me a second or two to take action if all hell broke loose.

Mine is also covered in thick insulation foam, so is a comfy bolster cushion against the ramp when the ramp is up.

At shows I leave the ramp up when the box is unattended, and the back door open so their is a lot of ventilation (longstall box so no breast bar and safe with the back door open). If I am around I will leave the ramp down too, and I have the ramp down when tacking up in the box.

Mine is a one off design though, it is 4' wide stall and the front of that opens up more too so it is very spacious for tacking up, and even with the back open all valuables are locked separately away.
 
Friend of mine has a small solid arm rather than a strap. It's better than something really flimsy but IMO it's a bit annoying how far it sticks out when you open it. some examples here http://www.edquine.com/gallery.php (not recommending the company but they have a few different designs). If I was able to travel 2 on mine I would have loading gates.
 
I have a ramp strap that is designed like a stable guard - it's about 1.5 feet wide and well secured with quick release snaps in case of accident. It makes travelling two on my own a lot easier esp when I first got the box and they didn't quite understand the sideways standing thing. It's a visual guide and prevents leading directly on the ramp. I wouldn't recommend it for difficult loaders or confused ponies ...
 
MissTyc said:
I have a ramp strap that is designed like a stable guard - it's about 1.5 feet wide and well secured with quick release snaps in case of accident. It makes travelling two on my own a lot easier esp when I first got the box and they didn't quite understand the sideways standing thing. It's a visual guide and prevents leading directly on the ramp. I wouldn't recommend it for difficult loaders or confused ponies ...
Click to expand...

I would have preferred this arrangement, and in fact have 2 sets of rings on the body of the box so I *could* change to a stall guard type one. I have not as the 4 horses I have travelled have all respected the single strap, so it has not proved necessary.

I could have had stall doors type, but it was as much about them taking inches into the travel space as anything. The strap with the huge padding is actually thicker, but not a foot level and I think horses travel better when they can spread their feet.

I think your arrangement may be the best of both worlds, especially as with the low 3.5 tonne boxes you don't really need loading gates to prevent horses going off the side of the ramp.
 
mine had gates and I prefer them to a strap I have recently hired a few 3.5 ton vehicles and they either had a strap or nothing which I cant seem to get my head around so I would always opt for gates I just think they are safer.
 
I suppose it's more for the 2nd horse that gets loaded and there isn't anything to stop them trying to get off before you've got the door up? I tend to go out solo these days so haven't had this issue. Mine doesn't have a strap. When I loaded 2 I made sure someone was with the 2nd keeping him distracted with food but I can see how that would be difficult for trickier horses.
 
The strap was std for my box when it was built, but I wouldn't have it and got them to make up small doors for me.
These lift off when I remove the top bolts, so mostly are lodged in the hay barn, but it doesn't take more than 5 mins to get them out and fixed back into box. They are set at small pony height and add 34kg to weight.
 
I've got a chain rather than a strap, more as a deterrent to stop anything trying to escape than anything else. Tbh I very rarely travel 2 horses so its actual usefulness is questionable I guess, although having hired a box to take 2 horses that had nothing at all on the ramp side I did find the horse on that side tried to barge out as soon as the ramp was open despite still being tied up so I guess it's helpful to have it there as an extra barrier whilst getting the ramp down as I haven't had this happen when I have taken 2 on mine. I never leave it with a horse stood on with the ramp down anyway (if I did then I probably would want something similar to the arms milliepops linked to). Just to add my ramp is split rather than in 1 piece so I can open the top door without opening the bottom if I'm going to have a horse stood on for a bit which I guess is similar to dropping the ramp but having the loading gates closed.
 
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