Rear facing horseboxes

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FinkleyAlex

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I have a show booked at the end of the month, about 30 mins drive away from the yard. I don't have my own transport as can't afford a lorry and pony won't travel in a trailer (tried it once and he was leaning on the particions as he went around corners, it was driven by a slow experienced driver and it seems he was just not happy either in the trailer or forward facing) Either way he went from being self-loading to taking about 15 mins to get onto the lorry when we started going out and about. Over two years he's gone back to his self loading self (whilst being travelled in side facing lorry) but we've been quoted £200 just to rent one for one day!

We've found some companies that hire out the small 3.5 lorries but they are rear facing. I've heard that a lot of horses travel better when facing backwards, does anyone have experience of these? Or does anyone own a horse that can't travel forwards but is ok backwards? It would only cost me £99 to rent one out and my dad can drive it as its only small (he would practice first) Do you think its a good idea?
 
I have exactly the same problem with trailer travel. Mine doesn't stand with his feet apart, so when you go round a corner he leans and falls, scrabbles up the sides.

I'll say two things, horses like this are meant to travel ok in trailer if you remove the partition, this way they can position themselves how they like. However, I decided against trying it because I don't really want to put him in a trailer again, stress I can do without.

Second, I rented a Renault Master from a company advertised in a local equi ads, he travelled backwards in that, and there was a window from drivers to horse area, so I could keep an eye on him. It was the most amazing piece of transport! He didn't move an inch, was so relaxed, stood in there happy as larry, not a bead of sweat to be seen.

The point being...I cannot recomend one enough, it was definately worth the hire money!
 
i have used a rear facing one quite a few times and they do seem to really like it and mine have been really settled in it.
a bit odd for them when u ask them to go in though but sure he will b fine
 
I'm having the same problem with my mare that I have always travelled without a partition in an Ifor Williams. She throws herself against the sides and scrabbles badly and really does do some damage to herself so hence we took out the partition and she was fine.
We then needed to travel two so we tried an Equitrek and she travelled really well - backward facing so we bought one. Travelled fine the first time but the second time she did the same again, We have a camera now so I can see exactly what is going on. I am now looking again into getting her pelvis looked at just to be on the safe side as she is worst when we turn right than left. She is always driven very carefully too.
Like I said though, without a partition she is fine.
confused.gif
 
Thanks guys, I think I will give it a go! I didn't want to risk travelling him in a trailer without a partition as he came out dripping in sweat last time and became so scared of loading and only recently has he started walking onto lorries first time round, I'd hate to undo that. I think most of the lorries for hire have a camera so I can spy on him and actually see what he's doing. Must be quite weird travelling backwards, I feel quite ill going backwards on the train!
 
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I didn't want to risk travelling him in a trailer without a partition

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Thats kind of how I feel, everyone says try without a partition, but mine is still so honest (or possibly stupid!) that he'll walk straight onto a trailer, even with the bad experiences...I can't justify potentially putting him through it just so I can go to a show. His well being is more important to me.
 
One of my horses won't travel in a trailer but he loves my rear facing 3.5ter box. It took him about half an hour when I first got it to figure out that he had to stand facing backwards - he'd go halfway in then get confused and back out, but he was used to a sideways traveling 7.5ter before that. Now he loads happily and I can back up the fact that horses travel best facing backwards.
 
When we travelled mares and foals loose the mare always without fail put herself in the drivers corner and faced backwards, so I think you will find your horse is fine.
The new type of small boxes seem so steady and quiet few horses object to them.
 
Sounds like a good idea. One of my eventers travels very badly, he completed killed my 3 horse herringbone lorry. In the end we bought a rear facing lorry, 7.5t and he travels much much better in it, still not perfect but at least we can get to places. All the others travel well in it also. What I really like is that you don't always have control over how hard you have to brake, like when people pull out in front of you etc, and with the horses rear facing they just do not move.
 
Rear facing are great, use them all the time and I think they are more comfortable as horses can use their front feet to brace themselves. Also love the side loading as well.
 
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