Rear unload trailers

[throwaway2022]

Just wondering who's had one and whether you'd do it again? I'm on a limited budget and a bargain has come up from a friend of a friend. We only have an 11.2 sec A who's great loading and travelling...I do have a yearling Highland too who is horrendous to load but he's turned out and probably won't be brought in 'til he's three so he's not much of a consideration, although I guess he'd potentially use it for a vet emergency.

I keep going back and forth on what to do. Going to view it later and don't want to waste their time. It's an older double Cheval Liberte btw if that has any bearing.

 

[eggs]

In my experience most horses adapt to rear unload easily. You just need to make sure they don't step off the side of the ramp when backing out.

In fact some horses seem to prefer if as it can be quite a tight turn in a front unload trailer.

 

[Tarragon]

I have a Cheval Liberte trailer and prefer to rear unload. I don't see it is a problem.

 

[tda]

My first , very old rice trailer was rear unload only, so when i got an Ifor Williams trailer with front and back load, i hardly ever use the front, its a tight turn for a chunky dales pony to exit front so we mainly go out the back.

 

[Peglo]

I get picked up by a friend and when we get dropped off it’s easier to rear unload. She manages it no bother.

 

[phizz4]

Our Bockmann trailer is rear unload only and we have had no issues in over 157years. As Eggs says, just be careful they don't walk off the side. It helps if you have two people, on on the head collar and one standing at the side of the ramp but if there is only one of you just use a long lead rope looped around the front breast bar. It depends on how quickly they try to reverse out. My mare has learnt to back out so far and then turn round on the ramp. (Bockmann's are pretty wide and she's only 14.3).

 

[Akkalia1]

I have a front unload trailer, but my mare panics and bolts out the front so I just unload out the back. Once she worked out to go straight she's not a problem coming out this way at all and I don't find it an irritation.

 

[Tarragon]

Our Bockmann trailer is rear unload only and we have had no issues in over 157 years

I am seriously impressed with the quality of that trailer!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I have a front unload trailer, but my mare panics and bolts out the front so I just unload out the back. Once she worked out to go straight she's not a problem coming out this way at all and I don't find it an irritation.

My horse is exactly the same!! I have a front unload but never use the front ramp. If you travel pony without partition you could turn him around and walk forwards down the ramp!!

 

[scruffyponies]

It's worth having a rear unload trailer just to teach your horse to back up in a straight line. Might be useful some day.

 

[throwaway2022]

Well I’ve bought it, thanks everyone!!!

 

[Identityincrisis]

As an aside, when i had Richard maxwell out to my non loader, even though my trailer was a front unload, he taught him to unload backwards and that's how i continued

 

[Shoei]

I never use my front ramp!!! Horses are generally much more sensible reversing out and after one landed on my leg, I decided backwards was the name of the game for me!

 

[phizz4]

Our Bockmann trailer is rear unload only and we have had no issues in over 157years. As Eggs says, just be careful they don't walk off the side. It helps if you have two people, on on the head collar and one standing at the side of the ramp but if there is only one of you just use a long lead rope looped around the front breast bar. It depends on how quickly they try to reverse out. My mare has learnt to back out so far and then turn round on the ramp. (Bockmann's are pretty wide and she's only 14.3).

That should have been 17 years! Fumble fingers.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Though I use a IW505 I had an old Rice trailer which was rear unload only for years. I still make sure they know reverse as there maybe an occasion when that's the only option. Ones that rush forwards are dangerous with a front unload. Time spent practicing is never wasted!!

 

[MagicMelon]

I guess you just adapt accordingly, personally Id never buy a rear unload but thats because I dont want my horses thinking they can reverse, that the only way is forward, as I feel it makes for a better loading process if they can be difficult. I much prefer front unloading, I just undo the front partition section and swing it over so they have more room to come out the front and its not tight.

 

[limestonelil]

We had the loan of an old Rice trailer, just rear unloading and managed fine with all the ponies. Also used the cattle trailer at times, just fine.
Practice with your little Highland and they'll probably cope brilliantly.

 

[Fruitcake]

Though I use a IW505 I had an old Rice trailer which was rear unload only for years. I still make sure they know reverse as there maybe an occasion when that's the only option. Ones that rush forwards are dangerous with a front unload. Time spent practicing is never wasted!!

Yes. I'm notoriously rough with things and have twice managed to snap the catch on the top of the front door of my IW trailer! - Once with the horse in so it was a good job he's OK with reversing or he would've been in there a long time. ?

 

[Red-1]

I had a rear unload only and they soon learned to back out. They never tried to back out uninvited, once they had learned what to do.

Some front unload trainers are more difficult to use, IMO. I did like my newer one with a front unload as it was easier to get one off and not the other, as long as the horse didn't mind the tight squeeze round the corner.

Congratulations on your new transport.

 

[COldNag]

Our first trailer was rear unload- never had any issues and we travelled a fair few ponies in it.

Enjoy your purchase ?

 

[JustMe22]

I don't know anyone who has a front unload one (I'm in South Africa and we're not fancy here!) and all of mine have loaded and unloaded with no issues at all. I stand on the side of the ramp and put my hand against their hindquarters as they come out to make sure they don't step sideways off the ramp but that's about it.

 

[sunnyone]

I guess you just adapt accordingly, personally Id never buy a rear unload but thats because I dont want my horses thinking they can reverse, that the only way is forward./QUOTE]

An interesting thought. When we took our horses to Spain for 6 months the locals considered our horses to be lacking in education because we rode straight into the school. The Spanish take 3 or 4 steps backwards at the entrance to show the horse is obeying commands, then walk in behind any other horse in the school at the time.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Just refreshing this thread.
Has anyone had a horse start to back up when loading if you're using a rear unload ? That's my only worry really.

And what about the top of the rear ramp often being made of canvas in these trailers- do these flap if it's windy ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

The trailer would be a very old one to have canvas. The canvas rolls up and is strapped up so it doesn't blow about. You will have the rear bar to help stop the horse backing out. I untie my boy, go round the back, lower the ramp, undo back bar, go to his head and slowly back him out. You could put a bucket of feed at the front whilst you undo the back.

 

[Sossigpoker]

The trailer would be a very old one to have canvas. The canvas rolls up and is strapped up so it doesn't blow about. You will have the rear bar to help stop the horse backing out. I untie my boy, go round the back, lower the ramp, undo back bar, go to his head and slowly back him out. You could put a bucket of feed at the front whilst you undo the back.

I think the new Bockmann and Bateson trailers have some form of canvas at the back (rather than top panels like in ifor williams). When they're down /closed and it's windy,.that's when I wondered if they flap.
Thanks for the info on how your unload - I've never used a rear unload so it feels a bit strange to me.

 

[blitznbobs]

I always reverse horses out of a trailer if I have the choice… i think its loads safer for the handler and leads to less horse panicking

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I think the new Bockmann and Bateson trailers have some form of canvas at the back (rather than top panels like in ifor williams). When they're down /closed and it's windy,.that's when I wondered if they flap.
Thanks for the info on how your unload - I've never used a rear unload so it feels a bit strange to me.

Didn't realise newer trailers had the canvas. I've had one old one with canvas and it was never an issue. My boy bolts out forwards, down the front ramp, but backs out slowly. It did take time to get it just right and now we have our routine it's really easy.

 

[Red-1]

I think the new Bockmann and Bateson trailers have some form of canvas at the back (rather than top panels like in ifor williams). When they're down /closed and it's windy,.that's when I wondered if they flap.
Thanks for the info on how your unload - I've never used a rear unload so it feels a bit strange to me.

Mine had canvas, it was for use when the trailer was not in use, to keep the rain out when parked up for weeks...

I never used it down when the horses were in. If it rained, they risked wet bums! Being as the trailer generally travels forwards, there wasn't much rain got inside when travelling. When parked up, I would park into the wind, so again not much water would get in.

I prefer the ventilation with the back doors open anyway.

The reversing in control depends on training. But then, some horses with front unloads will still shoot backwards if they are not good loaders. It's just the same, the training teaches the horse what is required and how to act.

 

[Auslander]

I think the new Bockmann and Bateson trailers have some form of canvas at the back (rather than top panels like in ifor williams). When they're down /closed and it's windy,.that's when I wondered if they flap.
Thanks for the info on how your unload - I've never used a rear unload so it feels a bit strange to me.

They do - the curtain on our Bockman is soem sort of coated canvas, I think. It doesn't flap or rustle.

Ours unload backwards just fine. I usually let them unload themselves once they've done it a few times, and catch them as they come down the ramp

 

[Steerpike]

The new cheap have like a small netting on the back, they don't flap around, they are ties down with 3 rubber straps and sit behind a strip of the trailer so they can't get caught by the wind