Rice pony trailer

Leo Walker

Leo Walker

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 July 2013
Messages
12,384
Location
Northampton
Visit site
I'm looking for a cheap trailer to tide me over for 6 months to a year and someone nearby has one of these. Does anyone know what the headroom in this is? Will it be suitable for a 14.2hh? And any idea what they weigh?
 
I have an old Rice trailer which I use for my forest stock. It's a solid lump! Would be fine for a 14.2hh, I used to take my old boy out in it all the time. They are heavy though, no idea what they weigh, sorry no help there.
 
Is yours the pony version PF? Weights not really important as I'll need a big pickup or van to put the carriage in anyway. I was just curious as its advertised as lightweight which didnt seem right to me. The ones I've seen are big heavy things.
 
Sorry I failed to read the title properly, *smacks wrist*!

Mine isn't a pony one. I haven't seen a lightweight Rice around for a long time, mostly older ones with wooden floors.
 
The best thing is to measure the headroom but AFAIK the smallest Rice trailers were well up to a 14.2hh. 7'0 would be more than adequate. They are heavy but with only one 14.2hh and a reasonable towing vehicle it should be fine. The weight of the trailer should be detailed somewhere on the trailer. Either on the inside of the jockey door on a plate somewhere. it depends on the age. If you can find the name e.g. Beaufort, hunter you could get the info you need. The bottom line is that the brakes must work, tyres ok and the floor must be sound. I love the Rice trailers and sad they went out of business.
 
Leo Walker said:
Is yours the pony version PF? Weights not really important as I'll need a big pickup or van to put the carriage in anyway. I was just curious as its advertised as lightweight which didnt seem right to me. The ones I've seen are big heavy things.
Click to expand...

There was a lightweight Beaufort, front unload, which was lower headroom than standard. I had one but cant remember the headroom. It wasn't enough for 16.2hh. I am trying to remember but i think the head room was 6 ft rather than the standard 6'6. It was a Beaufort supreme I think. They are heavier than the Ifors but it makes them less easy to steal! And they tow really well. I tried both standing in the trailer and it was really amazing. There was no contest and I bought a Rice. The more modern ones had smaller tyres and fibreglass ( or something similar) floors.
 
Its this one:

21314447_10155055706983667_4241355704352958136_n.jpg
 
There was indeed a flat front Rice pony trailer back in the day, similar to the one in the pic. I had a Rice Eventer, which was similar but slightly bigger, to take 2 x lightweight 16hh, great trailer.

What's the headroom? Was I think 7' in the Eventer, you could lose a small amount of height for a 14.2hh but not too much, I reckon.

ETA IIRC the Eventer weighed just over 600kg, to give you an idea of weights.
 
Last edited:
You'll be OK for headroom in a pony trailer but my 14.1hh chunky traditional only just fitted in one side - width and length. When he inevitably poo'd it would smear everywhere because he didn't have room to lift his tail properly. Not good as I used to take him showing!!!
 
No idea what the headroom is. Trying to get information or arrange to view is slow going! The plan would be to travel him solo with full length bars or possibly with the partition in but moved right over so hes has more room. Hes very short backed and compact length ways and hes probably wider than he is tall so could maybe work for him
 
For a little bit extra, you could get a rice Europa, mine was £500. Front unload, weighs under 700kg unladen, will take two up to 16hands.
I use mine for pony hops, but its the most useful £500 I have ever spent, as we use it for shifting furniture, sheep shed...
 
I have a found a little 3.5ton to maybe go an view as well now. I'd rather have a second car and trailer I think, but the idea of a little lorry is very appealing!
 
I used to have a Rice Junior Foxhunter about 20 years ago which is I think the one you mean. It would probably be OK for one but not two. I had to take the partition out to get a tubby Exmoor in!
 
Change of plan! I properly lucked out and a friend has sold me her old Bahill. Its huge and incredibly light. It needs a service and I'm going to have the floor lifted and checked, then replaced if necessary. I paid pennies for it so there is plenty of money in the budget for anything I want doing :biggrin3: Not looking forward to stripping and painting it mind and I'm hoping I can stretch to having it professionally resprayed to save me a horrible weekend of work! :lol:

I'm off to view a disco tomorrow so hopefully I'll have something nice and meaty to pull it with soon and then there will be no stopping us! :biggrin3:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top