RICE TRAILER... QUESTIONS - PHOTOS TOO !

[JULESMGARNER]

I’ve just bought this Rice Beaufort trailer secondhand. Besides needing a good paint job, it has had new ramps, tyres, electrics, lights, chassis all in superb working order and has been thoroughly checked over and serviced and I’ve just had a new floor put in and bought some rubber mats. However it came without the usual standard Rice partition but instead a metal frame that the seller’s OH had constructed as there was no partition. He’s made a pretty good job and it even swivels too ! My very sweet OH has covered a lot of the metal – as you can see lol! - with spongy padding as the metal looked a bit stark and unforgiving and I was concerned there was no padding at all in the trailer.






Questions…

1. Will this partition be OK or should it be a solid partition right to the floor ?
2. Or could just the top part be solid ?
3. If it should be a solid partition to the floor, should the top part of this be padded ?
4. Also, should the side walls be padded ?

OH said could make a solid partition if needs be with marine ply but I wondered if it was necessary ? If padding is needed (either for partition or side walls) anyone know where I can get it from or what I could use? Have googled and can’t seem to find any info. Other option is to rip entire thing out and put proper Rice partition in but don’t know where I’d get one and could be costly.

The guy at the trailer centre (who serviced it for us and put in new floor) thought it was very tidy trailer and fine as it was, said that the brand new Ifors didn’t have any padding on the side walls and thought that without a solid partition the trailer looked more open and less claustrophobic. He also thought that without a solid partition, the horse(s) would be able to spread their hindlegs further apart helping them to balance better.

I was particularly interested in this as my lad is an unsteady traveller. He’s very chilled and doesn’t mind the trailer, just seems to have difficulty balancing and I’d heard that the more space they have to spread their legs the easier it is to balance.

Grateful for any advice as am about to start going out and about with my horse which is nerve wracking enough and just want to be safe. Sorry this post is so long

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

I would attach heavy rubber to dangle down to within 3" of the floor to protect the horses from each other- most trailers/lorries have partitions like that. IMO solid partitions to the floor can unsettle nervous horses as they feel trapped and unable to spread their legs.

 

[Solveig]

To be honest you should try travelling him without any partition if he needs to spread his legs to balance . My last mare had terrible problems - once we removed the partition she was able to stand no problem at all.

 

[Storminateacup]

My OH cut down the partition in our old Rice box and put heavy rubber sheet at the bottom so that my horse can spread his legs out. My horse is much happier in the box now, so I would have to say the full length ones do appear to cause anxiety.

 

[SnowandSunshine]

I did the same as katenjack. Have an old Bahill which had a full ply partition to the floor. It was really heavy and I found my horses couldn't spread their legs for balance. Our trailer man cut the bottom half of the ply out and left fittings for a rubber skirt. We never got round to putting the rubber on as I rarely have two in it.

If you're only travelling one I'd imagine what you have will be fine. The worry with two in is that they can stand on each others feet. Certainly wouldn't put a solid partition to the floor though. You can get the rubber skirting fairly cheaply from trailer suppliers.

 

[Louby]

I would definately cover the partition (top half) as I think its dangerous as it is. Horses do the most stupid things and Im visualising a leg through the gaps in the partition ... sorry. Wouldnt worry about padding at all. If you are only travelling one horse then Id take it out and put a full width breast bar in its place.