Single Breast bar question

skint1

skint1

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2010
Messages
5,345
Visit site
Is anyone aware of any dangers of taking a partition out of a 2 horse trailer and using a single breast bar instead?

I ask because our mare has terrible trouble keeping her balance in the trailer and is (understandably) reluctant to travel in it, but she travels much better in a lorry (herringbone style) A lot of people recommend them for horses who do not balance well in a partitioned trailer.

I have a friend who will let me borrow one to try it out but I am afraid of 2 things

1. She will just fall right down in the trailer because she won't have the partition to support her

2. She will freak out and start kicking it to peices and flip the trailer over and take the car with it, she does kick a bit in the trailer but not in a freak out kind of way (kicked the plastic cover off my indicator bulb last week) but of course if she is not so confined she will have more room to kick.

So, am I being a tad over-dramatic (it's been known) or are these real risks? Here is a pic of the trailer and my towing vehicle, both are regularly maintained
showday3.jpg
 
I always use a single breast bar if I'm only travelling one. If you cross tie the horse so they can't turn round its fine.

I find they always travel far better when they have the whole space of the trailer to move about in and get comfortable. The horse seems far happier because they aren't wedged in. They can balance themselves a lot better with more space. Def. give it a try.
 
I travel my mare in a double trailer with the partitions out and a full breast bar in all the time and have done for years, she used to travel with no problems with the partitions in until about 4 years ago when she very suddenly decided she couldn't balance - I have absolutely no idea why as nothing except her age had changed!!! she travels beautifully without the partitions and I just cross tie her - interestingly she will travel in the trailer with the partition in IF she has a companion - horses!!!!!xx
 
I travel with a single breast bar, with horse cross tied fairly short.

I notice that she tends to move her back end, leaning on each side for a time, before swinging her quarters over to the other side.

She seems much happier with a bigger space and the trailer is not unstable with her having that bit more movement.

And, in answer to your question, yes, I think you may be a little over dramatic :p:D.
 
Charlie always travels with no partition. He is a 16.2hh tb in a cheval. We use a breast and breach bar and with have no problems with him. If you dont try you dont know. Just go a short distance to begin with and see how she copes and then gradually build up the distance
 
As above.

My boy won't even load if there's a partition in the trailer. He travels with a single breast bar, cross-tied, & spreads his legs quite far apart. He doesn't make a sound during the journey & travels well like this.
 
Hi Skint,

I think you can visualise dangers everywhere when it comes to travelling horses - whether it be on a lorry, a partitioned trailer or a non-partitioned trailer. Horses will be horses eh?

As long as you have taken all possible necessary safety precautions, then there is no reason you shouldn't give travelling without a partition (with, as you say, a single breast bar) at try.

My trailer is very similar to the one in your picture and I actually prefer to travel my horses without the partition. My gang each seem to travel easily, comfortably and well in this way.

By the way, they are cross-tied in the trailer, with rope attached to each side of the trailer.
 
Ah thank you all, I am a bit of a nervous nelly about towing at the best of times. I really wish I could afford a nice lorry, but I can't right now so if a single breast bar helps her to travel more happily that would be great. I am not sure what I will do about a breach bar, right now it is just straps, I have a heavy rope I could use maybe.

Does anyone have any photos of their horse cross tied in the trailer?

My daughter has had a massive learning curve with this horse and has just started to get her to a point where they can go to competitions, which I am thrilled about, genuinely. Her yard mates all tend to go to ones that seem so far (for me anyway-about 45-60 mins) They do offer lifts but as our horse can take some time to get loaded we don't like to put people out too much if it can be avoided.

I actually feel sick about the whole thing, will she load up to go? Will she behave when she gets there, or will she revert to her old ways? Even worse,will she load up again to come home, what will happen if she doesn't? I am the most rubbish horsey mum imaginable!

Was on the M4 the other day (not with the trailer-motorway towing is a separate heart attack issue I have) and saw a massive beautiful lorry all liveried up as belonging to our horse's old race trainer, I felt so sorry for her having to slump around in an ancient Rice. :D
 
054.jpg


Crap photo, but shows my horse who will only travel alone.
I think you might find it easier without as my horse was very noisy moving scraping etc with partition, now you have to check she is still there
 
Thanks Lizness, your horse looks pretty happy there, and I like the idea of not hearing/feeling the constant moving about type stuff going on.


Mrs Wishkabibble, I am in North Wilts, but I have a Rice Trailer so I don't think an Ifor would fit it, but thank you very much for offering.
 
Hi Faro,

When you do endurance, what do you do with all your water containers and slosh bottles? I can't fit mine in the car as I have two large greyhounds and was wondering whether I could put them down the side of the trailer as when full, they shouldn't move.
 
We always used to travel one of our old ponies withouth a partition and he loved it. Always cross tied.
Have seen a horse get stuck as he was tied to one side only.

Please use a breaching bar too though, it's surprising the amount of people that use a full width breast bar but not a breaching bar.
 
Last edited:
Skint1 I'm sure your daughter appreciates that you're doing your best for her.

I'm in a similar position and I'm new to towing myself. My daughter's horse is a problem loader and travels so much better without the partition.

If you need help to build up your confidence with loading/travelling issues don't be afraid to ask - I did and it was the best thing I could have done. We'd got to the point where we couldn't go out competing anymore as we were too worried she wouldn't load at the other end. I used a fab natural horsemanship lady and using a combination of her methods and ours we can now (almost!) guarantee a decent loading time.

Good luck and definately give it a try with the single breast bar.
 
if its any consolation im just like you .im a worrier and have a daughter wanting to compete.new horse a year ago went ballistic first outing in the trailer but totally resolved travelling without partition and full breast and breech bars.honestly dont know ive got her.i was incredibly anxious travelling always expecting a problem .we started with very small outings and i have recently driven them both 1 and a half hours each way to a big competition.just take your time,rescue remedy pastilles and no partition.ps i also drive the same 4 x 4.
 
Had a horrific towing experience with a friends horse a couple of weeks ago - we traveled her with a parition on the way there and she spent the whole 25mins trying to kick the rear ramp off, flipping herself over on corners and trying to lie down. She was so bad I had to get my passensger to travel in the back with her to make her stand up and show her how to travel (i.e NOT take both left legs off the ground and hurl yourself at the wall when turning left!) because otherwise she was going to tio the trailer over :eek:

On the way home we took the partition out and travelled her cross tied. Not a peep from her :D

They stand diagnoally with their back legs spread without a partition and rely on their own balance to stand up. It's when they try to use the paritions to prop themselves up that they struggle.
 
skint1 said:
Thanks Lizness, your horse looks pretty happy there, and I like the idea of not hearing/feeling the constant moving about type stuff going on.


Mrs Wishkabibble, I am in North Wilts, but I have a Rice Trailer so I don't think an Ifor would fit it, but thank you very much for offering.
Click to expand...

I would go for a single breast bar. When I bought my trailer from Rice i bought a breast bar and breech bar as a back up. Havent used them but they wont fit your trailer unfortunately otherwise i could lend it for you to try.

If it helps my old boy used to struggle and fall over and we took the partition out, cross tied and had no further problems. Hence why I bought the breast bar and breech bar for my new trailer

Rice sell the bars.. I bought mine about 6 years ago for £160. £80 each.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one to feel anxious, I feel like such a wuss when I am towing, especially that horse. I've followed behind her in the car before now and it is terrifying to behold, when you go round a corner her whole butt disappears.

Hopefully we will be able to try our friend's single bar next week and it will go well. We'll cross tie her and I will have to think of something to do with the breech bar because at the moment it only has canvas straps at the back of each of the partitions. I saw a pair on ebay for a starting bid of £35, but they're in N Yorks and I guess they're a bit hard to post, I also contacted Warwickshire Trailers and as you say, they do a set for £160, and I could drive there and get them quite easily.


I also didn't know Rescue Remedy came in pastille form, if I go anywhere with or near that particular horse I usually use the spray :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top