So would you travel your horse in gales?

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MushyPeas

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There are gale force winds predicted. I had planned (and paid for) on travelling my horse 150miles to a 2 day training clinic.

Would you go? I have a trailer and a range rover so fairly solid vehicles, but gale force winds.

Advice pleeeeese. Its outside of my experience.
 
'I definitely wouldn't, no. Wouldn't risk being turned over with my precious horse. But have a look at your route and see how sheltered or open it is as that will have a bearing.
 
No, definately not if they are gusting winds as they are the most dangerous.
If I 'had' to & it was strong winds, then would take sheltered route, but again that poses problems with potential tree falling.

Me: if there is high potential from trees coming down, then Fuzzies are out in field & no travelling

There is always another day............
 
For me personally, I too would not venture out in this type of weather, but as has been said above, if you really wanted/needed to go you could check your route and make your decision i guess.

I have the same set up as you towing wise and i know how concerning it can be towing in horrid weather!!.. i've had my share ups and downs in unpredictable weather that hadn't been forecast and was usually travelling one of the busiest parts of the M6. It was NOT a nice experience at all and one i always try to avoid.

Take care and stay safe whatever you decide.
 
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I have a truck and wouldn't travel if it were a true gale. I wouldn't with a trailer but think you have to see how high the winds will be when you are actually travelling. Look at www.windguru.cz - find the UK and your nearest body of water to get really good wind predictions by the hour. If you are looking at a generic weather website often they are not precise enough to predict wind strength and direction.
 
No, I wouldn't. Its a long journey and conditions change. Also, if a stretch of road is on exposed high ground, you might have difficulty.

I got caught in a storm one night and huge oak trees had fallen, blocking my route and the alternative routes as well. Branches were crashing down in front of us as I drove. It was the scariest experience I've ever had and although I'd usually drive in most conditions, I had a new respect for how dangerous driving in high winds can be.
 
No not with a trailer. But to judge what the winds will be check

Xc weather

It's used by cross country pilots so gives you 3 hours segments with both base wind speeds and gusts and is way more accurate than anything else I have found. Go for the Observations option and either punch in postcode or place name.
 
To be completely honest I personally wouldn't risk it either, especially over such a distance when it's difficult to predict the weather and roads. Disappointing though, is there any way you could reschedule?
 
Could you not travel down a day earlier and avoid the forecast gales?

I would say it is risky. I travelled my WB back from Newmarket in torrential rain - it was the scariest drive of my life - I had virtually no visibility the rain was like stairrods and I daren't stop for fear of being hit on the hard shoulder and my horse was then really hard to manage and I didn't know how he would react in a noisy trailer stood still.
We aqua planed twice and I was only crawling along. If I ever saw torrential rain or gales forecast it would be a big 'no no' for me - I still thank God we all survived that journey.
 
No. I've missed shows before because of the wind. It's too risky, if a cross wind or gust suddenly catches the trailer or even a lorry you are overtaking etc. Not worth the risk to my pony IMO.
 
No, I once went to show on my limit (around 30mph), because they forcast the wind to die down it did the opposite and although going there was fine as the wind was behind us, driving home in winds that had got up to about 35 with much higher gusts and having the wind across our front quarter was quite scary. I had to slow down to around 30mph on exposed parts of the motorway and was under 40mph for most the motorway journey.
 
I wouldn't personally. Having got caught in high winds whilst going to a BE event a few years ago and having to go over a suspension bridge, well lets say it was truly terrifying (it rippled and swayed underneath us as we drove over). But generally no I wouldn't be happy taking the trailer out in gale force winds, just not worth the risk.
 
amymay said:
A gale is a gale = 32-64 mph.
Click to expand...

Fair enough - was just checking as when I stayed down south, what some people called 'blowing a gale' was not what I would have classed as high winds at all.

In that case then not in a trailer. Have travelled short distances in high winds in a small lorry, so not too high-sided, but we are NE Scotland so when travelling through the valleys you are relatively sheltered.
 
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