Standing direction on a lorry.

Bobbly

Bobbly

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Is there a definitive reason why we stand horses heads to the left on a lorry when standing sideways?

We are rebuilding an old lorry and it would work space wise to stand them herringboned to the right.
Any thoughts please?
 
You will need to ensure that you do not overload the front or rear axels when the horses are loaded in the vehicle. Also ensure that the vehicle is not overweight with horses in it. First thing to do is to check the maximun permitted weight on each axel and then get the lorry weighed so that the weight of the front axel is weighed seperately from the rear. Then check with the horses in it ensuring that each of the axels is not overloaded. It is very easy to overload the rear axel when the vehicle has a large overhang over it and the horses are stalled at the rear of the vehicle.
 
Thankyou, there is no problem with any of that, it's an old wooden hunting lorry, two 15 handers and a small day living, just want to redesign the interior layout and as there is a usable nearside rear grooms door it would make sense to turn them around to the right. Just wondered if it was just tradition or there was a good reason why they normally stand facing left?
 
Is it just cus of the lead-from-the-left tradition? If you lead them from the left side then facing them left means you're better able to turn them with you on the outside, otherwise you'll end up between the horse and the partition unless you lead from the right. I lead mine from both sides and have to lead from the right to load her because have a rear facing lorry, but there are some traditionalists left ;-)))
 
My horse tends to sit on her bottom in the lorry, with the road camber and her weight it I guess it could effect the steering, suspension etc?
 
Our nf mare refused to travel the traditional way,so I just changed the tie rings to the right had side,and as the partition was herringbone,just fastened it the normal way,o she also faced slightly backwards. She travelled well like this,and it meant I could still travel the others the traditional way,with heads to left.
Hope this helps.
 
The horse is heavier at the back end, the majority of the weight should be in the middle of the road to stop the wagon tipping over on the camber. I wouldn't want to have them herring-boned to the right.
 
I had a 16.2 mare who refused to travel left facing, untied herself and turned right until I started to tie her up that way. She was happy.
 
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
The horse is heavier at the back end, the majority of the weight should be in the middle of the road to stop the wagon tipping over on the camber. I wouldn't want to have them herring-boned to the right.
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I was always led to believe that 60% of the horse's weight is on the front legs, so how would this work?:confused:

Not that I'm bothered either way, I just thought it was so they didn't watch the traffic zooming past them when they look out their windows - they have a better view facing left:D
 
^^^ This window thing is also a good point. I have had to fit a gaffer tape 'curtain' to my rear facing box because when lorries overtake us on the motorway poor horse gets the shock of her life otherwise! (Agree re the 60% weight on the front thing too...)
 
60% over the front legs so a good half way over the axel so the reason is that the camber of the road pushes weight left and the heaviest bit is over the center and the right side. travelling facing right would put the bulk of the weight to the left as the front legs are left and the bum end is heaviest
 
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
The horse is heavier at the back end, the majority of the weight should be in the middle of the road to stop the wagon tipping over on the camber. I wouldn't want to have them herring-boned to the right.
Click to expand...

Actually the horse has more weight on his forelegs when standing relaxed.....otherwise you are correct! That is why usually you angle the heads towards the centre of the road - right side in the UK and NZ!!
 
windand rain said:
60% over the front legs so a good half way over the axel so the reason is that the camber of the road pushes weight left and the heaviest bit is over the center and the right side. travelling facing right would put the bulk of the weight to the left as the front legs are left and the bum end is heaviest
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This, plus my diesel tank is on the right, putting more weight on the right side of the lorry
 
Anyone else confusing themselves working out which way horses face in lorries, or is that just me before sufficient coffee this morning?! :o

I was reading a charity advisory leaflet recently which said they had found that horses travel best loose in the back :cool:
 
Ps is it traditional due to side-unloading vehicles, perhaps? :confused: :o

If I were the OP this would now be strongly bugging me and I would email a couple of horsebox manufacturers to ask. I'm sure they would be happy to tell you.
 
Don't we load them to the left because most people are right handed and horses are left eyed to watch for danger, and we mostly handle them from the left, making it much easier to turn and tie to the left than the right????
 
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