Towing in snow-would you?

absolutely no ! not worth the risk. Part of the problem is how other drivers behave and also how the wretched rear wheel drive German cars skid all over in the snow .Ii had one make me brake and almost collide the last spell of snow we had - hate to think how it would have been with a horse on the back.
I should have a word with your local PC commissioner if you feel 'bullied' into it
:(
 
I wouldn't drive a horse box in the snow so deffo wouldn't tow a trailer...rather have an ear bashing from the PC organiser than have an accident in the snow.

The police, motoring organisations etc advise not to travel unless it's really nessesary and I'm afraid i dont think that a PC training day is a nessesary journey.
 
smirnoff_ice07 said:
No, I just wouldn't risk it. Shame on the pony club for making you feel like this...
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I would bring it up with pc too if they are making you feel guilty. Our pony club even cancelled a dismounted rally last week because of snow.

I wouldn't drive a trailer in snow either. I once had this discussion with a girl who drove her very lame horse in snow while she had a broken arm, to a vets/physio appointment following an operation - I would have delayed it a day, but she insisted on going. I kept saying what would you do if the trailer tipped over, but she wouldn't have it.
 
No, wouldn't tow with a horse on.

However, if you had a safe and easy route that I could do a loop round, taking the trailer out empty is probably a good idea for anyone who says they'd only tow in snow in a (vet) emergency. If you've got to tow a sick horse in snow in an emergency, far better that you've had at least one practice run towing in snow!
 
Definitely not - there are enough numpties out there in normal weather waiting to cut you up or expect you to stop on a sixpence, and they seem to multiply even more so in bad weather. Shame on the PC for putting you under pressure, as a PC mum myself my attitude would be "if you want me there come and collect me in a lorry"

Also look at it this way - if they're talking about you they're giving some other poor sod a break
 
There will be other PC training sessions.......if you have a collision taking unnecessary risks, there may be no horse for you to take to the next PC session....what a ridiculous attitude for the PC to take towards you!
 
If any organisation is recommending that you drive or tow in conditions to which the driver deems they are not safely capable of handling then please supply the contact details and I will have words in my capacity as an IAM senior observer
 
ROG said:
If any organisation is recommending that you drive or tow in conditions to which the driver deems they are not safely capable of handling then please supply the contact details and I will have words in my capacity as an IAM senior observer
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Abso-blooming-lutely Mr ROG

I once towed the late Henesy to the horsepital Boxing Day 2010 (the last winter of heavy snow) - it was a medical emergency and meant life or death for my horse.
My husband drove and we had friends driving behind us and in front to ensure we got there safely.
It was the most frightening and worrying time of my life.
We managed it very well thankfully - but I think only because it was Boxing Day, the weather was so bad that hardly any cars were on the road.

I would never tow in snow, ice or high winds under normal circumstances.
 
I moved my horse today and it was snowing. The roads were clear and the snow wasnt lying, despite it meing on quite heavy for over 2hrs. IT wasnt cold or dry enought for it to lie.

If the snow is heavy and lying and conditions are bad then no I wouldnt but it was pretty much like white rain coming donw here this afternoon :)
 
I do all the time but generally not with a horse on board. It really just depends, if the roads are actually very bad, then no, because even if you drive carefully, you could come across something like a snow drift blocking the road (this happened to me a few weeks ago!) and I couldn't turn round and go a different way because I had the trailer on. I have no choice as have animals to feed so a different situation.
 
For me the issue is not if it looks okay when i leave but will it still be safe on my return journey? I just do not understand the attitude of the other parents and the organiser. We live in a rural area so agree about the point made about living by main roads-it makes such a difference.
 
Mr ROG thank you very much. I am not sure what to do as frankly I think some people in our branch are so keen they don't want to see the risks, I will speak to my friend -who feels the same- I think a general letter sent to all branches via HQ re winter driving would not go amiss.........thank you all for your replies, I feel so much better!
 
Take up Rogs offer or you could try an assumptive approach which would go like this.

hello x, we are very upset we can't come but having taken professional advice and looked at the danger I am sure you would agree it would be completely irresponsible to endanger our children by driving in snowy condition.

It's the " I am sure bit" which will work. How can they NOT agree?!
 
They are slightly deranged I think, it matters so much to them that they just ignore the risks, they do it with the kids as well, paying no attention when their kid falls off etc. Have noticed as well they all overtake me en route to the venues in the summer, some drive as if they don't have a trailer attached at all......
 
horsemadmum1 said:
Our PC is having training sessions and we are under a lot of pressure to attend but the problem is the weather. The venue is nearly 30 miles away and the roads are terrible and its snowing but we are expected to attend, and criticised if we don't. It's my view that towing in snow is irresponsible but the others don't seem to give it a second thought, though to be fair most of them live much nearer to the venue. Would be really interested to hear people's views on this!
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WHICH PC BRANCH ?
 
Our pc would never make u drive in bad conditions.

Obviously kids going into teams need to have attended a certain amount of mounted and unmounted rallies but there are always enough. We haven't even started mounted rallies yet just a few clinics.

You need to speak with your dc and get it sorted before someone has an accident.
 
Another No.
Not only are you un necessarily putting you and pony at risk on the journey , would you want to unbox and load on potentially an iced over yard .
Stay home and watch telly
 
I had to take my lad to Liphook as an emergency when we had horrendous snow. It really was an horrific journey and I didn't want to take him but the Vet said he would die if I didn't take him :(. To be honest the trailer was more stable with him in it compared to the journey home with it empty but it really was terrifying both ways. The worst part was that I really struggled to get up a steep hill, so much so that I smelt burning and suddenly warning lights and an alarm were going off as I'd overheated the gearbox :( (this is a 4x4 btw) I then had an awful dilemma, do I try to keep going and blow the gearbox or stop with a dying horse in the back. There is no way I would go through all that for a poxy jumped up power drunk pony club!! Seems like you need to change to another branch ;)
 
Oh wow that's an awful story, what a dilemma for you. ROG I don't feel I can publicly identify the branch but I will carry on as before-making my own decision and if we get dropped then so be it.
 
horsemadmum1 said:
Oh wow that's an awful story, what a dilemma for you. ROG I don't feel I can publicly identify the branch but I will carry on as before-making my own decision and if we get dropped then so be it.
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If I did contact them I would simply ask what their policy is on this issue and not refer to anyone or any incident as that could cause problems
 
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