Trailer dilemma

[exracehorse]

Was actually losing sleep over it last night. Want to get my young mare out. When she was delivered in a 3.5 she tried to rear over bar. But was only small. So didn’t do it. And as she was not taken out. Didn’t have transport at the time. I didn’t try her in my trailer. Which I bought 12 months ago. I have an ifor Williams 401. When she was sent to be backed last year. She tried to go over breast bar into tack area. 3.5 lorry. Stallion grill was put up. Solved that. I was following in my car. Box was rocking! Naughty girl. Transporter said if it had been my trailer it would have been disasterous. I’m scared to put her in the trailer. Her go to in panic is up. I would like to take her and my other out. Long distance ride etc. I can’t afford 3.5 ton. Crazy prices. And the 7.5 are expensive to run. Plus space is tight at my yard. I’d like a double trailer. And get a newer vehicle to pull. I’ve looked at equi trek but you can still
Go over breast bar. Although like the look of side loaders. Are there any other side loaders? I can hire a 3.5 but super expensive. 120 pounds a day. Or suggestions for stopping her doing it. And I stick with Ifor. But get a double.

 

[spacefaer]

Ask @Michen what device she used to stop her chap rearing in the box

 

[dixie]

Equi trek do a side loader in a few styles.
I’m not sure of others

Is she the same with company?

 

[exracehorse]

Equi trek do a side loader in a few styles.
I’m not sure of others

Is she the same with company?

I spoke to dealership in Suffolk. Said could a grill be put in. They said no. And so .. she could still
Go over bar. Haven’t tried her in company as only have a single trailer. I can buy a double but I’m super scared she will panic and go over. And I go out by myself. I keep looking on internet to see if equi trek do do anything that doesn’t have the bars like the 7.5 lorry. But can’t see any.

 

[PeterNatt]

You should seek the assistance of a reputable professional to teach her to load before buying/hireing a vehicle as you do not want an accident.

 

[exracehorse]

I’ve practised loading lots. That’s not a problem. She’s go in and out. Im
Just shite scared that I’ll go down the road and she try and go over bar.

 

[Tiddlypom]

A horse can go over the breast bar of a double Ifor too. The late chestnut git did that when he was supposed to be the reliable travelling companion to the nervous traveller on a trip to the vets .

It was easy to drop the breast bar from the outside to release him, though.

Mind is the big Ifor 510 classic, he was 15.2hh.

I'd hire a good make of 3.5t stallion box and practice loading and travelling with her.

 

[Michen]

Ask @Michen what device she used to stop her chap rearing in the box

I just trained him ? no devices though I installed an anti jump barrier in my lorry but he still had great fun resting on top of that until I got him sorted.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

You can get a harness which stops them rearing. I’ve seen a video of it in action but it was a few years ago and I don’t know what it’s called but if you google it might come up. I think the pony was in a 3.5t rather than a trailer though with a camera so the driver could monitor.

 

[Cazza525]

Tie to the breast bar, won’t be able to get head up to clamber over! It works!!

 

[TheMule]

Don’t use a box with a grill, they can still go over and they get stuck even worse. The only safe thing with a horse like this is a proper stallion box.

 

[Rowreach]

Could you get something like this to fit your existing trailer? These guys do the fabrication.

http://ajhorseboxes.co.uk/anti-weave-grill-infill

IW do a herringbone trailer but I think it takes four.

ets there must be a reason for the behaviour though, so I'd be investigating that first. It may be something physical.

 

[exracehorse]

Don’t use a box with a grill, they can still go over and they get stuck even worse. The only safe thing with a horse like this is a proper stallion box.

Think it was a stallion box. Wasn’t sure of the name

 

[exracehorse]

Could you get something like this to fit your existing trailer? These guys do the fabrication.

http://ajhorseboxes.co.uk/anti-weave-grill-infill

IW do a herringbone trailer but I think it takes four.

ets there must be a reason for the behaviour though, so I'd be investigating that first. It may be something physical.

Doubt physical. She’s been doing amazing since backed last year. If the last to be turned out .. she will test stable door. She’s lifted her legs but never gone over. She’s been in a 3.5 three times . And both two occasions was naughty. But when she was picked up to. To be returned home .. stallion partition was up and didn’t attempt it. If I had money .. I’d buy one. But second hand those boxes are out of my league. So .. trailers are only my alternative. But it worries me about boxing her. And I feel stuck. And I’m not taking her out. I have to go by myself as well.

 

[terrierliz]

These are brilliant I have friends that use them, luckily I’ve never had one that’s had a travelling issue. Good luck.

https://www.equitravelsafe.co.uk/

 

[exracehorse]

A horse can go over the breast bar of a double Ifor too. The late chestnut git did that when he was supposed to be the reliable travelling companion to the nervous traveller on a trip to the vets .

It was easy to drop the breast bar from the outside to release him, though.

Mind is the big Ifor 510 classic, he was 15.2hh.

I'd hire a good make of 3.5t stallion box and practice loading and travelling with her.

Yes. My friend who backed her suggested the same. Get Abi to put her in and joker. Then go for a ride and return home. She has the stallion partition.

 

[nutjob]

I got a cheval liberte herringbone trailer for my loon after he lacerated his leg in my Bateson. No breast bar to go over - he is up against the front ramp. Mine has always loaded great but can then have a melt down for no good reason even if he is still parked up. I have also had a pro out who did come up with some very useful suggestions which have helped us a lot. Many only deal with loading issues so you need to be selective if you go down that route.

 

[Widgeon]

You can get a harness which stops them rearing. I’ve seen a video of it in action but it was a few years ago and I don’t know what it’s called but if you google it might come up. I think the pony was in a 3.5t rather than a trailer though with a camera so the driver could monitor.

It's probably the Equi Travel Safe (https://www.equitravelsafe.co.uk/) - they're designed by someone whose yard I used to be on (not that that has any bearing on their efficacy!) and they do seem to work extremely well for some horses. Think they can only be fitted to lorries, not trailers. Yours sounds like she's properly panicking though - could you invest in someone to come to your yard and do some trailer training with her? I'd be worried she'll just fight through any restraints you try to use and end up hurting herself even worse.

 

[Orangehorse]

Tie to the breast bar, won’t be able to get head up to clamber over! It works!!

So long as they don't rip the breast bar out of its fastening.

 

[exracehorse]

I got a cheval liberte herringbone trailer for my loon after he lacerated his leg in my Bateson. No breast bar to go over - he is up against the front ramp. Mine has always loaded great but can then have a melt down for no good reason even if he is still parked up. I have also had a pro out who did come up with some very useful suggestions which have helped us a lot. Many only deal with loading issues so you need to be selective if you go down that route.

Ooh. I’ll look on the internet

 

[Hallo2012]

was also going to suggest the cheval, no bar at all

 

[Whoopit]

I’m on a trailer/wagon debate with myself at the moment.

Had a trail Treka I had to sell as he wouldn’t go in it. Don’t know if it was because it was a steeper ramp or that he had to turn once in or something else. He loads fine into a rear loader - I have a Cheval Liberte as he’s part bred giraffe so needed plenty height.

However, he isn’t comfortable being in a trailer which makes me anxious that he could tip one over if he got distressed - he isn’t afraid, he just isn’t confident in there.

Would I better with a wagon? Would he go up a steeper ramp, would he turn inside?

If you know someone with a wagon you could try horse in I would suggest that (it’s on my list as I need to know if he likes a trailer or wagon!), or hire a driven one just for some practise?

 

[Melody Grey]

I have a couple of rearers at the moment and they are a PITA! I have gone the training route and am making slow but steady progress. Loading is not an issue for either, rather claustrophobia/ fear/ inexperience seem to be the cause. I have worked with a great 3.5t hire driver who is patient and has helped us go very short distances down our off-road track with me in the grooms area which has really helped. I also have a small pony which is a good traveller which has helped. We’re not there yet but I’m optimistic we can overcome this. I’m soon (hopefully!) to be transport shopping and will be going for full stallion partitions in a sturdy 3.5t. There’s no way on god’s earth I’d risk a trailer with horses like this having seen what they can do.

 

[fawaz]

Was actually losing sleep over it last night. Want to get my young mare out. When she was delivered in a 3.5 she tried to rear over bar. But was only small. So didn’t do it. And as she was not taken out. Didn’t have transport at the time. I didn’t try her in my trailer. Which I bought 12 months ago. I have an ifor Williams 401. When she was sent to be backed last year. She tried to go over breast bar into tack area. 3.5 lorry. Stallion grill was put up. Solved that. I was following in my car. Box was rocking! Naughty girl. Transporter said if it had been my trailer it would have been disasterous. I’m scared to put her in the trailer. Her go to in panic is up. I would like to take her and my other out. Long distance ride etc. I can’t afford 3.5 ton. Crazy prices. And the 7.5 are expensive to run. Plus space is tight at my yard. I’d like a double trailer. And get a newer vehicle to pull. I’ve looked at equi trek but you can still
Go over breast bar. Although like the look of side loaders. Are there any other side loaders? I can hire a 3.5 but super expensive. 120 pounds a day. Or suggestions for stopping her doing it. And I stick with Ifor. But get a double.

Take the chest bar and have the trailer set up with a solid wall in front of her like a truck bay? She can rear all she likes and nothing to go over then.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Take the chest bar and have the trailer set up with a solid wall in front of her like a truck bay? She can rear all she likes and nothing to go over then.

That's an interesting thought, but the Ifors are designed to have the breast/breech bars in place during transit for structural integrity. The front nose area is not reinforced either, and I wouldn't trust the jockey door not to burst open if a horse pressed against it.

 

[cauda equina]

Fautras do herringbone trailers - I haven't seen one IRL but it appears that the horses stand facing the side wall with full height partitions

 

[fawaz]

That's an interesting thought, but the Ifors are designed to have the breast/breech bars in place during transit for structural integrity. The front nose area is not reinforced either, and I wouldn't trust the jockey door not to burst open if a horse pressed against it.

Not sure how much room there is in front of the horse as I am in Australia and have never seen an Ifor in real life and our floats I am sure are different but for example mine has about 2 1/2 feet between the tack cupboard and chest bar so when I travel youngsters I remove the chest bar and have a mesh grill which I fit before the tack cupboard so they just have a fully self contained bay to stand in and don't have access to the top of the cupboard, window or the PA doors.

Or back in the old school days I would tie the horse with one rope as usual over the chest bar and then a second rope passed back and under the chest bar and up to the tie point so the horse physically couldn't get up and over the bar.

The other thought I had was in the US they just cross tie the horses with no chest bar....

Or as cauda equina said above, get an angle load float.

 

[Red-1]

Take the chest bar and have the trailer set up with a solid wall in front of her like a truck bay? She can rear all she likes and nothing to go over then.

I like the stallion partitions in a rear facing box, mine is one. However, for front facing I would always use a breast bar. You never know when you are going to do an emergency stop and need the breast bar so they don't face plant the front.

You don't tend to do such a steep acceleration, hence rear facers not needing a breast bar.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I suspect that English trailers (Welsh in the case of Ifors) are mostly of different and more compact design than Australian or American floats. Less room for creativity in use in ours.

With a tricky traveller, the stallion box set up is ideal. I'd have such a box if funds allowed.