Trailer for fussy loader? Ifor HBX?

[Bobthecob15]

Hi all

What trailers do people recommend for a fussy loading pony? Something roomier than a wessex trailer (which we used to have)?

I've read equitrek have a bad reputation, is there a particular type of ifor which is more spacious? Are the HBX ones lighter and brighter because of the larger windows?

He's 12.2 so not exactly big! We have had someone out to help us with loading, he's had some slips in our old trailer partly caused by the brakes which didn't seem to work we found out after we'd had it a while!

Thanks!

 

[Millie-Rose]

I would recommend Bateson trailers lovely and bright inside, had an awful loader and was the only trailer he would ever load.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Not sure on brand trailer, I’ve always gone Ifor Williams (HBX is lovely!) but taking the partition out has helped both my dodgy loaders massively. Much more inviting.

 

[exracehorse]

Perhaps an Ifor 401/403? Single. So non partition. And only half foot smaller in width.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Thanks we are going to look at the cheval liberte which has great reviews and a HBX over the next week or so x

 

[rabatsa]

I like ones that the ramp will open as a door. I have been able to load horses into them that will not go up a ramp.

Psycholocically once the head is inside the trailer the horse is more likely to follow. With a ramp you cannot get the head inside from the foot of the ramp.

I learnt this when I had a Henra trailer, I now have a Cheval Liberte. The CL does have a higher step than the H but is still a nice trailer.

 

[rabatsa]

Another benefit of the ramp as a door is that you can load pallets into the trailer so I can fetch a pallet of bedding from the ag store. Only the top layer is taken off and put in the front of the trailer as otherwise it is too high for the space but it sure beats handling every single bale into/out of the trailer.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I like ones that the ramp will open as a door. I have been able to load horses into them that will not go up a ramp.

Psycholocically once the head is inside the trailer the horse is more likely to follow. With a ramp you cannot get the head inside from the foot of the ramp.

I learnt this when I had a Henra trailer, I now have a Cheval Liberte. The CL does have a higher step than the H but is still a nice trailer.

Fantastic to hear we are looking at one tomorrow, the back ramp does sound great, thank you!

I think I need to get the rings to tie the horse up to as an added extra? I remember seeing someone post that you have to add them on. Also can I ask if you get much rain in the back of it with the mesh pull down cover thing? That's the only slight negative I can see.

Thanks!

 

[rabatsa]

We had a bar fixed across the front of the nose of the trailer as a tie rail for nets. The horses are fastened to the side by the breast bar fixing. This means that if the breast bar is released from the outside due to problems the horse is also released. i have trailer ties permanantly attached to the trailer and clip them on once loaded.

 

[Bobthecob15]

We had a bar fixed across the front of the nose of the trailer as a tie rail for nets. The horses are fastened to the side by the breast bar fixing. This means that if the breast bar is released from the outside due to problems the horse is also released. i have trailer ties permanantly attached to the trailer and clip them on once loaded.

That's a great tip thank you!

 

[Peglo]

Fantastic to hear we are looking at one tomorrow, the back ramp does sound great, thank you!

I think I need to get the rings to tie the horse up to as an added extra? I remember seeing someone post that you have to add them on. Also can I ask if you get much rain in the back of it with the mesh pull down cover thing? That's the only slight negative I can see.

Thanks!

I have a CL although it’s had very little use. We are up north with a lot of wind and rain and TBH I don’t notice hardly any wet in the trailer. I was a bit concerned before we bought it but I think the mesh keeps more wet out than you’d think.
and yeah you need to buy the tie bar separately

 

[Bobthecob15]

I have a CL although it’s had very little use. We are up north with a lot of wind and rain and TBH I don’t notice hardly any wet in the trailer. I was a bit concerned before we bought it but I think the mesh keeps more wet out than you’d think.
and yeah you need to buy the tie bar separately

Great thank you! It sounds a great trailer, can't wait to check it out.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Perhaps an Ifor 401/403? Single. So non partition. And only half foot smaller in width.

We had a 403 for a while - our boy never had any problems loading into a trailer (he hated 3.5 lorries though) but we also took out a couple of other horses a few times, one of which was a terrible loader but they both went in straight away.