Trailers which are rear load/unload only......

[Dormouse]

does anyone have one? How do you find it? I am looking for a trailer, found a nice example but it doesnt have front unload....

My horse loads and travels in anything, he is always 100%, but dont want to sour him at all! Would backing off a trailer be a pain in the neck I wonder?

 

[Batgirl]

My suggestion would be to try backing him out of a normal trailer. How easily does he back up normally?

I have used one before and had no problems, in fact it can be easier because you don't have to worry about space to unload at the front and they can't shoot out the ramp. I find it quite calm and easy but it does depend on the horse.

 

[Dormouse]

Thank you, he is an absolute star, he will back up without any problem I am wracking my brains to think of all the disadvantages....

 

[TelH]

My first trailer was rear load/unload because that's all I could afford at the time. Not a problem if you have a good loader and none of the ponies I travelled ever had a problem backing out. However, I have an Ifor now with a front ramp and they are so much more inviting for a horse to go in, if you can find one with front/rear I would go for one of those instead.

 

[Kokopelli]

My old trailer was rear unload and it was a fabulous trailer! The only reason we sold was because our horse was too big for it. Also sold for a very good price quickly so kept its value. If your horse is comfortable doing it then you have no problem, when we used to bring our games pony out he would turn around in the trailer and walk down the ramp

I can recommend Bateson trailers they are fab

 

[Dormouse]

Thanks a lot guys this feedback is brilliant, just what I was hoping for I suppose I am looking at it mainly because it is cheap (although it has a sound floor etc, I wouldnt dream of buying something unsafe!) and is also quite local

 

[Jacobi]

In North America, many (if not most) trailers are rear load/unload, especially smaller, 2 horse trailers. Most horses can be easily trained to back out of a trailer slowly and carefully.

 

[TarrSteps]

In North America, many (if not most) trailers are rear load/unload, especially smaller, 2 horse trailers. Most horses can be easily trained to back out of a trailer slowly and carefully.

As above. There are a few old Rice trailers and similar around, but the vast majority are rear ramp only. In fact many horses travel in step up 2 horse trailers that don't even have a ramp.

(Other than the obvious fact that no second ramp lowers the price, some manufactures feel that having the front ramp makes the trailer fundamentally weaker and less stable. I will say, they're generally noisier.)

It's worth taking the time to educate the horse to unload properly (which it sounds like he already knows) because I have seen horses either get properly stuck when people get them on then take them somewhere without making sure they can get them off easily, or fly backwards (usually because the above has happened and people resort to force) and scare themselves which can make for a longer term issue. By the same token, though, I've seen horses learn to charge off front ramps so it's really just about good training.

 

[mon]

what i will say is that today very glad had front unload trailer (506) loaded mare up after hacking sound when gothome 10 mins really lame rear right, to ask her to back off or come down stee[ ramp would of been much worse than front un load, x rayed mare and nothing broke, heamotonia, tendon damage, bute and rest poor mare.

 

[Skippys Mum]

the thing I dont like about rear unloads is that if you go somewhere for the day, your horse is stuck inside facing the front of the trailer. With a front unload you can open it up and the horse can see outside and watch whats going on.

 

[Aoibhin]

i prefer a rear load only, more solid structure & less weight.

i never leave SWA in the box a shows anyway but would never leave a front ramp down just in case he paniced & tried to scramble out, either under or over breast bar causing injury & distress. in the same token i dont leave the jockey door open either though.

my lads a sweetie but its just not worth the risk of him hurting himself by a lapse of my attention

 

[Sanolly]

This! ^^ Seen too many accidents where horses have got over the breach bar trying to get out of a door/ramp that is open.

I personally don't have a problem with a rear unload only trailer, mine has front ramp but I usually forget it's there and unload out the back anyway! I tend to flex my pony's head to the outside of the trailer so he comes off in the middle of the ramp but then I have an ancient trailer with a fixed partition.