Transport - how to change tyre with horses loaded in trailer

[Lorian]

Hi guys

I just wondered what people used to changed tyres on trailers or cars when their horses are loaded in the trailer, so that they dont have to unload the horses? This would

Do prop stands work if you have a flat of the car tyre?
Do trailer aids work when you have a flat on the trailer?
Is there anything you can buy that would work for both a flat on a trailer or the car?

Thanks
Soph

 

[Tiddlypom]

The trailer aid lets you keep the horses loaded when you change a flat on the trailer, it's easy to use and more stable than a jack. Bit bulky but I keep mine in the back of my 4 x 4 so I don't forget it.

I use a separate heavy duty jack for the tow vehicle.

 

[Lorian]

Thanks Tiddlypom. How do you keep the trailer secure when you jack up your 4x4 to change the tyre when the horses are loaded and hitched?

 

[Tiddlypom]

I've only had a flat on the trailer while towing, not the 4 x 4 (fingers crossed). I think I'd unload the horses if the flat was on the Shogun.

Sorry, can't be any more help than that. Hoping never to have to find out for real!

 

[Lorian]

my fingers are crossed too. I only wondered as recently had a flat tyre on car and ended up blocking fuel station on the side of the A14, couldnt unload as only a few feet away was the A14 carriageway. We were very lucky and found mechanic who had heavy duty jack and jacked the back of the trailer up so we could leave the trailer hitched and change the tyre. Argh nightmare! Now im scared incase it happens again...

 

[Arizahn]

Many years ago, my non horsey older brother was in the army. He was tasked with transporting a horse belonging to one of the officers from point a to point b, via motorway. Along the way, he got a flat tyre on the trailer.

So he pulled over onto the hard shoulder, got out, and decided to change the tyre himself. Could not manage with the horse in the trailer, so he unloaded it. Gave it a polo mint and a fuss.

But he did not tie it up - he expected it to stand and wait on the hard shoulder whilst he changed the tyre! After all, he did say "stay", surely horses know what stay means? Or so my brother reasoned.

It waited until he turned his back, then trotted off along the hard shoulder towards point b. And kept trotting until it got there, my brother running behind it, begging it to come back all the way! Amazingly it was unhurt, and no accidents caused. The poor officer that the horse belonged to was (very understandably) absolutely furious, and was there when it trotted into view at point b!

The short version of the fall out from this, was that my brother was never allowed to transport a horse for the army again. He is still annoyed to this day that it didn't stay put...