transporting a fallabella in my car

[Tinseltoes]

Id be really worried that if your seen,that person could report you to the RSPCA and they will come after you,as your putting the pony welfare at risk and endangering its life.(not using proper transportation which is designed for the purpose)
You want to risk it,then so be it,its your head that will roll and they will probebly confiscate the pony.
Personally its NOT worth the risk,but it seems to me,no matter the advice given,you will do it anyway. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW.

 

[ameeyal]

I travelled a mini foal in the back of my 4wd , it was at an auction that i went to with no intention to buy, the next day, defra rang up my husband to say they had a call of some one reporting a horse in the back of a car, they said they had contacted the rspca, and that you needed permision to travel an animal in a car {other than a dog ect} they let us off with a warning not to do it again.

 

[Ibblebibble]

ok i have the perfect solution dress pony in an outfit such as this
http://www.fancydress.com/costumes/Scooby-Doo-Costume/0~84656~287
people will think it's a dog and you'll be in the clear

 

[debbielinder]

I know some one who went to an auction an bought a shetland pony and brought it home in a black cab! It was there taxi which was a good job as it did droppings all over the seats they didnt have a clue had never had horses before and thought this was acceptable the pony was no worse for her journey!

 

[Tinseltoes]

I travelled a mini foal in the back of my 4wd , it was at an auction that i went to with no intention to buy, the next day, defra rang up my husband to say they had a call of some one reporting a horse in the back of a car, they said they had contacted the rspca, and that you needed permision to travel an animal in a car {other than a dog ect} they let us off with a warning not to do it again.

Well if OP gets caught so be it.Serves her right if she gets reporterd for breaking the law and being inconsiderate of everyone including animal and other drivers.
If she cant afford to transport then she should not have a pony or horses.
GET PROPER TRANSPORT FOR GOODNESS SAKES.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[penhwnllys_stardust]

A friend of mine bought a young shetland at the sales and transported it in the boot of her 4x4. The world did not end, the pony didn't go on a rampage and kill everyone in the car nor did it cause a 10 car pile up. If done properly I can't see it being any more of a danger than smoking while driving or having a loose dog in the car.

 

[MiCsarah]

Just curious really but how safe is a minature or general Shetland in a trailer? Surely unless you can make the breast bar really low it can't be that safe? Not saying to travel it in a car mind you, have seen some travelled in the back of trucks that have the canopy but that was in Australia

 

[ameeyal]

My mini foal that i transported in my 4x4, traveled beautifuly, he never moved, my friend sat with him holding on to his leadrope, he loved looking out of the side windows, my opion is that a mini moves around a lot more in a trailer, we transport our other ones in a trailer and you can hear them.

 

[Morgan123]

Just curious really but how safe is a minature or general Shetland in a trailer? Surely unless you can make the breast bar really low it can't be that safe?

that's a really good point!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Why don't you ring the local police station and ask them, after all, it would be them who pull you over.

Blimey you'll be lucky - they'll be shut over the weekend and probably only open for 2 half days a week if anything like ours

 

[annaellie]

I know some one who went to an auction an bought a shetland pony and brought it home in a black cab! It was there taxi which was a good job as it did droppings all over the seats they didnt have a clue had never had horses before and thought this was acceptable the pony was no worse for her journey!

His name wasnt Davey was it. A man I know up when I was in liverpool done the exact same thing lol

 

[RolyPolyPony]

It is 5 miles by road, probably about 8 through the hacking. The roads are too dangerous to lead her on. She never does roadwork, and isn't great to the led on the roads.

I am sure she is capable of doing this eventually. But as she is very overweight, and very unfit. It is unfair to ask her to do this without asking her to do any work building up to moving day. I feel this would cause a lot more distress to her then if we transported her in less than 10 minuites!

OP - She's very overweight so start as you mean to go on. It wont hurt her. I have an overweight dartmoor pony (who is always mistaken as a shetland!) I cant take her for walks on her own as my horse will not stay at the yard alone. So she come out hacking with us. I didnt slowly build it up just went for it. Took it nice and steady and went at her pace. When she wanted to stop we stopped. Think we covered about 5-6miles. She loved it. I highly doubt she will drop dead after the walk! or are you just looking for the easy (and imo, dangerous) option?

 

[SpruceRI]

Just curious really but how safe is a minature or general Shetland in a trailer? Surely unless you can make the breast bar really low it can't be that safe?

It's absolutely fine as long as the jockey door can't be opened from the inside. A lot of people travel youngstock loose in a trailer, so a loose Shetland would be the same I imagine.

I still wouldn't travel a Shetland in a car boot with windows. A panel van with no access to windows and closed in to the driver, then probably yes.

 

[Sarah Sum1]

I would make two journeys in the box. Not like it will take much longer as it's only 5 miles up the road. This way no risk of pony kicking out glass, or no risk of getting pulled over.

If you're moving yards then surely you will have lots of stuff to take, so a second trip in the box would be handy?

 

[fburton]

I tell ya, it's Elf 'n' safety gone mad! People wanting to wrap horses in cotton wool. Back in my day it was called Common Sense. Bloomin' red tape. We didn't have the guvmint telling us what we could put in cars and what we couldn't. Interfering busybodies! etc. etc.

 

[Dry Rot]

Well, whether this is a troll or not, it has given a lot of entertainment!

As an old farmer, I've carried all sorts of livestock in the back of pickups and estate cars -- goats, sheep, dogs, pigs, but never ponies! Though an owner did remove a Shetland pony in a Transit, but that's another story.

I think there is a legal height requirement for horses which is seldom quoted. Doesn't the roof have to be 750mm higher than the withers or something?

What about putting the pony in a large dog crate? If you have a livestock shipper nearby, they might have a dog crate large enough they could hire you.

A friend of mine travelled his first horse home by sitting in the car boot and leading it. He didn't have a trailer!

I'd load the pony in the back seat of your car and transport it at 4.30am on a Sunday morning.... If stopped, tell the cops you've been advised it's perfectly legal under Section 19 of the Transit of Animals Order. By the time they've looked it up and found you're wrong, you'll be long gone....

 

[Fairytale]

My Falabella stallion looks a lot smaller than the one pictured on this thread and no I wouldnt travel him in the back of my 4 x 4 if only because of the 'what ifs' if something went wrong. Before Elf n Safety occurred I expect it happened quite frequently in certain spheres of society!

When OP mentioned the 'boot' of her car I sort of imagined it actually being in a car boot rather than the back of a 4x4......now that I think would be grossly out of order!

Its gotta be a wind up tho......

I actually travel mine loose in my IW505 no breast bar or partition - just need to be quick in the jockey door and get him tied up when stationery

 

[Flibble]

Um not read thru all but how about a good sturdy wheelbarrow:-D

 

[Kallibear]

Go and ask your local police station if it's allowed. Possibly, although the rules about horse transport different from those of livestock (horses don't count as livestock in the transport books). Alternatively phone up DEFRA and ask them as they should know. Failing that try the DVLA or VOSA.


I would do it with the right temperament pony in the right car. One of mine would LOVE a trip in the car (truely and honestly would love it) but he's a little big

I've transported two sheep back to their rightful owners in the boot of a small car and lived to tell the tail

 

[diet2ride]

i havent read all the posts... but has anyone seen the 'rob and big' series... its about a skateborder in one of the episodes he buys a mini horse and puts it in the back of his car.

i have never handled a fallabella, i,m unsure of how strong they are but if you can keep hold i dont see why not.

i think the strapping of dogs is just recommended ( i cant see anything saying its law) i have often thought about this because my dogs travel with me a lot, and if someone went up the back of me.

IMO i feel they would have a better chance if they werent strapped in. we dont strap our kids in around their necks so why should we the dogs.

 

[xloopylozzax]

^kids have seatbelts

 

[CorvusCorax]

Because a dog loose on a motorway or a main road after a crash is a very bad thing.
Because two people I know have been fined £60 and three points for travelling a dog loose in a car.
Because a loose dog in a high speed crash could kill you and of course might die himself.
Dogs are not strapped in by their necks, it's usually a harness that clips into the seatbelt.

 

[Ginge Crosby]

OP, looking at the name of the horse in your sig, are you anywhere in the Aberystwyth/Bont area or is that pure coincidence?? If so, should PC Westbury (who seems to have some kind of fascination with my car, and LOVES to pull it over) see you he would certainly have an absolute field-day in throwing the book at you!

I'm honestly not sure where i stand on the topic - on one hand i can see the danger at transporting a mini in a car (similar size to a small dog YES, but much denser and heavier in my mind!), but at the same time i can also see the danger in travelling something small in a normal trailer/box.

Personally, i'd walk it. I've ran mares and young foals much further than 5 miles, with no ill effects to them.

Or if you are in my local area, i would happily offer you a lift in my box if we sort out some miniatur-ising safety modifications.... PM me if you are seriously looking for a lift.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oh and people would not dream of putting their best china or their flat screen TV in the back of the car with nothing to secure it, so why on earth your animal or kids, so much more important.

 

[LouandBee]

No she'd be in the boot, so in effect it would be like a mini horse box with partitions. She wouldnt be able to fly anywhere - the seats would secure her.

I have seen an animal rescue programme which was filmed in America where they put a shetland in a boot!

I've seen this programme - its Animal Cops Houston on Animal Planet. They ran out of room in the trailer so put the pony in the back of the car. Thought it was hillarious.

Personally I don't see how it's any different to travelling a dog (providing she really is that small) but have no idea where you stand legally.
I would be worried about poo in my car though!

 

[Biscuit]

Haven't read all the posts. At first I thought it sounded crazy to put a pony in the car, but on second thoughts I don't see why it is any different from a large dog.

According to wiki answers, Falabellas are 15 to 30 inches (38-76 cm) and weigh from 40 to 100 lbs (18 - 45 kg) which really is comparable to a large dog breed or possibly a pet pig breed.

That being said, I think it is not great how dogs are transported in the UK - loose in the boot without bars/safety net, or in the back seat.

Animal welfare aside, even small loose objects in the car can kill people if the car stops suddenly.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Can't believe this is still ongoing

For all those that keep posting you haven't read all the post but it seems reasonable blah, blah, blah -

This is the Pony (so hardly tiny)

As stated by OP approx 90kg

OP is transporting her other 2x horses in a friends lorry, so the obvious answer is a 2nd trip given it is only a 5mile/10minute journey.

Welfare act act have been posted and transporting in car clearly doesn't comply with them.

OP tell me your route and what time you are going and I'll get you an escort.

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

I love this thread. I don't care if the OP actually wants to transport a pony or the Three Billy Goats Gruff, it's been a pleasure watching some posters desperately trying to find a reason why it's wrong because they want it to be, people with more common sense than self preservation instincts concluding that horses are animals too, and an assortment of random you tube clips.

Sambo, you have made my day, but thank you *all* for lifting an otherwise ghastly working day into the realm of the acceptable.

Cheers.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

it's been a pleasure watching some posters desperately trying to find a reason why it's wrong because they want it to be

No it's wrong as a car would not comply as per Welfare Act.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

No it's wrong as a car would not comply as per Welfare Act.

Erm, not so. You haven't yet produced anything that shows its illegal. So far all you've done is to interpret legislation to fit your train of thought.

Dryrot -like your suggestion. By the time police have found out it was a bluff, Op will indeed be long gone...