Transporting in cattle trailer?

[Moobli]

If all goes well, I may be collecting a mini Shetland from near Edinburgh at the end of next month. Is it acceptable to transport her in our cattle trailer (I don't have a horse box)? I did think about putting her in the back of my pick-up truck but quickly dismissed that idea. In the past I transported my standard Shetland in the trailer with lots of straw down and tied him both sides and he was absolutely fine - but he is a bombproof wee chap <3 My Highland came down from Aberdeenshire with Eric Gilles. So, has anyone else used a cattle trailer and is it generally accepted as okay, or not?

 

[PapaFrita]

If all goes well, I may be collecting a mini Shetland from near Edinburgh at the end of next month. Is it acceptable to transport her in our cattle trailer (I don't have a horse box)? I did think about putting her in the back of my pick-up truck but quickly dismissed that idea. In the past I transported my standard Shetland in the trailer with lots of straw down and tied him both sides and he was absolutely fine - but he is a bombproof wee chap <3 My Highland came down from Aberdeenshire with Eric Gilles. So, has anyone else used a cattle trailer and is it generally accepted as okay, or not?

Ermmmmm....

I'm going to go with 'yes'

 

[FfionWinnie]

I've transported 15.2s in a cattle trailer. Far safer than a horse trailer frankly especially for a little pony.

 

[BogTrotter]

Why is that please FfionWinnie?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Why is that please FfionWinnie?

Because they are designed for animals who could be going completely bananas and have never travelled before. You can't risk a cattle beast getting trapped by the partition / breast bar or whatever or being able to break something or kick its way out. Mine has utterly no trap possibilities whatsoever. I will always prefer to put something equine and wild in there compared to my 511 because for one thing I can leave it to tantrum without being concerned about it damaging its self or the trailer.

Particularly if they aren't shod or are small. Which I assume this will be.

Also the lower roof means they can't really kill themselves rearing up either!

 

[BogTrotter]

Thank you

 

[Moobli]

Thank you

 

[FfionWinnie]

If it does have vents on the lower deck shut them as a small leg could get out.

 

[Dry Rot]

I used to ship my own dogs and made my boxes to a formula specified by he International Air Transport Association. The theory was that the box needed to be twice as wide as the dog's widest point, one and a half times it's length, and the height to the top of it's head in a normal standing position. That may sound rather small, but aircraft are subjected to turbulence and something small rattling around in a large box can get bounced off the walls and ends. (Of course, the experts have since changed that formula, but that's another story).

I am sure FFW is a careful driver and doesn't subject her passengers to turbulence (!) but it is a thought and the reason for the partition and bars in a horse box.

Drive carefully with lots of straw and the pony should be fine. But avoid doing 60mph over the humped back bridges, slapping your foot on the brake sharpish when a hedgehog dashes across in front of you, and don't do 0 - 60 in five seconds at the traffic lights and all will be fine.

 

[Tnavas]

If all goes well, I may be collecting a mini Shetland from near Edinburgh at the end of next month. Is it acceptable to transport her in our cattle trailer (I don't have a horse box)? I did think about putting her in the back of my pick-up truck but quickly dismissed that idea. In the past I transported my standard Shetland in the trailer with lots of straw down and tied him both sides and he was absolutely fine - but he is a bombproof wee chap <3 My Highland came down from Aberdeenshire with Eric Gilles. So, has anyone else used a cattle trailer and is it generally accepted as okay, or not?

A mini Shetland - I think I would be putting a good bed of straw in the back of the Pick-up if it is totally enclosed - it will fit well and get a good ride. Many Years ago we transported an orphaned foal to Newmarket in the back of an MGB GT, a bit of a tight squeeze, the foal was sick and wrapped in quilts.

I've seen minis in converted transit vans and Station wagons here in NZ - they fit most places!

 

[Moobli]

If it does have vents on the lower deck shut them as a small leg could get out.

It has and I will do - cheers.

 

[Moobli]

I used to ship my own dogs and made my boxes to a formula specified by he International Air Transport Association. The theory was that the box needed to be twice as wide as the dog's widest point, one and a half times it's length, and the height to the top of it's head in a normal standing position. That may sound rather small, but aircraft are subjected to turbulence and something small rattling around in a large box can get bounced off the walls and ends. (Of course, the experts have since changed that formula, but that's another story).

I am sure FFW is a careful driver and doesn't subject her passengers to turbulence (!) but it is a thought and the reason for the partition and bars in a horse box.

Drive carefully with lots of straw and the pony should be fine. But avoid doing 60mph over the humped back bridges, slapping your foot on the brake sharpish when a hedgehog dashes across in front of you, and don't do 0 - 60 in five seconds at the traffic lights and all will be fine.

Absolutely - good advice!

 

[Moobli]

A mini Shetland - I think I would be putting a good bed of straw in the back of the Pick-up if it is totally enclosed - it will fit well and get a good ride. Many Years ago we transported an orphaned foal to Newmarket in the back of an MGB GT, a bit of a tight squeeze, the foal was sick and wrapped in quilts.

I've seen minis in converted transit vans and Station wagons here in NZ - they fit most places!

That must have been a tight squeeze! I will have a think - but getting her in and out might be problematic (as it is quite a high tailgate). I wouldn't want a freaked out pony.

 

[Woolly Hat n Wellies]

We transported my then 11 month old colt(gelding on the return journey!) and his mum together to the vet's (about an hour's drive with the trailer on) loose in the cattle trailer. She is 12.1hh and he would have been about 11hh ish at the time. He had never travelled before, but we backed the trailer up to the stable door, put some straw on the ramp, and they went straight in. They travelled behind the middle partition, but we pulled it back so they had enough room to turn around and find a comfortable way to stand. There was a bit of shuffling about while we were parked, but as soon as we set off they stood beautifully. Side gates also meant no worries about anyone going off the side of the ramp!
And for the real test.... they loaded straight back up quite happily with no bother to come home, even though the size of the vet's yard meant we couldn't back up to the stable door.

I've also travelled a 3 week old calf in the back of a land rover. I had to travel with it. It wasn't particularly comfortable - but that may have been my dad's driving!

 

[Equi]

I've moved several in a cattle trailer. All survived lol

 

[Moobli]

Thanks everyone. It is reassuring to know it isn't just me that has done this. I always ask the current owner if the pony will be okay travelling this way and only one (so far) has said no.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Well they are standing side ways unless a big horse DR so they don't need a breast bar although I have had one made as well as a partition although I don't use it now I've got a posh box.

 

[Orangehorse]

Cattle trailer is fine for ponies, they don't usually have enough head room for a horse. Make sure the floor isn't slippy.

Years ago Rice did a Farmers Hunt trailer with the idea that it could be used for cattle and horses, and I think some people did use them as dual purpose until we all got too posh.

 

[Tnavas]

One thing a friend discovered was that it doesn't pay to transport your heifers in a horse float with a front window - one decided to get out through the window!

 

[Moobli]

One thing a friend discovered was that it doesn't pay to transport your heifers in a horse float with a front window - one decided to get out through the window!

Eek!!

 

[rhylis]

Really interested to read this thread. We have a cattle trailer but have never used it to transport the ponies as other horsey people where horrified at the idea and told me it would be illegal to do so. I could never see the reasoning behind that myself as we regularly and safely transport cattle in it, they travel well and have never been injured. Very interesting to see different opinions here, thank you.

 

[Lyle]

I had a friend growing up who's family bred cattle. She had a horse, and her father wouldn't buy a trailer when they had a perfectly good stock trailer! She would arrive at competitions with her horse in the trailer. She would put a fly mask on him so he wouldn't get bugs his eyes though

 

[marmalade88]

I think the cattle trailer will be fine. I probably wouldn't put in the pick up, only because I'm not sure your insurance would cover you if you have a bump.

 

[Cortez]

Cattle trailers are fine for smaller horses or ponies, but the metal floors are slippy, so bed down well. I'd also leave him/her loose in there. I have transported calves (and the odd goat) in the back of my old jeep, but did have one poop down the back of my neck in transit.....

 

[Dry Rot]

There are specfic dimensions for horse transport but probably only apply to commercial. From memory the internal ceiling has to be 750mm higher than the withers? Anyway, I think Highland ponies just about fit into a normal IW livestock trailer but anything bigger needs the trailer with the higher internal height. But might be worth checking if you're interested.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Almost completely off topic but this thread brings back memories. I had an Uncle who used to transport calves to market in the back of his old Ford Zephyr, never had any bother! In the late 70s we used to hire a cattle lorry to take us to the local riding club show, he would roll up on the morning of the show and anyone on the yard who wanted to go would pop their pony on the lorry, loose, no boots or bandages, as many kids as possible would cram in the luton or the cab and we would be dropped off at 9am and collected at 4pm. Noone ever got hurt and most of the ponies lived into their 30s! Health and safety, we laughed in its face back in the day

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

When I was a kid in Pony Club (oh so many light years ago!) my friend's dad ran a cattle haulage business.

She had a little 13.2, mine was 14.1, we'd just chuck both ponies into the back of the cattle truck - unsecured - and slam up the ramp, and off we'd go! No protective gear, no tail bandages, or anything!

They both went to local shows like that: came off the wagon chilled, did their stuff, hopped on again. If they'd had an awful journey they would, I am sure, have refused to get back on again.

That was the way things were done back then.

 

[Moobli]

Almost completely off topic but this thread brings back memories. I had an Uncle who used to transport calves to market in the back of his old Ford Zephyr, never had any bother! In the late 70s we used to hire a cattle lorry to take us to the local riding club show, he would roll up on the morning of the show and anyone on the yard who wanted to go would pop their pony on the lorry, loose, no boots or bandages, as many kids as possible would cram in the luton or the cab and we would be dropped off at 9am and collected at 4pm. Noone ever got hurt and most of the ponies lived into their 30s! Health and safety, we laughed in its face back in the day

Can visualise that! Happy days!

 

[Tnavas]

In days gone by it was most common to see a roofless cattle truck travelling horses. Slat sides, no partitions, just bandages, tacked up and tied to the side.

I remember taking sheep to market in the back of the Station wagon, a good layer of newspaper and hay, the dog grill fixed tight to keep them in the back.

The good old days before the nervous nellies thought of all the ways they could stop us having fun.

 

[Moobli]

In days gone by it was most common to see a roofless cattle truck travelling horses. Slat sides, no partitions, just bandages, tacked up and tied to the side.

I remember taking sheep to market in the back of the Station wagon, a good layer of newspaper and hay, the dog grill fixed tight to keep them in the back.

The good old days before the nervous nellies thought of all the ways they could stop us having fun.

We still bring the odd tup or three in the back of the pick-up truck