Travelling horse in trailer with no breach bar

Fjord

Fjord

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Has anyone travelled a horse in a trailer with no breach bar? It's been suggested I remove mine, because when loaded, the breach bar is right against my mare's backside. We can't move them any further back because they are at the furthest point, same with the breast bars, they can't go any further forward.

If I was to take out the breach bar this would give a few more inches of space, I'm just worried about the safety aspect. I'd put additional latches on the ramp so it was extra secure if the bar was removed.

Is it a really bad idea?
 
Good thinking Beausmate. I've got one of the rubber coated chain stall guards, I might be able to fit that somehow.
 
If your trailer is designed to have a solid breach bar, whether two half bars or a full width one, then it is an important part of the structural integrity of your trailer and will help it to maintain its shape in the event of an accident. Worth talking to the manufacturer before you change it to something else or discard it altogether.
 
30 years ago I had a horse that had got caught on the breach chain, had gone under and got stuck on the floor. He panicked whenever he felt one. It was in the days before solid breach bars.

I travelled him for about 4 years all over with no chain, but was always EXTRA careful when putting up or taking down the ramp. There was never a problem but if he had stepped back the whole weight would have been on me!

In these days of cash claims I would be inclined to have a professionally made sign on the ramp "Danger, No breach bar, do not lower the ramp under any circumstances." Or some such thing.

Obviously mine was structurally fine without, so I would check with your trailer manufacturer first.

If your trailer needs the bar, if there was no partition would there be space for a full width breach bar? As your horse would be able st stand diagonally for more space. A lot of horses travel a lot better like this.
 
SarahWeston said:
If your trailer is designed to have a solid breach bar, whether two half bars or a full width one, then it is an important part of the structural integrity of your trailer and will help it to maintain its shape in the event of an accident. Worth talking to the manufacturer before you change it to something else or discard it altogether.
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My thoughts too. Breaching bars are designed to be strong enough to take the weight of a horse leaning against it and prevent leaning directly on the rear door. I'd definately speak to the manufacturer to check the rear door is strong enough without the breach.
 
Most horses sit back, perching on the breach bar to maintain their balance. And - as others have said - it is usually an integral part of the structure of the trailer to maintain its shape in the event of an accident. A chain simply cannot fulfill any of that. All it might do is stop a horse stepping backward as soon as the ramp pressure is released, and encourage them to be reasonably away from the raising ramp so you have less risk of catching a heel with it.
If your mare really cannot fit between the 2 sets of bars, rather than doing what one of mine does and scooting backward to "sit" on the back bar because he likes it that way - then you might need to think about a bigger trailer. Sorry - but better than an tragic accident.
 
I never use a breech bar travelling my ponies. They're between 12 and 14hh, and there is a very real risk of a pony stepping back UNDER the breech bar, panicking and causing a serious accident.

The modern, lightweight trailers may need the extra structure, but not the older ones, which are built more solidly and were often fitted with just straps in the first place.

I would think that a horse that leans on the breeching as you open the ramp is dangerous with or without a bar/strap. Teach them not to!
 
The ramps and ramp catches are not made to take the weight of a horse. That is the job of the breeching bar. There was a story in H and H just last year of someone travelling without a partition and didnt think of replacing it with a full width breech bar. The horse leant on the ramp, catches gave way and horse came straight out the back onto the road and didnt survive.
 
I don't have a breech bar across my Ifor, my horse is to long and he needs the 6ins extra space. I always unload from the front, never backwards down the ramp.
 
Red-1 said:
30 years ago I had a horse that had got caught on the breach chain, had gone under and got stuck on the floor. He panicked whenever he felt one. It was in the days before solid breach bars.

I travelled him for about 4 years all over with no chain, but was always EXTRA careful when putting up or taking down the ramp. There was never a problem but if he had stepped back the whole weight would have been on me!

In these days of cash claims I would be inclined to have a professionally made sign on the ramp "Danger, No breach bar, do not lower the ramp under any circumstances." Or some such thing.

Obviously mine was structurally fine without, so I would check with your trailer manufacturer first.

If your trailer needs the bar, if there was no partition would there be space for a full width breach bar? As your horse would be able st stand diagonally for more space. A lot of horses travel a lot better like this.
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Hang on. The breech bar is there to stop the horse's weight being put on the ramp. It's not just there to stop them coming out backwards when you lower the ramp. Removing it is a bad idea as stated in other threads, but also don't put a sign up advertising the fact that you're travelling in an unsafe state.
 
Tinypony said:
Hang on. The breech bar is there to stop the horse's weight being put on the ramp. It's not just there to stop them coming out backwards when you lower the ramp. Removing it is a bad idea as stated in other threads, but also don't put a sign up advertising the fact that you're travelling in an unsafe state.
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This exactly!
 
stormox said:
I don't have a breech bar across my Ifor, my horse is to long and he needs the 6ins extra space. I always unload from the front, never backwards down the ramp.
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You need to upgrade your transport. As per previous replies, Ifors in particular are not designed to be used without the breech bars. The rear ramp could come down in transit, you really, really don't want that to happen :(.
 
Tinypony said:
Hang on. The breech bar is there to stop the horse's weight being put on the ramp. It's not just there to stop them coming out backwards when you lower the ramp. Removing it is a bad idea as stated in other threads, but also don't put a sign up advertising the fact that you're travelling in an unsafe state.
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Which is why I also said I would check with the trailer manufacturer first, to make sure the horse was not being travelled in an unsafe state...
 
I'm happy to be corrected Red, but I think that the answer is always going to be that removing a manufacturer's breech bar from a trailer is unsafe. As I say though, happy to be corrected if someone wants to quote a manufacturer on that.
 
I think that may well be the case, my one that I used without had a chain which was not to keep the horse off the ramp, as it was right at the back and did not keep the horse off the ramp, its only use was to encourage the horse not to reverse onto the ramp. Without knowing the brand of trailer though I do not profess to know the safety or otherwise, hence recommending contacting the trailer manufacturer for advice before removing the bar.

If not my other suggestion still stands, to have a full width breech bar and remove the partition, thus allowing the horse to be on a diagonal with more space.
 
I'd not thought of taking the centre partition out and putting a full width bar across, that might be a good alternative. It's a very old IW, we bought it in a bit of a state and ended up having to strip it right down and practically rebuild it. It didn't occur to me that there might not be enough room in it, my girl isn't that big!
 
Fjord said:
I'd not thought of taking the centre partition out and putting a full width bar across, that might be a good alternative. It's a very old IW, we bought it in a bit of a state and ended up having to strip it right down and practically rebuild it. It didn't occur to me that there might not be enough room in it, my girl isn't that big!
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If it is an Ifor I believe they DO need both breast bars and breach bars in. I have a client who bought both full width versions I can't remember the exact cost, but it was reasonable for the genuine article.

A lot of horses do prefer more space, it is so they can spread their legs wide to balance when you turn. It also makes them less likely to bruise their hips.

Other than that a refurbished Ifor should sell so you can buy a bigger version!
 
Depends just how old an Ifor it is. They used to have nylon breech straps; horrible things that would take the skin off your horse if it sat back on them.

I once put my large tb in a Wessex with a solid breech bar. He came out backwards, ripping the attachment plate off the side of the trailer on his way. I'm so glad I wasn't holding the ramp at the time....
 
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