Travelling with no partition or breast bar!

[Louby]

As I wish I could cure my trailer phobic horse, Ive just been googling to see what suggestions I could find and on one forum that Ive never come across before, members suggested no partition which of course Ive tried BUT then some said to take everything out and travel the horse loose. This was in an Ifor. I thought it was illegal to do this and very dangerous??
Ive heard of people travelling foals in this way but not horses.
Poster did try it with success

 

[kezimac]

As I wish I could cure my trailer phobic horse, Ive just been googling to see what suggestions I could find and on one forum that Ive never come across before, members suggested no partition which of course Ive tried BUT then some said to take everything out and travel the horse loose. This was in an Ifor. I thought it was illegal to do this and very dangerous??
Ive heard of people travelling foals in this way but not horses.
Poster did try it with success

definately a no no, the horse shouldnt be allowed to lean on ramp as could come undone, plus nothing to lean against when braking, plus shouldnt lean on jockey door - travelling without partition is fine but must have breast and breech bars. I wouldnt do it and silly person if they did

 

[Louby]

They werent alone either, I was shocked!

 

[kezimac]

they very stupid, glad nothing has happened to horses.

By way how did your horse travel without partition?

 

[Holly Hocks]

I have a 3.5t rear facing box - apparently the best way to face is going backwards....yeah right!
My horse is a sod if I travel him with the partition closing him in, but as soon as I open it up to the max, to give him more room, he is miles better.
I don't have a trailer, but would never travel without the breast/breach bars if I did...

 

[Louby]

I havent got a trailer anymore as he was awful even with no partition. I think hes either claustophobic or just doesnt like forward travelling and got scared as he never made a peep travelling but was dangerous and petrified next time we loaded him. We couldnt keep him in the trailer for more than a few seconds even after practising every night. Daft thing is, he loaded first time each time we tried???

 

[Law]

I know someone who does this and as far as I was aware it is illegal or you need veterinary advice to say it is necessary so i understand. Either way, I wouldn't dream of doing it. I have heard of taking the partition out and using full width breach and breast bars - I would try that as the next thing if not tried already

 

[Louby]

Rebelzmum, hows your boy in a trailer, only asking as you say he doesnt like being closed in, so wondered if a small wagon makes much difference. Ive just sold my 7.5t mainly due to lack of use but regret it now as Ive really got the bug to go to a few shows etc. Ive looked arround and cant see anything decent 7,5t for my budget but I could get a nice 3,5t. I just worry, that he may not travel in one.

 

[Louby]

Thanks Law, Ive tried it.......... and failed

 

[Pablo349]

I recently travelled my 16hh mare in a trailer with no breast bar or partitions. She has been known not to load, she went straight in, with no hesitation and travelled fine. We travelled her in a sweat-rug, poll guard, bridle(no reins, head-collar over the top), bandages and travel boots, also a tail bandage. She was perfect. I had no problems with safety etc.
I hope this helps put some demons to rest!
Pablo349

 

[Sayra]

I travel 3 welsh a's in a trailer with no partition or breastbar, ponies are all loose and travel fine. I dont see it being a problem. I didnt realise that it was illegal though? How come you are allowed to travel cows loose in a trailer with no partitions or breastbar but not horses?!

 

[Dizzykizzy]

Pablo, how do you know you had no problems with safety? Ok, so nothing happened on that trip but did you think of what COULD have happened? What if she leaned on the jockey door and it sprung open, or the ramp? What if you had to brake hard and she was flung into the front of the trailer? I think that is a crazy idea and I would never put a horse at risk like that.

Our mare is not a good trailer traveller these days but we have largely solved the problem with a rear facing trailer, it is a Richardson Supreme Excel, huge and roomy and she goes in no problem with the partition and strolls out happy at the other end.

 

[Pablo349]

Dear DizzyKizzy,

I know nothing dangerous happened as we had CCTV in the trailer so we could Keep an eye on her at all times. I put the comment about safety up as i have never had any problems with travelling as we take every precaution for the horses safety, like evreyone should and does. I hope this answers your queries.
Pablo349

 

[Tinypony]

The breast bar is there to take some impact in an accident and stop the horse going through the front of the trailer. The catches on a jockey door are certainly not designed to take the weight of a horse, not sure about the catches on a front ramp. If your horse gets itself right at the front of the trailer, the trailer will no longer travel in correct balance, which would again be an issue should something unexpected happen.
For my difficult traveller I take the partition out, use a full width breast bar and cross ties. Obviously there is nothing across her bum, because they go with the partition, so although I want her to be able to move around, I don't want her to be able to lean on the back ramp, turn round etc. (She can turn round very easily, it's the only way she will unload! She folds herself round like a cat and exits calmly and safely down the back ramp.
Travelling with nothing in the trailer is one of those things where there are no problems... until there are problems.

 

[Aoibhin]

well i shall proberly get shot down for this but i travel my 2 loose together (no breastbar its pointless) & they are happy as sandboys.
travelled them with breastbar & partition & the box swayed as they kicked & bumped around got there to find mare had 2 cuts on face & chunk out of mane just behind poll guard whilst my gelding had a huge lump on his face.

breast bars in hired trailers/boxes are just too high for them & they end up with head injurys, but loose they both lay down together & are contetented (watch them on monitors)

 

[magicgirl]

I often travel 2 or 3 loose ponies (11h.h) in my big Ifor williams trailer with no bars up. The bars are too high and a breast bar in those circumstances is dangerous. They usually stand facing backwards and travel very quietly and happily. please could someone point in the direction of the legislation that says it is illegal to travel without a breastbar as I have yet to find it.

 

[RuthnMeg]

I can't believe that some are saying its illegal! - It surely can't be?? Many a pony we've had have travelled without breast bars/breaching straps... I can't think why its a bad idea to do without IF you have a small pony or even one that doesn't like feeling restricted.
The catches/clips on the ramps CAN withstand the weight, otherwise that won't be legal!! Ifor wouldn't make them any other way, and Rice are good too. The jockey door is too low for a horses bum to lean on just to add but even if they do, again the clips are VERY strong.

 

[MagicMelon]

definately a no no, the horse shouldnt be allowed to lean on ramp as could come undone, plus nothing to lean against when braking, plus shouldnt lean on jockey door - travelling without partition is fine but must have breast and breech bars. I wouldnt do it and silly person if they did

I totally agree that having a breast bar is an absolute do. Obviously if you braked quickly, the horse MUST have something to brace against or who knows where it'd end up... However, I travel my horse (and have travelled others) with no back bar. I travel my current horse with the back 1/2 of the partition taken out. He travels better this way or else he sweats up pretty bad (as did another horse I had who used to hurl himself on the ground if he had a normal partition in). Because I have no back section, I dont have a back bar. I could have a full length one made but TBH he's perfectly fine without. He doesnt touch the back though - he's not a "tail-sitter". I do use clips on the door fastenings though just to stop any chance of them coming undone.

 

[irish_only]

I know it's different to a trailer, but I used to travel a 16.3 loose in a lorry. He always turned round, stuck his bum to the luton and was absolutely fine. I know because I am fairly neurotic when I've got something in either trailer or lorry, and can feel their every footfall.

 

[posie_honey]

i'd not risk no breast bar but travel my horse with no breach bar - i checked with my insurance and they say thats fine - so i'm happy with that

 

[Tinypony]

You just take a decision and a calculated risk don't you? You hope it will never happen, but if some numpty cuts you up when you're at 40 mph, you just consider what might happen to your horse when you brake. Will he take the impact in his face, head and neck, or on his chest? Will the horse end up in a heap against the jockey door, and if they do will it burst open? I wouldn't condemn anyone for travelling with no bar, I just think you need to do it in awareness of the fact that the bar is there for a reason. If I had small ponies I'd get the trailer adapted so the bar could be lower. My friend is in the process of doing that now.

 

[Aoibhin]

If I had small ponies I'd get the trailer adapted so the bar could be lower. My friend is in the process of doing that now.

that is fine if you own your own trailer/box but we have to hire one & there isnt a company out there that i have found that can cater for tiny's.

 

[hackedoff]

Mine travels with no partion and is cross tied. However, he has a breast and bum bar. if you think about it logically it just makes for a bigger trailer space and nothing more.

I belive it is illegal to travel in a trailer with a horse and it is also illegal to not have a breast bar.

 

[magicgirl]

Once again to all you people who are saying it is illegal, Where is the legislation.

 

[Kallibear]

that is fine if you own your own trailer/box but we have to hire one & there isnt a company out there that i have found that can cater for tiny's.

Have a wooden 'breast bar' made. I sometimes travel small ponies in a 511 (in which the breast bars are ridiculously high!) and have a wooden 'gate' that fits wedges in nicely just behind the front pillars in the front and ties in. It's just two very thick pieces of wood length ways, cut to fit the width exactly, and two legs.

There are some trailers I would never travel without breast bars because the jockey door is no where near secure enough- the 511 is one of them. However I have travelled (admittedly small) ponies loose without breast bars in other trailers where the door catches are much stronger.

Can't see there being legistlation about it - cattle and sheep travel loose without breastbars all the time and horses come under 'livestock' when conserned with travelling.

 

[rangerover]

So what about people who travel without breastbar 'cos horse goes over it?

 

[Liesel]

I was driving behind a trailer today that had no partition - horse was cross tied and there was obviously a full breast bar - horse was as happy as larry and seemed very stable. They even had the door open above the front ramp, although that isnt something I would do even in the hot weather.

A friend also travels her mare without a partition with no problems.

 

[Law]

I can't find anything to clarify the legal situation it was just something I was told by someone who I would have thought would have known... but this article says there is no legal issue http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews...travellers/article-946730-detail/article.html

 

[loopylucifer]

mine goes without bars or partions but is crossed tied. This has never been an issue I dont think there is a legal issue with it. if anything seems much more able to balance under braking than with something in her way.

 

[Bug2007]

I know this tread is really old but it maybe some help to those who don't want to travel without a breast bar. stack and secure bales of hay or straw in the front of the trailer, this is then good as a buffer and stops the horse standing in the wrong place for the weight bearing of the trailer, if you have a heavy horse or pony stand that far forward it is possible for it to lift the front of the car enough to make driving less stable.
Just an idea, we are travelling a two year old off the forest who has never travelled, the idea of the breast bar being there would cause me concern as he has never been tied before so will be loose, he might put his head under it and panic himself, lie down then not able to get up as he has managed to get under it etc....
If cross tying your horse then good idea to have a full length bar but otherwise i consider it a danger and therefore bales of something do the same job in a safer manner.