Travelling with shetlands

[Emmahi]

i am hoping to get out and about a bit with my daughters old pony (14.1hh) and 2 miniature shetlands (smallest is 34”).
We have a Ifor williams trailer. Is there a safe and legal way I can travel them all together?
They all get on really well and often share a stable. Was wondering if I could cross tie mare and have shetlands loose? Any ideas please 😀

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

You'll be nicked for an insecure load if you travel one tied and 2 loose - and to be honest, it's asking for an accident mixing it up like that.

If the trailer is designed for 2, then no matter what the size of animal, then by taking 3 you could well invalidate your insurance.

If trailer is designed for more than 2, then perhaps get a handy person to make little partitions or adapt existing to travel them separately.

If you do travel loose, then you either have no partitions at all, or each should be separately contained safely.
But, repeating myself here, please don't mix loose and tied animals.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Not sure it legal on the insurance front! But I would put big pony on one partition, mini in the other then a secure but removable bit of board across the front of the partitions and put the other mini in he front bit.

 

[Chinchilla]

Isn't it illegal to not have them suitably confined whilst travelling? Hmm, following
Also, (off topic) doesn't a Shetland have to be <31" to be considered a miniature? :=/

Following!! Don't like not knowing stuff.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Miniatures are 34" and under. Standards are 35-42".

 

[Chinchilla]

Miniatures are 34" and under. Standards are 35-42".

oh ok! Thank you!
Looking for stuff on travelling.....I need to know everything xD lol

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

oh ok! Thank you!
Looking for stuff on travelling.....I need to know everything xD lol

A cattle trailer is best if you are just travelling multiple Shetlands all the time. You can fit 5-6 in sideways then!

 

[Chinchilla]

OK so in the "Welfare of Animals During Transport - Advice for transporters of horses,
ponies and other domestic equines" from DEFRA it says "Horses and ponies older than eight months must wear halters during transport &#8211; unless they are unbroken animals."
So I think it would be safest to have the shetlands tied/partioned off somehow... although that document is actually talking about "transport of horses or other domestic equines connected to an economic activity."
Hmmm lol .... not being familiar with the ifor williams can't help though.

 

[Chinchilla]

A cattle trailer is best if you are just travelling multiple Shetlands all the time. You can fit 5-6 in sideways then!

Lol it would be a little patch of heaven on wheels!! SO MANY minis. :lol:

 

[Snowfilly]

I know someone who travels three Shetlands in an if or Williams, the third stands lengthwise in what's normally the tack bit. She had someone later the partitions and tie rings to fit extra small beasties. Insurance didn't mind, and they're well under the weight limit.

Probably best not to do what the riding instructor of my youth did - load the Shetland first, walk it through the groom's door into the living bit and give the head collar and rope to the nearest kid to hold the pony still, then load the others in the proper fashion!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Could you get someone to redesign the partitions? Maybe if you had them stood herringbone, big pony in the middle and smaller ones either side? Could that work?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I know someone who travels three Shetlands in an if or Williams, the third stands lengthwise in what's normally the tack bit. She had someone later the partitions and tie rings to fit extra small beasties. Insurance didn't mind, and they're well under the weight limit.

I've done this though I can only put a youngster up front as mine are big, proper up to height Shetlands!

 

[NiceNeverNaughty]

so tie your horse on one side as usual... then load the first shetland up to the front and tie, followed by the second one behind and tied halfway along the partition (assuming they get on). For the side with the shetlands you can pop into an ifor trailer place (or similar) and easily have breech bar brackets fitted lower down.

 

[Fiona]

so tie your horse on one side as usual... then load the first shetland up to the front and tie, followed by the second one behind and tied halfway along the partition (assuming they get on). For the side with the shetlands you can pop into an ifor trailer place (or similar) and easily have breech bar brackets fitted lower down.

That's exactly what I was thinking....

Fiona

 

[Ruby's Mum]

We used to travel a 15hh in one side and then the two Shetlands just went into the other side, one tied at the front and one tied half way down, they are however best friends so the one at the front didn't mind his best pal leaning on his bum when we were stopping. We used to wedge two bales of straw at the front so that they couldn't get into the front of the trailer, I was never happy travelling one in the front of the trailer after my friend did it in a 505 and went down the motorway and got stopped by someone as she was at the lights on the slip road telling her the groom door had come open!!!!! and the wee one was looking out all panicked (thankfully tied at the ramp side!). If you have to travel one in the front I would definitely look at options to secure the grooms door.

 

[Emmahi]

Thank you for your replies. I had thought of putting the two in the other sid3 of the partition as they do get on brilliantly. Only problem being little one can go under the middle partition flaps (if that makes sense!) Might just have to leave one behind!

 

[Lintel]

Thank you for your replies. I had thought of putting the two in the other sid3 of the partition as they do get on brilliantly. Only problem being little one can go under the middle partition flaps (if that makes sense!) Might just have to leave one behind!

Aha.... that is my problem. I have given up traveling whw Shetland. He get under .. over ... sideways.. anyway but the way I put him in!

 

[pennyturner]

If the trailer is designed for 2, then no matter what the size of animal, then by taking 3 you could well invalidate your insurance.

.

Not sure that this is correct. It's quite normal to load 3 or 4 loose youngsters from the sales into a trailer, and that's with professionals present and welfare supervision.

 

[pennyturner]

Personally, I often travel a Shetland sideways under the noses of the two larger beasties, as others have suggested. If you do, be certain that your jockey door is well secured.

 

[deb_l222]

I know someone who travels three Shetlands in an if or Williams, the third stands lengthwise in what's normally the tack bit. She had someone later the partitions and tie rings to fit extra small beasties. Insurance didn't mind, and they're well under the weight limit.

Probably best not to do what the riding instructor of my youth did - load the Shetland first, walk it through the groom's door into the living bit and give the head collar and rope to the nearest kid to hold the pony still, then load the others in the proper fashion!

Or two in the trailer and one in the boot of your vehicle..............sorted

 

[MagicMelon]

Couldn't you put the bigger pony in one side of the partition as usual then get another breastbar put in half way along the other side of the partition so you create two spaces one in front of the other for them to go? Seems safest option.

 

[horsemadelsie]

I've only travelled two in my trailer (one big one small), but found straw bales to be extremely useful. Put big horse in one side- same as usual, then wedged little one in the other side with straw bales to stop him getting under any partitions, and to give him something to lean on. Bales were attached to the trailer with ratchet straps and they are very strong. Depending on the size of the trailer and the little ponies, you might be able to fit two in one side? Large pieces of plywood are also useful for stopping little ones sneaking under the partition if straw bales are too thick!