Truck or trailer for out and about with a big horse ??????

E

EJJ999

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 September 2015
Messages
142
Visit site
Can I have your opinions please. 16.3 (big) warmblood. If I get the Ifor 510 I will need to change my car (Freelander 2). But would prefer a truck to towing a trailer really (as I am a wimp). But they all seem to be set up for two smaller horses or ponies with living. Will only travel this one horse and only local so living not needed at all.

What are my options? And what do you all have to travel with a bigger horse.

Thanks.

ps I am ancient so no licence restrictions !
 
You don't need a horse box if you don't want one.

We travelled an 18.1hh horse for years in an IW 510.
We took the partition out and full length breach bars in and he was happy as Larry and travelled beautifully.
 
Just take the partitions out of a truck, or rearrange them as you see fit. We can just fit 2 big horses and a miniShetland on our wagon and still be legal with the weight but usually we have the partitions organised to give 2 horses a bit more room each. When our biggest horse was de!ivered, she travelled on a double trailer with the partition removed.
 
There are some reputable builders of horse boxes that will build you a nice compact 7.5 ton without living and a tilt cab (to make servicing and emergency repairs easier and cheaper to carry out) which would be ideal for your horse. Look at builders such as Winterbourne in Dorset and Priory Stud in Essex.
 
I don't think you need to change your tow car. How about a Bateson Ascot trailer, with full width breast and breach bars. It's lighter than an Ifor (and much better in my opinion) and plenty big enough for your horse. I towed mine with my Freelander 2 no problem.
 
PS. The Ascot also has a tack locker in the front of the trailer so no need to fill your car with horsey stuff.
 
I have a 3.5 coach built box that I had built to take a big horse -16.2hh - 7'8" internal height. I only travel the one horse, no living but lots of lockable storage. I go everywhere on my own & it's been brilliant. I decided to go for a small horsebox (luxury & safer) and a cheap & cheerful small car. Works for me.
 
Don't know if it helps, but a friend of mine has 17.3 warmblood, and thought her trailer wouldn't be big enough so bought a lorry. Horse hated the lorry, wouldn't load to start with, and once loaded turned round and legged it down the ramp as soon as tied up. My friend tried her trailer (a 510) - horse has to duck to load, but loves it and loads first time every time, travels well and performs brilliantly at the other end so no stress. She then sold the lorry and uses the trailer as horse obviously prefers it.
 
If you want a lorry a 3.5t will be big enough (not one of the van type things obviously). You could always hire first to check if the horse likes it. My 17.1 chunky WB was very comfortable.
 
16.3hh isn't big!

We have several 17.2-18hh which we travel in trailers - we have an old Rice B60 with 7'6 headroom, which the 18hh travels in by himself, with no partition. Other horses can fit in with him, he won't travel with a partition. It makes tacking up at meets a doddle though!

The other trailer is a Rice Richardson B60 - so newer version of the same trailer. It's actually slightly bigger inside, and travels 2 x 17.2hhs with no problem. My little 16hh looks like a Shetland in there.

We wouldn't tow either trailer with a Freelander though - got a Landcruiser and an Invincible for that job.
 
Im not sure how big your Ifor is but I towed my 17.1hh WB in our Bateson Ascot (think not as high as the big Ifors?) with my Freelander 2. Yes, I probably wouldn't choose to tow that much weight with a Freelander very often as you could feel it (he's retired now so I only tow a 16hh with it now). But certainly if you just up the towing vehicle I dont see why you cant travel the horse in your Ifor. I think my Bateson is only meant for up to 16.2hh however my 17.1hh went in it and always travelled beautifully. I'd try your horse in it and see what he thinks.
 
Mari said:
I have a 3.5 coach built box that I had built to take a big horse -16.2hh - 7'8" internal height. I only travel the one horse, no living but lots of lockable storage. I go everywhere on my own & it's been brilliant. I decided to go for a small horsebox (luxury & safer) and a cheap & cheerful small car. Works for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. I have only used trailers in the past so bit ignorant on wagons etc. What is your 'coach built box'. And very roughly what would I expect to pay in insurance.
 
Thank you for your replies. A good idea to hire first to make sure he travels happily in whatever form of transport I choose before I invest.

And will definately look at the Batesons which are lighter than the IW.
 
Horsebox insurance is very cheap when compared to cars!

I prefer the box because it goes where you expect when you drive it -I hate reversing with a trailer! And ime experience a small amount of day living is a godsend, somewhere clean to get changed, make a cuppa and sit out of the rain!:D
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Horsebox insurance is very cheap when compared to cars!

I prefer the box because it goes where you expect when you drive it -I hate reversing with a trailer! And ime experience a small amount of day living is a godsend, somewhere clean to get changed, make a cuppa and sit out of the rain!:D
Click to expand...

I am with you on this one. Such a wimp. I have done it but don't enjoy it. A trailer would be easier but !!!!
 
This is my combo - horse approx. 670KG, (17.1HH) trailer either 600kKG or 650KG car is Vauxhall Vectra Elite, have 300KG + spare weight for towing. The Vectra has 150bhp which is what you need for towing -something with a lot of BHP for long slow motorway inclines or sharp hills. The Peugeot I had before was a 406 and going up the long slow incline on this particular stretch of motorway was a total nightmare - I had to put the hot fan on full blast in the car to stop the engine overheating. Think that only had 90bhp which is why.

attachment.php
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jal999 said:
Thank you. And that is a Rice trailer I think.
Click to expand...

Yes believe its the Rice Richardson or Richardson Rice, whichever way around it is. It was one of the lightest ones we could find in 1996, and it was only 18 months old when we bought it. Dad has done it all up inside and its immaculate although it needs seeing to again as the paint is all chipping away. Dad replaced the floor and bought the hardwood and tongue and grooved it and screwed it down. He also moved the breast bar forward and the partition is permanently fixed in a 3/4 to 1/4 shape to allow more room for the horse. He painted inside and out with yacht paint and changed the material on the ramps, including making new wooden struts for the ramps. He put a battery box on the front of the trailer outside and a light (for winter nights competing) above as well as a mirror so its easier to reverse and hook up the tow bar.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=e011ba64f9e97a8a414b1f8032044969&oe=581E56D7
 
Last edited by a moderator:
As others have said, horses transport tastes vary hugely - so trying before you buy is a VERY wise precaution - even if it means getting a pro transporter out for a short trip.

If you go trailer, a bigger tow vehicle would make sense, although I've towed with a Freelander which made nothing of it and a Disco which groaned - very odd!

But as a rule, if your budget allows it, conventional wisdom is that lorries are nicer for the horse and safer - and the extra space for odds and sods can make life a whole heap easier.

But, as ever, it's down to budget - what sort of ballpark did you have in mind?
 
jal999 said:
What is your 'coach built box'. And very roughly what would I expect to pay in insurance.
Click to expand...

If you look at 3.5t lorries, you'll either find those that still have the original body (van type), or ones where the back part of the vehicle above the chassis was removed and replaced with a taller box-style body ("coach built"). The same rules apply when it comes to the weight limit on either one of these options, but the coach built versions are generally give more head room for a big horse. A 3.5t lorry should have sufficient payload even for a large 16.3, so long as you don't travel another horse. The advantage over going with a bigger (greater payload) lorry is that you can get a normal MOT (no plating), and tax/insurance are pretty low, as is diesel. I pay £310 insurance and £235 tax per year on my van. Downside is that a lot of younger people with license restrictions are after them too, so they can cost quite a lot for what you get. Lastly, if you buy used, it's always a gamble how much unforeseen repairs might add to the bill. A well-maintained car (that you own anyway) and a trailer may be the less risky option in that respect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top