Warning to trailer users

[Irishcobs]

At the show I went to at the weekend, 2 trailers down from me was a youngster. He had been in the trailer the whole time I did Gyps class and then ridden him (about 1 1/2 hours) the whole time the trailer was shaken and he was screaming and moving about. When we got back to the trailer after riding Gyp the vet was with this horse. He had tried to climb over the front bar and gotten stuck, front end one side with the bar right up infront of his hind legs. The vet was trying to hold him up so they could undo the bar.
Dad shouted to me to get the allenkeys. A Ivor Willams trailer has bolts on the outside that lock the bars up that can be undone by allenkey even if there is half a ton of horse on it.
We had just got one bolt out when the horse some how got the backend over the bar and was upside down in the front of the trailer, we got the side ramp down and out fell the horse.
The poor thing was cut all over his legs (no protective stuff on at all) and his belly. He was walked for an hour and then sedated before the vet cleaned him up. We left, after talking to the vet to find out if he was ok, before they loaded him again.
The vet is now getting himself a set of allenkeys, with them the horse could of been out with in minutes with out the stress he went through. The owner hadn't realised either that you can undo the bolts from the outside.
So even if you horse is very good to travel and stand in the trailer the horse next to you might not be so good. A simple thing like an allenkey could save a horse.

 

[moneypit1]

Thanks for that info, thank goodness all ended well.

 

[jesterfaerie]

I am glad it all worked out well!

 

[brighteyes]

Quick thinking and I hope you were properly thanked! Ice cool or what........

 

[Loopy Lu]

I'd never even considered the fact you could release them from the outside, I'll sort out an allenkey and put it in the trailer - hopefully never to be used.

 

[Kat1e]

Well done, and good point about the allen keys, I didn't know you could do that with those trailers either, and I have one!

The allen keys shouldn't have been necessary though- why on earth was the poor horse left on a trailer for that long if he was so upset and where were the owners?!

 

[Irishcobs]

Brighteyes- we were thanked alot both by the vet and the owner.

The owner was there in the jockey door way, shouting No, stop it, etc. Why she didn't get him out I don't no.

 

[JM07]

wasn't a chestnut Section D???

same thing happened at the Hand EC a few weeks back...

owners no-where to be seen....

i just undid the front door/ramp untied him, and out he popped over the breastbar!!!

Didn't even get a thank you

 

[Irishcobs]

No its wasn't, was a little dark bay Tb type.
Peoples attitudes really do amaze me.

 

[burtie]

Yep, always carry my allen key with me. Hope I never need to use it though.

Hope the horse was OK, must have been awful for him.

 

[Donkeymad]

That's a very good tip for everybody to remember, whether they own an Ifor Williams or not, YOU having a set could be what saves a horse.

But why o why, do people leave their horses unattended in horse boxes/trailers, especially for so long.

 

[SpruceRI]

My Ifor hasn't got the allen key arrangement. Nuts and bolts all round it seems ....

 

[merlinsquest]

I always wondered what the spare key was for when buying my trailer.... no longer will it be kept in the filing cabinet!!!

Just goes to prove what a brill idea this forum is, you really do learn something new everyday!!!

 

[mlm]

when i got my ifor 6 months ago it came with a tool that you use to undo the bolt outside for the breast bar it is meant to be like a qiuck release option. . it looks like an L shaped and one end has the shape of a bolt ( a bit like a wrench). i am not sure if this is a new item or not. perhaps ifor will sell them as they are meant to stay witrh the trailer at all times

 

[trundle]

Captian, that sounds like an allen key. Defintiely worth keeping with the trailer.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Glad it ended ok. Thanks for a very useful tip, will go and put an allen key in the land rover now.

 

[mlm]

it is like an allen key bit is quite chunky. i keep it in the trailer at all times. i never got one before with my 505 but did with the new 510 classic.they explained to me when i picked up trailer that you just unscrew the bolt and the bar then release very quickly. hopefully i never have to find out

 

[Gingernags]

We bought a Cheval Liberte trailer, and it has quick release breast bars that can be done from outside...

They don't need an allen key, just something straight as the outer bolt is a loop of metal so you can brace a screwdriver or even hoofpick in it to turn it and release the bar.

I think most new trailers will have similar features in the future - but echo the main point - why on earth leave them in the trailer if they are getting upset and stressed?