why travel horses like this?

AMW

AMW

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Is it not dangerous to travel horses in trailers with the top of the side ramp in a trailer open, especially with horses on the same side. I personally would be worried and its not something I would ever consider doing. It just looks an accident waiting to happen. Saw several leaving a showground like this and the weather was awful, just curious why you would.
 
I have heard it is illegal to leave the front top door open? It's certainly a bad idea, if horse puts its head out it could get badly injured! Can't believe so many people would do it! :(
 
I followed one into the vet school today, figured at least they were heading the right way if the horse got it's head chopped off :rolleyes:
 
Ive not been able to track down anyone who can actually find any legislation banning it.

BUT

It is a breach of the way trailer manufacturers say the trailer should be used and for many insurance companies represents negligence on the owners part. So if the horse is blinded by a stone thrown up from the road or a passing vehicle, hit by a lorry while their head is sticking out or is injured or killed by a tree branch penetrating the trailer space, the insurance company will almost certainly reject any claim, since if using the trailer as per manufacturers instructions, the accident wouldnt have happened.

I know that some people have horses who struggle unless the front top window bit IS open, but that has to be a last resort and certainly you need to have massively strong mesh curtain over it so horse can see out but provide some protection against items being thown up.
 
someone here reported making an almost all perspex top door. I think people with horses that do not travel happily with the door closed need to make the effort to try a few more options/be inventive/purchase a lorry rather than just going oh well we'll leave it open it will be fine.
 
See this time and again, makes my blood boil!! (one of my pet hates!!) yes it is an accident waiting to happen, but under law, (welfare of animals (transport) order) it is an offence to transport an animal in a manner or in receptacle which is likely to cause injury or suffering, having regard to security, temperature etc etc.. It all comes down to whose version of 'likely' you go by.....

I was also astounded at a trailer I saw the other day, with the ponies facing backwards in their partitions, with their heads over the rear ramp!!!!

I would stress to anyone doing this that, IF an accident occured, not only might they find themselves in trouble with the law, but also their insurance would likely be made null/void, as they are travelling horses in a way which the trailer is not designed for.......
 
agree with everything said pure stupidity people doing this, do they actually realise the implications of what could happen.. people throw rubbish and cig ends out what if one flew in trailer and set it alight.. horses wouldnt stand a chance..

my personal opinion if horse wont travel without front top been open then for its own safety "DONT TRAVEL IT" or like has been said get a box or a trailer with large see through windows..

always a way round these things..
 
I can't work out why people do it either. I know that the owners don't drive with their heads sticking out of the window!

The people parked next to me yesterday at dressage drove off with the top door open like this. If I hadn't been quite so speechless, I would like to think that I would have said something!
 
I've seen this countless times and I don't understand why people do it - seems so risky! So easy for things to go wrong, for a horse to smack its head on something or get hit by stones, and so much more tempting for it to try jumping out the top too. Maybe it's because the owners think it improves airflow, but surely that's what windows are for :confused:
 
Downright stupidity, but it happens everywhere, we see it all the time here. Just as irresponsible as those who allow their dogs to stick their heads out of vehicle windows if you ask me - I wonder if the two go hand in hand?

I know this photo shows windows rather than ramps (because front ramps are rarer than hens teeth here) but why can't something like this be used as a top door? You get your ventilation, and light as you require.

f8cb953d.png
 
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