GinaGeo
Well-Known Member
Our present set up is an Ifor Williams 505 with no partition (horse won't travel alone, with one) and an old Jeep Grand Cherokee to tow - we've had this set up for the last 11 years and it's seen us through from 12hh ponies to horses. The Jeep is starting to get unreliable, expensive and we're lacking space and facilities. Mum and I have tentatively begun saving for a horsebox and whilst it'll be awhile yet we're starting to arrange our thoughts so we know what we're looking for. We've only ever had our trailer before, but mum is a confident driver and can drive upto a 7.5ton lorry. I was going to do my trailer test over summer, but am now going to hold fire and perhaps do the C1 test instead.
So what we need...
-We tend to go out at least once a week, usually with only one horse, either a 14.3hh Connemara or a 15.2hh Welsh D x TB. Sometimes, we go hacking or hunting together so need a bigger pay load than a 3.5 ton van would offer.
-We have several overnight stays planned for this season and spend a lot of time attempting to get changed in either the wind tunnel of a trailer, or discretely inside the car. My Grandmother, has also started to accompany us, and will need somewhere comfortable, warm and dry to sit. So a well arranged living is a must.
-Not too long - we live up a relatively tight, narrow bridleway. We've had big lorries up the driveway in the past, it is do-able. But don't want to upset the neighbours anymore than necessary!
Things we're not sure about...
-direction of travel? Herrigbone/rear/forward
-direction of load? rear/side
Mum's worried about a side ramp. What if anything were to happen and the lorry ended up on the side of the ramp? Does a side ramp unbalance the vehicle? When having to unload in tight spaces (hunting) is a side ramp very inconvenient?
-make/model? What's the most reliable/ nicest to drive/ gives the best drive
-size? 6.5ton/ 7.5ton
-who to buy from? dealer/ private seller
-Tack locker? in the horse area/ living area/ non at all
-How much ventilation is necessary?
-How much more money (roughly) does it cost to run a box per year compared to a car and trailer.
We have friends with a variety of boxes, I know the Connie will travel happily in a herringbone box, the younger boy has only travelled in the trailer, and he's the one that won't travel with a partition.
Is there anything else that you'd like to have/ would change about your boxes? This is going to be a big expense for us and we don't want to get it wrong!
Dad is an engineer/mechanic and will be coming a long to look at any prospective box when the time comes.
Thanks in advance!
So what we need...
-We tend to go out at least once a week, usually with only one horse, either a 14.3hh Connemara or a 15.2hh Welsh D x TB. Sometimes, we go hacking or hunting together so need a bigger pay load than a 3.5 ton van would offer.
-We have several overnight stays planned for this season and spend a lot of time attempting to get changed in either the wind tunnel of a trailer, or discretely inside the car. My Grandmother, has also started to accompany us, and will need somewhere comfortable, warm and dry to sit. So a well arranged living is a must.
-Not too long - we live up a relatively tight, narrow bridleway. We've had big lorries up the driveway in the past, it is do-able. But don't want to upset the neighbours anymore than necessary!
Things we're not sure about...
-direction of travel? Herrigbone/rear/forward
-direction of load? rear/side
Mum's worried about a side ramp. What if anything were to happen and the lorry ended up on the side of the ramp? Does a side ramp unbalance the vehicle? When having to unload in tight spaces (hunting) is a side ramp very inconvenient?
-make/model? What's the most reliable/ nicest to drive/ gives the best drive
-size? 6.5ton/ 7.5ton
-who to buy from? dealer/ private seller
-Tack locker? in the horse area/ living area/ non at all
-How much ventilation is necessary?
-How much more money (roughly) does it cost to run a box per year compared to a car and trailer.
We have friends with a variety of boxes, I know the Connie will travel happily in a herringbone box, the younger boy has only travelled in the trailer, and he's the one that won't travel with a partition.
Is there anything else that you'd like to have/ would change about your boxes? This is going to be a big expense for us and we don't want to get it wrong!
Dad is an engineer/mechanic and will be coming a long to look at any prospective box when the time comes.
Thanks in advance!