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Horsebox world FAQ's
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Manufacturers and Dealer Information
The United Kingdom is Europe’s largest single market for Horseboxes. The UK is quite unique in the way that it conducts its business, mainland Europe is very different in that it has much more compliance than our domestic market.
href="http://www.horseboxworld.com">Horsebox Manufacturerssuch as Ketterer spezialfahrzeuge (Germany), AK Horseboxes (Germany), MTM (France), Roelofsen Horse Trucks (Holland), Konig spezialfahrzeuge (Germany), Valli special vehicles (Italy), Chardron (France), Stephex (Belgium, Paragan (CZ), who manufacture Oakleys 3.5 horsebox. These all have a presence in the UK but sales on the whole fall under their own country’s legislation, which when purchasing your horse lorry need to be aware of.
Theault have a strong representation in the UK particularly in the Racing fraternity, and have an excellent reputation and service back up service through Renault UK. ATAcanter in Peterborough are now the main dealer for Theault on the UK mainland.
The UK’s and probibly the worlds largest producer and builder of href="http://www.horseboxworld.com">Horseboxis Oakley, with over 60 years of experience, and is considered the UK’s premier horsebox builder, based in Ware Hartfordshire, starting production in 1947, Oakley has a strong reputation with over 100 units sold every year both home and abroad, and are considered at the forefront within the Horsebox industry.
The UK is also unique in the fact that the majority of equine competitors use trucks rather than Horse trailers, which is more commonplace on the continent, the gross laden weight being the main concern and the more stringent use of Tachographs in Horseboxes on the continent.
Designs and configurations of Horseboxes come in many different guises generally 2 stall 3.5t, 5t or 6t two stall with living, 3 stall 7.5 ton with living and a wet or bathroom. Once 2 Horses are stalled in a 7.5t Horsebox with full living, and its equipped with food, drink, clothing, 2 people and tack this maximum weight is often exceeded, it is important that Horsebox drivers are aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that the gross horsebox weight is not exceeded.
7.5t Horseboxes tend to then move to 10t, 12 ton, 15t units, these are considered mid range sized Horseboxes. Full Size horseboxes are then either 18 Tonne (2 Axle) or 26t (3 Axle), From the mid range 10 ton unit these will be stalled for anything from 4 Horses up to 9 Horses.
All the >Horsebox manufacturers can be found on our searchable database through the facility on the left of this page, just type in the name of the manufacturer or typing in your postcode will find your local Coachbuilder, manufacturer or dealer.
Our comprehensive database has information on all of the following manufacturers.
Prestige, ABI, Alexanders of Boroughbridge, Annard in Northern Ireland, Arlington, Ascot Limited, AVA , Badminton , Bonnington, Brackley, Brentwood Ltd, Bretherton Coachworks, Brian Morley, Brooklands, Browns Coachworks in Northern Ireland, Bunnage, C&R Days, C&S, Castle, Chaigley Coachworks (Horsebox), Champion, Charlton, Chepstow, Cheshire, Davenport, David Murray Limited, DBH, East Anglian, Empire, Equetrux Equicruiser Limited, Finecraft, Foxlea Horsebox Parts, FVM, G Cooke Coachbuilders, Galaxy, Galloper Horsebox, Gazely, GB Bodybuilders, Gbaines, George Smith, Grey, H&C, Hammond , Harley , Hemingborough , Hickman, Highbury ,Highwood, Horsebox Ireland, Huish, Ian Bone & Sons, J&J Wood , JSW, John Rose, K&S, K&P, Ketterer Horseboxes, Kevin Parker, Kingfisher, KM Horseboxes, Lehel Coachbuilders,
Maneline, Marlborough, Maudsley Horseboxes, McGarry Horseboxes, MD, Mail Coachworks, Middlewood, Midland Minster, Morgan Coachbuilders, Moorhouse Coachbuilders, MP Horseboxes, Mulberry Horseboxes, New Forest, Newbert , Oakland, Oakley horseboxes, Olympic coachworks, Patterson , Peper Harow, PRB, Premier, Principle , Priory Stud, Profile Horseboxes, Quigley Horseboxes, Regent Horseboxes, S&L,
Select Horsebox Sales, Solitare, Sovereign, Staffordshire Horseboxes, Stratford, Thorpe, Three Counties horseboxes, Transform, Tristar, Trojan, Whittingham Horsebox, Wilkinson and of course Theault, Regent, and Whittaker Horseboxes.
If your buying a used horsebox from any manufacturer or dealer, its still best to get a Horsebox inspection. Check what warranty there is, as a consumer buying from a bonefide dealer you have considerable rights regarding merchantable quality etc. So make sure you know whats covered.
Horsebox Hire from Horsebox world
Horsebox Hire from horseboxworld.com
Horseboxworld.com is accepted as the UK's best suppliers of Horsebox Hire. Horsebox Hire Companies choose horseboxworld.com as one of their preferred site for their Horsebox Hire advertisements, if your looking for Horsebox hire, your in the right place.
Very Shortly we will be adding more information on the benefits of self drive Horsebox Hire,keep checking our FAQ's for more details.
Horsebox Hire By County
You will find Horsebox hire available in the following counties & towns through Horsebox World:
Horsebox hire in
Horse trailers in
Bedfordshire (Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade, Sandy)
Berkshire (Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Newbury, Windsor, Wokingham, Abingdon)
Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Slough, Buckingham, High Wycombe)
Cambridgeshire (Cambridge, Wisbech, Ely, March, Whittlesey, Chatteris, Linton) Atacanter
Cheshire (Chester, Stockport, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead, Wallasey, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Crewe)
Cornwall (Bodmin, Truro, Camborne, Redruth, St. Austell, Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay)
Cumberland (Carlisle, Whitehaven, Workington, Penrith, Keswick, Brampton)
Derbyshire (Derby, Chesterfield, Ilkeston, Swadlincote, Buxton, Matlock, Ashbourne)
Devon (Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Paignton, Barnstaple, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Tavistock)
Horsebox Hire Dorset (Dorchester, Poole, Weymouth, Sherborne, Wimborne Minster, Shaftesbury)
Durham (Durham, Sunderland, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, Hartlepool, Gateshead, Washington)
Essex (Chelmsford, Basildon, Romford, Southend, Colchester, Harlow, Brentwood, West Ham)
Horsebox Hire Gloucestershire (Gloucester, Bristol, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Tewkesbury)
Hampshire (Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Newport)
Herefordshire (Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Leominster, Ledbury, Bromyard, Kington)
Hertfordshire (Hertford, Watford, St. Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Hatfield)
Huntingdonshire (Huntingdon, St. Ives, St. Neots, Ramsey, Yaxley)
Kent (Maidstone, Canterbury, Bromley, Rochester, Margate, Folkestone, Dover, Greenwich)
Lancashire (Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Bolton, Warrington, Barrow-in-Furness)
Horsebox HireLoughborough, Hinckley, Melton Lincolnshire (Lincoln, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Boston, Grantham, Stamford, Skegness, Louth)
Middlesex (Horsebox Hire London, Harrow, Enfield, Staines, Ealing, Potters Bar, Westminster )
Norfolk (Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Dereham, Cromer, Hunstanton)
Northamptonshire (Northampton, Peterborough, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough)
Horsebox Hire Northumberland (Alnwick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Morpeth, Hexham, Berwick-upon-Tweed)
Nottinghamshire (Nottingham, Mansfield, Worksop, Newark, Retford, Southwell)
Oxfordshire (Oxford, Banbury, Witney, Bicester, Henley-on-Thames, Carterton, Thame)
Rutland (Oakham, Uppingham. Cottesmore)
Shropshire (Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Ludlow)
Somerset (Taunton, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Wells, Glastonbury)
Staffordshire (Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Cannock, Lichfield)
Suffolk (Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds, Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Sudbury, Haverhill, Bungay)
Surrey (Guildford, Croydon, Woking, Sutton, Kingston-on-Thames, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Brixton)
Sussex (Chichester, Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Hastings, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis.
Used horsebox buyers guide
Used Horsebox Buyers Guide
Buying any vehicle can be quite a minefield, particularly a Horsebox, as there are many pitfalls awaiting the potential buyer. This guide is aimed at being a concise and simple aid-memoir when to buying a box. The guide is exactly that, but most importantly it establishes what exactly you need.
Firstly, take some time to take stock of what you really need, not want, Need! A fancy Oak living is all very well when you get to the weighbridge and your 1 ton over! Get a piece of paper and write down firstly what you want to use the box for, and what you’re looking to use it for in the future. Ie more weekend shows away or longer, international shows, maybe long term shows such as the Sunshine Tour or Arrezzo in Italy.
Now you know what you immediately need and your future requirements its time to ask yourself a number of key questions: How many Horses do we need to carry at any one time, what tack and equipment do we need to carry, how many people need to sleep in the box (if any), What luxury’s do we need and what would we like? If you have written all these down you now have the basic ingredients to spec. up your truck. A great number of people rush into buying a truck because its aesthetically pleasing rather than actually practical for what they want.
Each equine discipline has different needs for instance; Eventer’s will always need more than show pony competitor.
Heres a short example of a Horsebox spec:
Horses to Carry: 3
Horse section Tack: 2 Saddles, Bridles, 4 Rugs
Living to sleep: 2/3
Living storage: Clothes, Jackets, Boots, Food, Drink.
Living needed: Yes + bathroom
Its always best to add another a Horse section to the number you want to carry to give you some potential for expansion and some extra storage, but don’t forget more kit, more weight! And it’s the drivers responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is under its gross laden weight.
Now you have your Horsebox specification (and using the example above) you know you need at least a small HGV (Say a 12 or 15t chassis).
Horsebox Chassis make is a little like choosing your choice of car, every make has its own features and benefits against other makes. All the quality manufactures have pros and cons, some roll more than others, some are heavier, some drive more like a car than a truck, some are noisier etc. Ask friends who have different chassis what they think, everybody has their own opinion! That’s for sure. Horsebox manufacturers have their own “pet” makes because it suits their type of build, so they are prob. not the best people to ask. For reliability, look around the lorry park at a show and see what most people have and its likely they are the chassis choice to go for.
Its important that you also make sure your horsebox has enough power, many builders will put a huge box on a chassis designed to move boxes of breakfast cereal around!, a rule of thumb is to get the most powerful chassis you can, it won’t make a jot of difference to the MPG in the long term.
OK, we have chosen our size of Horsebox (4 Stall, 15 Ton) and its time to start looking for one in the classifieds or have one built.
If your going to purchase a Horsebox privately or from the trade, before you jump in your car and travel 100’s of miles for a wasted day, there are a few questions that take a few minutes to ask and could save you hours and £000’s in the long run.
1) Does the seller know what the unladen vehicle weight is and would they sell it with a weighbridge ticket. From this you can work out if it suits your needs. This applies from everything from a 3.5t 2 Horse to a 26t 9 Horse transporter, if anyone is selling a truck that they know is heavy they will run a mile from this question, and its time to move on.
2) What is the make of the body, this is a question that many people ignore, if its been manufactured by a reputable make then it makes the chances of it being made to some sort of standard far more likely, at the moment anyone can be a “Horsebox builder”, with no regulation. So try and buy a recognised make of Box.
3) How many miles does the chassis have, even if its done hundreds of thousands of miles/ km’s may not matter, the important bit is that it has a service history. don’t be afraid of an ex-Argos or Currys delivery truck, they will have had light work, little weight, will be high mileage but, will have a full service history. Rather than knowing your truck was owned by a one man band scaffold company that may not maintain the truck so well, but it will have lower mileage.
4) When is the vehicle taxed until and when does the MOT (Plate) run out.
5) Ask them to give a brief description of the condition of the Horse section, the living, the cab, the paintwork.
If the vehicle is from a Horsebox manufacturer or dealer, then always ask what guarantee or warranty is given.
If all of the questions have a positive answer and feel, then a trip to have a look is going to be well worthwhile. On your initial visit it would be more than worthwhile to carry out the following to limit the risk of buying a heap of junk!:
1) Don’t look at the truck in the dark or rain, they both hide a multitude of sins!
2) Always ask to start the truck from cold, this will highlight any immediate battery problems or excessive smoking.
3) Check the tyres for any excessive wear, the minimum depth is 1.6mm over the width of the tyre, make sure that wear is even.
4) The general condition of the vehicle on inspection will tell you a lot about how its been looked after!, If there is muck in the horse section, untidy tack lockers, and rubbish in the cab, its likely that its not been very well looked after.
5) Take the time to check everything works, the more complex the truck, takes more time, if it has all the mod cons, such as an on board generator, microwave, water heater etc. you need to see all of these things working, for example a broken diesel water heater could cost over £800! Check everything from the seat belts to the cab radio to the rear ramp catches.
If your still happy, its now time to go for a test drive, never buy a box without a test drive!, again here’s a few pointers to help you along the road of purchasing your horsebox!
1) Make sure your insured and you have the correct sort of licence to drive the vehicle, if your not make sure the driver carries out the following.
2) Before you set off turn the wheel from lock to lock, and drive forward and reverse a few yards there should be no loud knocks or bangs.
3) Test the handbrake, apply it, then try and pull off. If it does not try and hold the vehicle back something’s wrong.
4) Make sure you go through all the gears, try a hill start. Once your on a straight length of road lightly take pressure off the steering wheel, the vehicle should still drive in a near straight line and not pull. If this is OK apply the brakes and check the vehicle does not pull.
If your happy so far you really have 2 options, if your mechanically and knowledgeable about inspecting a vehicle its quite likely that you will know If the vehicles for you or not. Otherwise, if you still think “It’s the one!” leave a small deposit and get the vehicle professionally inspected.
The Haggle!
Thankfully the equine sector is very good at negotiating, so once you have decided on the truck then always haggle!, be confident and non confrontational and the chances are you will get some money knocked off!
New Manufactuer Build Horsebox Buying Guide
New Build Horsebox Buying Guide from a Horsebox manufacturer.
If your lucky enough to be in the position to purchase a new build Horsebox, this guide is aimed at making sure that you get the very best for your money, weather your buying a new 2 Stall Renault Master up to a 26t Rolling Gin palace, these easy tips apply to them all.
As per the used buyers guide, its important to establish what you really need. Ie:
Firstly, take some time to take stock of what you really need, not want, Need! A fancy Oak living is all very well when you get to the weighbridge and your 1 ton over! Get a piece of paper and write down firstly what you want to use the box for, and what you’re looking to use it for in the future. Ie more weekend shows away or longer, international shows, maybe long term shows such as the Sunshine Tour or Arrezzo in Italy.
Now you know what you immediately need and your future requirements its time to ask yourself a number of key questions: How many Horses do we need to carry at any one time, what tack and equipment do we need to carry, how many people need to sleep in the box (if any), What luxury’s do we need and what would we like? If you have written all these down you now have the basic ingredients to spec. up your truck.
Each equine discipline has different needs for instance; Eventer’s will always need more than show pony competitor.
Heres a short example of a Horsebox spec:
Horses to Carry: 3
Horse section Tack: 2 Saddles, Bridles, 4 Rugs
Living to sleep: 2/3
Living storage: Clothes, Jackets, Boots, Food, Drink.
Living needed: Yes + bathroom
Its always best to add another a Horse section to the number you want to carry to give you some potential for expansion and some extra storage, but don’t forget more kit, more weight! And it’s the drivers responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is under its gross laden weight.
At this point purchase gets a little more complex, Horsebox manufacturers can be rather economical on what chassis would really suit your needs best. Firstly weight is the 1st priority, and not just gross vehicle weight, but Axle weights. A 7.5t with a huge living stalled for 3 Horses will have a great deal of weight over the front axle, because of the living interior weight and the Luton, it is very important that weight distribution is even over the length of the vehicle. All reputable manufacturers will give you a Horsebox weight certificate both for the gross unladen weight and the axle weights.
The Horsepower of the Chassis is also a point that’s “brushed” over, the reason for this is the cost of a 4x2 230HP CP14 Cab Scania over a 440HP Mercedes Mega Space is over £20,000 but they will both be quoting on the same amount of stalls and living specification!
Therefore the start process of any build from a Horsebox manufacturer is to ensure that you know the cost of the chassis, and when your getting alternative quotes they are quoting on the same specification, and that its like for like.
For example if we are having a 2 stall Renault master built, make sure the basic spec is the same from each manufacturer, esp. for items such as the transmission, bi-xenon lights and the ever important engine Horsepower!
For lets say a 26t Horsebox, which come at the top end of marketplace, there are even more opportunities to pick the wrong chassis, and end up paying £000’s to much. It is imperative to get the base cost of the chassis, to the spec. you have discussed and decided on, and stick to it. Some manufacturers will have a preference for a number of different reasons.
This is no problem, for example if a Scania is preferred, the spec. from an alternative builder should be compared making sure that the following is the same:
Engine Configuration, Horse power, Transmission type, Cab Type, rear lift/ steer.
The cost between makes is £000’s and its too late once you have placed the order! Horsebox builders have been known to use this as a tool to uplift profit! Make sure you start at the bottom of your Horsebox build and work up!
Next is the easy bit, doing the specification for the truck. All reputable builders will give you a detailed specification sheet and price once you have given them your requirements, every builder will have different spec’s and floor plans to suit your needs. The area to concentrate on is the ancillary equipment specification, this is the area that sorts the good builders from the exceptional the latter using international companies for Generators, Water Pumps, Electrical systems (Inverters & safety systems, lighting), heaters etc. Insist that all of these are on the specification sheet including the make and model.
Horseboxes that have well respected makes and models are inherently more reliable and hold their future value far more than ones that use smaller unknown or products from the far east or eastern Europe.
Now we have established the specification and price of the chassis, the specification of the body, the quality of the ancillary of the Horsebox parts and components we move onto the subject that the majority of Horsebox buyers overlook, and it’s probably the most important, that being warranty and aftercare.
Its very easy to say “we will look after you!” after you have spent a small fortune, because in all reality this does not happen, with very few exceptions. Most manufacturers have a “back to base” warranty policy. This is not very helpful if you have bought it from a German or Dutch company and they don’t have a base (Factory supported) in the UK or Ireland. It’s not over important to have the Horsebox manufacturers on your doorstep, as good quality coachbuilders will have an effective collection and delivery service.
If we look back to having quality Horsebox parts and components, builders who use the like of Webasto, Mastervolt, Dometic type equipment will generally use the manufacturers call out service, whereas this does not apply to non international companies. It is imperative that when you sign the purchase contract that the warranty policy is carefully inspected, reputable Horsebox manufacturers won’t have any issue with this.
So far we have covered the practical parts of the purchase. There are some practical “nitty gritty” issues that like to be avoided by Horsebox builders, and that being legal obligations.
Once you are happy that you have some comparative quotes, that have not hidden anything, shown the chassis price, given you a full specification with the make and model of everything down to the TV you have negotiated the price and its time to place your order.
Every reputable manufacturer will have a purchase contract. Its no secret that horsebox builders go bust, and more often than you think, so its very important that the terms of purchase are fair to all concerned.
If your going to be paying a considerable deposit then you need to know that the company is in a strong financial position. Some Coachbuilders will take a small deposit and ask for the chassis to be paid for upon its delivery, however they may not use your money to pay for the chassis, but use it to fund the build, so in a worst case scenario you own…. Nothing. If you are paying for a new chassis, ask for it to be registered then you are the legal owner.
If you feel at all unsure about the contract we offer a brokerage service, and we will look over your contract free of charge. It may be that we recommend a letter of credit, a change in the contract terms, or Escrow arrangements. Please contact us for further details.
Horsebox Sellers guide
Is your Horsebox for Sale worthy of purchase??
Your looking at changing your horsebox, either because you need to up or down size, your requirements have changed such as your family growing or your horse numbers are dwindling (or increasing!), and its time to advertise your Horsebox for sale. We have put together a few hints and tips below to help you make the best of marketing your pride and joy.
Firstly, put yourself in the boots of the potential Horsebox purchaser, if you were to come and look at your Horsebox what would you question, chances are it’s the “bits and parts” that you have been putting off for ages. The key here is to get them done, little bits of paintwork, make sure all the tack lockers shut and lock properly, all the ancillary equipment works such as the Horse wash, water pump, heaters, gas appliances, shower etc, make sure even the radio in the cab is tuned in and works when you jump in.
Once your happy that all the Horsebox Windows, Parts, Lockers, Ramp etc. all work as they should, you need to make sure that its serviceable, and ready to go. Make sure the Battery is fully charged so it starts 1st time, and the most important part, is that it looks clean, tidy and presentable, and its a Horsebox that someone would want to buy. If you have had servicing done and have a record have these to hand with the V55, MOT (Plate), and any bills that you have to show to potential purchasers when they come.
Now it is time to advertise your horsebox for sale. You might not need to spend a fortune with web or magazine adverts initially, make sure you tell your friends it’s for sale and put a smart laminated For Sale sign in the truck windows with your number. Not a scrawled piece of paper! You will be surprised at a show how much interest you get. This is a great way to sell if you’re not in any hurry.
However, Most people will take out a classified advertisement in the Horseboxes for Sale section, on a web or hard copy media medium, hopefully horseboxworld.com!, 1st impressions count, and its really important that the visual impact on first impression gets interest. Take 2 pictures each of the following views: Front, Rear, Flat Side, Side and Front combined living, bathroom, horse section.
Take your pictures in a clear and bright location, make sure you don’t have rotting jumps or beaten out cars in the background, and take them at the brightest time of the day. Also take the pictures from being knelt down; it gives pictures a better perspective.
When you do your text for the advert, be concise, don’t ramble on about not wanting to sell it!, Use terms like 1st to see will buy and make sure you put on when the MOT & Tax run out, how many stalls it has and if it has any special features like a night heater or Horse wash. Don’t worry about saying what colour it is they can see that from the pictures.
You can also be helpful to the potential buyer by telling them how long you have had it, why you’re selling it, be as helpful as possible without being smothering. Make sure they get some time alone to look around it, this is a good opportunity to go and make them a cup of tea.
Make sure you offer them a test drive (providing you are insured), or you take them! It shows confidence in what your selling. Tell them also if you have breakdown cover / insurance and who its with and your experience with them, its all good will and costs nothing.
If you are made an offer, negotiate! Thankfully the equine sector is very good at doing deals. If you have closed a deal on a handshake don’t be afraid of asking for a deposit, £500 minimum to 10% is not unreasonable if they are a serious buyer. Don’t forget the purchaser will need to organise insurance and possibly finance, they may also consider having a professional Horsebox inspection carried out.
Finally, you have done the deal, they have paid the deposit, and they have asked for an invoice, and onto the most important part. Its not sold until its paid for, in full! And that means cleared funds in the bank. If they give you a bankers draft, it needs to be banked at least 24 hours, the same with a CHAP’s or BAC’s payment. It might look like its on your bank account but it can be pulled back! So ensure its cleared funds.
Horsebox Inspections
You would not buy a £10000 Horse without a comprehensive 5 Star vetting. So should be be spending the same without getting a professional vehicle inspection. The condition of Horse trailers and particularly Horseboxes can be horrifying with potential purchasers failing to pick up on a plethora of possible faults. Horsebox world operates a comprehensive Horsebox inspections scheme with a 120 point check list and a comprehensive HPI check and weight certificate.
However it’s not unusual for potential Horsebox and trailer purchasers to do their own checks before commissioning a professional inspection. Below is a check list, and a few pointers to help those avoid buying an unsuitable Horsebox from the vast array of Horseboxes on the market, either in the classifieds or from a Dealer or Manufacturer.
Firstly its important that you read our Used horsebox buyers guide, this should initially prevent you having a wasted journey! However if you have decided that the trips worthwhile then we hope the following hints and tips are useful to you. But before you leave, take some dirty clothes or overalls, and a large cardboard box! you will need them!
Here are the key points for your own mini Horsebox inspections
1) On arrival make sure that the Horsebox has not been started, this is never a good start, this has been done because either the battery is in poor condition, or it smokes heavily. Cold start testing during your own inspection is very important.
2) Now time to have a good look around the Horsebox, take a notepad with you, faults that you find are always a good reason to negotiate on price. Start with the paintwork, look for paint bubbles, rusty areas etc. If you find a large patch that’s been repainted push this hard with your thumb, this could be a sign of a hole that’s just been filled and “covered” up. Concentrate on areas around the ramp and the cab/ Luton.
3) Next its time to get dirty. Get your cardboard box, and open it out flat, you can now use this as a mat! Have a good look under the Horsebox, particularly under the horse section and the toilet / bathroom. Look out for holes, rotting wood, loose wires, broken straps around fuel or water tanks, and even though your no expert you will be able to spot shoddy workmanship, even some of the best manufacturers can be court out with this, with technicians working on an “out of sight / out of mind basis”. Again make a note of anything that looks out of place. Don’t be worried or embarrassed about looking under the truck, anyone selling a well maintained horsebox will be more than comfortable with the situation. This is the key area that many Horseboxes fail on their inspection.
4) The horse section is the next port of call. Look out for broken welding, sharp edges, waterleaks, make sure the windows work, is it clean, has it got last trips muck still in it?, If so, the likelihood is its not very well maintained.
5) If the horsebox has a living, then check for water ingress, this wrecks any vehicle very quickly, look inside the cupboards for rodent damage, as with the horse section, if it’s clean and tidy its more likely that pride and care has been taken looking after the vehicle. Water tends to come in around the top of the Luton, and around where the cab meets the body. Check that any ancillary’s such as a cooker, heating, water heater, fridge, hob etc all work, this applies to the bathroom as well. The water pump on Horsebox is one of the most common items to fail. Wiring looms on Horseboxes are a small fortune to repair so make sure the lights / fans etc all work.
6) Moving onto the cab, if you find a can of easy start, this may indicate starting issues, but overall, its general condition will tell you how its been looked after over. Check the lights, electrical items, even the radio!, a good initial inspection will find electrical faults which can lead to a very expensive repair.
7) Finally its time to start and test the horsebox, start it, and observe the amount of smoke, if it seems excessive this may show considerable engine wear and tear over its life. Leave the handbrake on, raise the rev’s and lift the clutch, it should not move. If it does the Handbrake could be worn out. Also check that the steering does not knock or bang.
This process should not take more than about 45 minutes, and could save you £000’s. Don’t ever buy a horsebox on how it looks, fancy paintwork won’t help you when you stuck on the showground with your horses leg through the floor.
A subject that we are very often asked about is tilt or non tilt cabs. Maintaining a non tilt horsebox is very difficult indeed, and if it’s a new chassis it may invalidate the chassis manufacturer’s warranty, we have known a new premier make 7.5t Horsebox to go for a chassis recall and the customer then to be given a £5500 bill because of the fixed cab and additional work. Our advice, is always go for a tilt cab, the positives are that you won’t have any maintenance issues, but the negatives flagged up by builders are “its heavier”, and “they leak”, both of these statements are true, if the jobs not done properly.
The question we ask people to ask themselves is “would you buy a car with a welded down bonnet?”, and if your spending a considerable amount on the horsebox, then the question is even more important.
If you’re spending over £20,000 a professional Horsebox inspections should be a must, as is a weight certificate. You really should know the payload and capacity of what you’re buying. Otherwise that’s it, if everything checks out; you have done an HPI check (a service provided by Horseboxworld). You should have many happy trips in your new Horsebox.
Horseboxworld carry out inspections for a number of public authorities as well as being the approved inspection service for Equine Rescue Services.
Horsebox and Trailer Licence law and legislation
Driving Licence requirements for towing Horse trailers and driving horseboxes:
Towing is classified into the following categories.
Category B vehicles: Vehicles up to 3.5t Maximum Authorised Weight
Category C1 Vehicles: Horseboxes between 3.5t & 7.5t Maximum Authorised Weight (MAM)
If you passed your test before the first of January 1997 you are entitled to drive a vehicle and horse trailer combination not exceeding 8.25 t Maximum Authorised Weight.
If you passed your test after first of January 1997you are limited to vehicles up to 3.5t Maximum Authorised Weight, towing a trailer (any trailer not just a horse trailer) up to 750kg, or a total combined weight of up to 3.5 tonnes, Maximum Authorised Weight, as long as the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.
For example a Discovery has an unladen mass of approximately 2200kg. If you hold a Cat B licence you could tow a trailer up to 1300kg. But you must also calculate the weight of people in the vehicle, fuel and general load (remember 25 litres of water weighs 25kg, so a full tank of fuel would be about 70 kg’s), which will reduce the towing weight, as you cannot exceed 3.5t in combined weight, this is established at a roadside check via a weighbridge check or weigh pads.
Using the same example for a Cat C1 licence holder the same vehicle is permitted to tow a braked trailer to MAM of 3.5t. However you must not exceed the kerb weight of the towing vehicle, which in this example is 2.2t. Therefore the total combination weight would be 4.4t.
A double horsebox trailer (such as an Ifor Williams HB505) generally weights unladen approximately 900 kg. If you then add 2 horse at 600kg each and food and tack at 100kg you will have a gross weight of 2.2t. This would be the maximum weight permissible towing behind a Discovery with a C1 licence but would not be permissible with a Cat. B licence.
Operators Licences for Horseboxes
In general if you operate a vehicle or vehicle trailer combination over 3.5t MAM for hire & reward you need an Operators Licence. Hire & Reward means expecting any payment for the transportation of goods, or your income requires you to transport horses (For instance if you’re a professional rider and produce horses as an income), but not necessarily a livery yard when the horsebox is for personal use, as long as part of your income does not directly come from hire and reward or produce horses professionally and therefore need to take them to shows.
If you use your horsebox for professional use, you will need to abide by the driving hours restrictions.
An Operators Licence is obtained via VOSA and you must meet certain criteria. This includes:
□ Proof of financial standing.
□ Proof of a six weekly maintenance schedule.
□ Complying with the driving hours rules & regulations and keeping the appropriate records.
□ The holding of a Certificate of Professional Competency or appointing someone with a CPC.
□ A defect procedure.
□ A effective system for filing and managing all records.
A person with a 7.5t horsebox who transports their own horse to amateur shows and it is NOT their main occupation does not need to hold an Operators Licence and does not fall within the driving hour’s regulations.
However as soon as you except payment for transporting someone else’s horse to the same show you would fall under the Operators Licence regulations, VOSA openly admit that this is grey area and open to interpretation.
If a person's main business (income) relies on transporting horses to shows and producing etc, you will then come under the regulations.
All operators of vehicles over 7.5 MAM regardless of operating for hire & reward or not must abide by the driving hours regulations, there is NO grey area and MUST run a tachograph in the Horsebox.
Horsebox and Horse trailer weight rules
This is a simple calculation but one you have to be very aware of. All vehicles over 3.5t should have a VOSA plate located in the vehicle stating the unladen weight and the gross permissible weight MAM (Maximum Authorised Weight). This plate will also state axle weights, which is VERY important especially for horseboxes, axle weighs are the most often overlooked issue regarding horsebox purchase.
You simply take the unladen weight and add the load being carried and this should not exceed the MAM.
A typical 7.5t horsebox will have an unladen weight of anything between 4t and 6t and the load carried cannot exceed 7.5t including the drivers, fuel, horses tack etc etc.
If you horsebox has an unladen weight of 5t you cannot exceed a 2.5t load. If you are carrying 2 horses at 700 kg each and feed and tack of 500kg this would add up to 1.9t which would give you a total weight of 6.9t.
To be sure of what your vehicle weight is, it is advisable to weight your vehicle at a public weight bridge both empty with fuel and passengers and loaded with horses and equipment. If your purchasing a Horsebox, its really important to know the unladen weight of the vehicle.
Some horseboxes are surprising heavy with a large body and ancillary equipment and this will vastly reduce your carrying capacity.
Unfortunately the law is very strict with overloading and ignorance is no defence.
The same will apply for vehicles under 3.5t MAM and a vehicle and trailer combination.
Roadside Checks
VOSA is an independent government authority and have their own targets to meet, and Horsebox and Horse trailers are easy targets, Horseboxes are regularly unused for long periods of time and are regularly overweight, and sadly Horsebox owners are not really aware of how powerful VOSA are, and work on a head in the sand strategy.
During a VOSA check, your vehicle will be weighed as well to ensure it is operating within its weight limits and the general condition of the body will also be checked, the inspection of your horsebox will be thorough.
If you are not sure of the condition of your vehicle make sure you get an independent inspection before the start of the season by a reputable Horsebox dealer / manufacturer or HGV mechanic.
VOSA are very concerned about road safety and if your vehicle is checked and proved not to be roadworthy it will be removed from the road immediately and then it will be up to you to arrange recovery of the vehicle and the horse/s. at your cost.
Any vehicle pulled over by VOSA should have completed their inspection within 20 minutes.
Driving Hours – The simple facts
All vehicles over 3.5t must be by law fitted with a tachograph and the drivers must work within the driver’s hours regulation. (For example you should have a 45 minute break after driving for 4.5 hours).
Fortunately, all horseboxes 7.5t MAM (Maximum Authorised Weight) registered before 2006 do not need a tachograph to be fitted.
Horseboxes registered after 2006 date must have a tachograph fitted.
If you drive a horsebox between 3.5t and 7.5t for personal use and for no financial gain you do not have to abide by the Driving Hours Regulations. However if you drive a vehicle over 7.5t a tachograph must be fitted and you must comply with the Driving Hours regulations, there is no exception to this, and not running a tachograph is an offence which your vehicle could be impounded.
Alternatively if you drive and horsebox between 3.5t and 7.5t for hire and reward you must have a tachograph fitted and must comply with the Driving Hours Regulations. This category of vehicle will also full under the Operators Licence Regulations.
The working time directive also applies to professional drivers, which will affect people driving for hire and reward.
If you have any questions about Horsebox regulations, why no visit our stand at one of the shows.
HGV Horsebox training rules and facts.
At some point its quite likely that your will have outgrown your 7.5t or as licence requirements change comes more into force, your going to have to take some training to get the appropriate licence for an HGV Horsebox (or LGV to use the modern term).
The good news is that its really not that daunting, and think of it as a new skill to learn and relish. Its really quite good fun, and the thought of passing your test is going to be really difficult, nothing could be further from reality.
Getting your licence can be broken into a number of steps, firstly getting a medical (you get this from your doctor), get your provisional licence, this is available from the DSA or the DVLA, Book your lessons, take your test, Pass your test and that’s it, How easy can it be to get your HGV licence for Horseboxes.
Most people only really need The LGV Category C Licence, this replaces the old HGV Category 3 and 2 Licences. The HGV 3 Licence allowed the holder to drive any ridged HGV vehicle with no more than two axles. The HGV 2 Licence allowed the holder to drive any rigid HGV vehicle with more than two axles.
The holder of the new LGV Category C Licence is qualified to drive any LGV rigid vehicle no matter what the size, weight, or number of axles, in reality most horseboxes will be between 12 and 18 tons.
The LGV Category C Licence also allows the holder to train for the LGV Category C+E entitlement (Articulated Vehicles or Vehicles Towing Trailers). The time limit on how long an LGV Category C Licence must be held before training can commence on a LGV Category C+E Vehicle is simply how long the DVLA in Swansea take to process the Licence. The processing generally takes between one and two weeks. This can be shortened if the application is sent by Registered Post.
The good news is that some reputable horsebox manufacturers, who are aware of weight issues, include a training scheme within the price of the truck.
Horsebox training really is not that daunting, we have teamed up with Fresh Logic, to give a national Horsebox and horse trailer training scheme at a fixed cost.
Breakdown, Tyre and Recovery Handy Hints
Having your Horsebox break down at any point in time is a stressful and annoying experience, whether this be 2 miles from your home or at the showground. The majority of breakdowns are in fact tyre related, and the high percentage of the others, are down to poor vehicle maintenance. However, one thing is a fact, getting into a flap and having a mental breakdown at the side of the road won’t help anyone or your horseboxes breakdown! So this FAQ gives a number of helpful hints and tips to get you going quickly, and a give you a little insight into the Horsebox and Horse trailer breakdown industry.
Horsebox breakdown cover schemes operate like most things in life, you only get what you pay for!, and many schemes are “tagged” onto Horsebox insurance, which is taken out without actually seeing what’s covered.
Firstly, lets look at tyres, as mentioned this is the largest failure for Horseboxes and horse trailers. There are 2 simple pointers to try and reduce tyre failure and avoid a breakdown.
1) Regularly check Horsebox and Horse trailer tyre pressures and condition, look for splits and possible punctures (nails, screws etc), these can stay in the tyre which remains inflated until it warms up and then blows out. Including the spare. Rubber degrades over time, and if your tyre is showing signs of splitting, get it changed, better to have this done at home or at the local tyre depot than in the dark on a country road.
2) Before you set off with your Horsebox or Trailer, give the tyres the once over, on 7.5t Horseboxes its important that you check the rear inside tyres, as these regularly get missed. On Horse trailers, check the spare as it may have gone down and you won’t notice because its in a cover.
3) Keep a note in the Horsebox cab of the chassis make, model and year and your recovery company. As well as the tyre sizes and make that are on the Horsebox or Horse trailer, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Hopefully these three helpful hints will go along way to tyre trouble free Horsebox travel, but if you are in unfortunate situation that you do have a tyre failure, the following bullet points should help you hugely.
1) Make sure that you have a spare wheel, if you don’t, and many Horseboxes don’t because of weight, ensure that you’re Horsebox / trailer recovery and rescue policy allows for this. (Breakdown cover)
2) If either the inner or outer tyre blows on a 7.5t or above, drive at no more than 30mph and drive on to a large lay-by or service area. This will make changing the wheel much easier for the tyre / recovery / breakdown company.
3) Make sure that you have a couple of High visibility vests, a flashing light and triangle with you. Its not a legal requirement but Horseboxes are very good at breaking down on dark country lanes.
4) Telephone your recovery / breakdown company, and explain clearly your location, be clear and concise, and explain what the problem with your horsebox is, this will help the recovery / rescue service to establish which is the best service to send to you. If you are unlucky enough to break down on a major road or motorway, don’t be afraid to telephone the police and tell them your vehicle is causing a hazard, its quite likely that they will dispatch a highways agency patrol to help. A staggering amount of accidents occur on the side of the road or hard shoulder on the motorway.
5) Stay calm and don’t take the horses off the Horsebox / trailer, only as a last resort, when Horse transport needs to be organised.
If you do have a tyre failure on your Horsebox or trailer, In these marvellous times of technology, its also worth trying the local tyre company using your iPhone or HTC unit.
Following these hints should make your breakdown, and subsequent rescue / recovery far more comfortable. We mentioned in the first paragraph about getting what you pay for. Some of the cheaper products offered don’t offer a tyre service and operate a scheme supported by HGV recovery companies who have no equine experience whatsoever. They may also only offer a “tow” recovery service, which is fine if your happy having your Horses kept in your horsebox being towed by a wrecker.
Each recovery or rescue service company for either Horseboxes or Horse trailers will have a range of products from the most basic to full European coverage, its very important that you choose the right one, remember on the law of averages the more you do, the more chance you have of breaking down.
Finally, the good news is that if you purchase your Horsebox through a Horseboxworld manufacturer or dealer you get 1 months free cover through Equine Rescue Services, one of the UK’s largest and most respected Horsebox and Trailer rescue services.
Horsebox Parts, a buyers guide.
Horsebox Parts & accessories cover a multitude of subjects, and currently there are very few Manufacturers or dealers that give a full service in respect of quality parts / accessories and ancillary products. Currently there are three companies who are specialising in horsebox parts, that being WHB, Berkshire Horsebox bits and Hartwood.
Quality Horsebox Parts are an integral part of any quality build of any horse lorry and accessories need to be chosen carefully. From ramp springs, lighting, Horse section flooring, windows, toilets, showers, water pumps, fridges, gas appliances, cookers, inverters, generators, battery chargers, trace heating systems, cookers, water carriers, cassette toilets and even a complete Luton. Shortly we will publishing a buyers guide for Horsebox and Horse trailer parts, to ensure your buying the right ancillary equipment for your horsebox.
Financing your Horsebox
Once your have scoured the classifieds and the horseboxes for sale you have need some external financial assistance to purchase your horsebox, either that be privately or from a manufacturer or dealer. Vehicle finance in any form is seen as a complex and in depth subject, our Horsebox finance guide is aimed at helping you find the best solution and cost effective way of financing your dream. We will go down the various routes and highlight the pros and cons of each, as well as trying to help you avoid paying too much for financial products. Once your have scoured the classifieds and the horseboxes for sale you have need some external financial assistance to purchase your horsebox, either that be privately or from a manufacturer or dealer.
Firstly, lets go through what typical finance products are available for horseboxes.
1) Hire Purchase – Typically a 10% deposit is paid on a new Horsebox or Trailer with balance payable on a monthly period up to six years. Second hand Horseboxestend to attract a 20% deposit with a shorter period to repay the balance and interest. If the vehicle is a business purchase, attracts VAT and you are VAT registered the VAT is payable at the point of signing, normally with the deposit and the documentation fee. If you’re a business a hire purchase asset shows on your balance sheet. The vehicle loan is secured against the horsebox itself.
2) Lease – Not lease purchase, there’s no such thing! Finance leases have two connotations. Firstly a finance lease, operates in a very similar way to the Hire purchase, however, the VAT is payable per payment, normally monthly, the agreement will have a peppercorn rental at the end of the term and a percentage of retention. (On today’s leases this is normally not more than 1 or 2 percent). The goods are technically never yours, although you have 99 percent of the sale of the vehicle (either a horsebox or trailer). An operating lease is generally how company car schemes work, you place a deposit, and this is normally on the same terms as a hire purchase, and the retailer sets a residual value or future value on the horsebox at the end of the term, and at this point they take the horsebox back. There will be restrictions on the mileage covered and the maintenance schedule, it may even cover the road fund licence, Horsebox breakdown cover, and insurance. The horsebox manufacturer or dealer will take the risk on the residual value, hence the restrictions. The vehicle loan is secured against the horsebox itself.
3) Personal Contract Plans – In essence this is a hybrid of the Hire purchase and the lease. The future value of the vehicle or horsebox is ESTIMATED by the dealer and the future value is your risk, however, you’re not tied to mileage or maintenance, breakdown/ recovery cover. The vehicle loan is secured against the horsebox itself.
4) Personal loans, these are very simple in the form that you borrow the money from a bank or landing institution. The risk here is that the loan is either unsecured and you have total responsibility of repaying the loan or its secured against your home or property in the form of a mortgage. This is normally the most competitive way of raising finance for a horsebox. However any revaluation of your home must be taken into account if your looking to raise finance this way.
When shopping around for finance, remember money is just a commodity, its price goes up and down depending on a number of factors, these being its wholesale price, interest rates etc etc. The one thing to remember that as money is a commodity, the documentation fee, the interest rate, the closure fee, all of these are a point for negotiation and will make the purchase of your horsebox a little cheaper in the long run. Your credit rating will also have a bearing on the rate quoted, based on risk from the lender.
Horseboxworld offers finance through our carefully selected finance provider, Peregrine finance. Click on our Finance button on the toolbar to take you to our finance enquiry form.
Horsebox hire from Horsebox world
As with our other FAQ's we will be writing a comprehensive hints and tips page to help you hire a horsebox or trailer from the right company.
Horse trailer buyers guide.
Buying a Horse trailer thankfully is not challenging as buying a horsebox. There are however, plenty of pitfalls to avoid and our buyers guide should help you make sure you get a horse trailer which will give you years of use.
□ Our initial advice is to go for a well known UK make such as Ifor Williams, Bateson, Richardson Rice or Equitrek. If its only for parts availability, getting spares for these trailers will be far easier than for a foreign make.
□ Make sure you go and see a trailer at a bonefide location, get a landline telephone number and a full name. Don’t meet “Darren” at the McDonalds, chances are it may be stolen. Once you have arrived at the location that the Horse trailers for sale, have a good look at the hitch (and the lock if it has one) and make sure its not damaged and finally the serial number plate, make sure its not been replaced or tampered with. As for the original receipt if they have one. If the trailer passes all these tests then its unlikely that its stolen and less chance that you part with your hard earned only to have it taken off you by the police and returned to the original owner, remember buyer beware. You won’t be getting any of your money back if it turns out to be stolen.
□ If your as happy as you can be that the sale is Bonefide, then its time to have a good look around the horse trailers general condition, bangs, scrapes and damage is all good for knocking down the price. Check the condition of the floor, this is very important have a good look both underneath and on top. Its useful to take a piece of cardboard with you to kneel /lie on when your looking.
□ It’s a good idea to take a bottle or small trolley jack with you, lift up the axle on either side and make sure the wheels spin without making a loud grinding noise, (this means the Horse trailer bearings may be damaged). DO NOT go under the trailer whilst its Jacked up. Also whilst lifted up grab either side of the tyre and try and “waggle” it, again, excessive movement may show bearing damage.
□ On the inside check the partition, fittings, make sure there are no sharp edges. Make sure everything looks maintained, lack of maintenance on a trailer is a sure fire way of incurring costs. Finally make sure all the electrics work by connecting it up to your car, get someone to stand at the back whilst you check the indicators, lights, brake lights, fog if it has one.
□ If everything is looking rosey, then close a deal, and always negotiate, they can only say no!
Horsebox world does recommend that if you purchase a horse trailer from a private individual from a horse trailers for sale classified you do get it checked over by a dealer. A service won’t be expensive and could save you £000’s in the long run. It’s a good idea to take out some insurance and breakdown recovery cover, both of which are available from Horsebox world.
Our final recommendation is to get some good security, a hitch lock & wheel clamp are a must. Smartwater and your postcode on the top is also something that should be considered.
Horsebox Mirror legislation
Legislation Which May Affect Your Horsebox
EU Directive 2003/38/EC
Over the years there have been a number of tragic accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists moving along the inside of a lorry. (The passenger side)
In response to this problem, new legislation, which aims to improve driver visibility, comes into force from the 1st April 2009.
Your horsebox may require additional nearside mirror(s) to comply with the new legislation.
Under the new legislation, all horseboxes over 3.5 tonnes registered after the 1st January 2000 need to meet the new standard, which will require the fitting of a new mirror or mirrors to the vehicle's nearside. The modification greatly improves the driver's nearside field of view.
All horseboxes affected by the new legislation must be upgraded by the 31st March 2009.
A Self Declaration Form needs to be completed by the operator or person fitting the mirror. The Self Declaration Form will be required at the next annual test to confirm that the correct mirrors have been fitted.
It is estimated that the legislation will affects nearly all horseboxes!- that's a lot of mirrors to be checked and fitted.
For this reason, we would suggest that you contact your local horsebox repairer and arrange for the vehicle to be inspected as soon as possible, to avoid backlogs nearer the deadline date.
For more details, contact your Horsebox dealer / manufacturer or your local HGV VOSA test centre or visit a main dealer for the make of your horsebox chassis.
Loading onto Horseboxes or Trailers
This section gives advice on how to make travelling as comfortable and stress-free experience as possible for your horses.
Loading
When loading horses it’s a case of safety first – sturdy footwear with good grip, gloves and a riding hat are all worth considering, especially if the horse you’re loading is unfamiliar or inexperienced. The horse should be kitted out in his protective travelling gear and wear a good quality (ideally leather) headcollar and leadrope – for greater control, it may be worth loading in a bridle.
Tips & advice for loading
Problems loading horses are common – asking an animal to walk up a ramp into a confined space goes against all its natural instincts. This section offers advice on how to train your horse to load confidently and calmly. However, situations arise where you need to get a reluctant horse onto the lorry or trailer and time is against you, so you’ll also find tips on how to encourage nervous or stubborn horses to load safely. If you’ve got any advice you’d like to share, please email us.
Top tips for loading
* NEVER lose your temper – as frustrating as it may be, you’ll only make matters worse.
* Make sure you and any helpers are wearing riding hats, gloves and good, sturdy boots.
* Practice loading in a calm, quiet environment.
* Always load leading your horse from the shoulder, never stand facing him trying to pull him in.
* Have some feed, a couple of lunge lines and a schooling whip to hand.
* Load in a bridle or, if your horse is used to it, a natural horsemanship ‘control halter’.
* Make sure the trailer is the right size for your horse & the floor is in good condition – if your horse doesn’t feel comfortable and secure, he won’t want to travel.
* Make the trailer as light and inviting as possible; open front ramps and doors and spread some bedding on the loading ramp if horse is particularly hesitant.
* Try feeding your horse on the trailer regularly then unloading him – he’ll soon see it as a safe place and get used to loading and unloading.
* If you have a front unload ramp, practice walking your horse up the rear ramp and straight off the front so he knows there’s an ‘escape route’ and to help build confidence.
* To encourage a stubborn horse forward, the leader can hold a schooling whip and gently tap the horse’s quarters. A helper cracking a lunge whip can cause far more problems than it solves and be dangerous – definitely not encouraged!
* For horses that rear, a Chifney anti-rearing bit can offer extra control; however if used incorrectly and without ‘feel’ these are DANGEROUS; if in doubt, consult a professional.
* Once loaded, drive steadily and brake smoothly – the better the journey, the more likely your horse is to load easily next time.
Loading using the 'two lunge lines' method
If you’re having real trouble and need to make an essential journey, enlist the assistance of two ‘helpers’ and attach a lunge rein to each side of the ramp entrance. As you lead the horse forward, the helpers (steadily and out of kicking range) cross the lunge lines over behind the horse to exert a gentle pressure on his quarters and encourage him forward. Ensure your helpers are briefed to quickly secure the breech bar and put the ramp up once he’s loaded.
Horsebox & Horse trailer advice
Horsebox and Trailer Definition.
Horsebox noun Horseboxes
Definition: A Horsebox is a vehicle which is used to take horses from one place to another
"Horsebox" noun courtesty of Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
To tilt or not to tilt.... that is the question.
Tilting cabs is one subject often glossed over by coachbuilders and Horsebox builders, and should be carefully considered when looking at buying a new or used box.
Benefits of the tilt cab are:
1) Ease of maintainance to the engine.
Negatives of a tilt cab are:
1) Poor ones leak water into the living.
2) They can add considerable weight to the front axle and therefore the overall GVW.
3) Poorly designed and built ones create more problems than benefits.
Benefits of a fixed cab:
1) They should not leak
2) Look asthetically pleasing.
3) Don't add much weight to the truck.
Negatives of a fixed cab are:
1) On a new chassis could invalidate or affect the vehicle warranty.
2) Many roadside assistance companies will not work on the vehicles roadside, and may affect your recovery insurance breakdown policy.
3) They are very difficult to work on and therefore engine maintainance tends to be carried out less comprehensively.
4) Practical access to maintainance through the cab is almost impossible.
As you can see, a few pros and cons with both. But a good question is, would you buy a car with a welded down bonnet? and you may answer you own question. However on 7.5t Horseboxes the weight issue has to be considered.
From experience any HGV horsebox should really be fitted with a tilt cab, but it does depend on the make of the chassis.
Get an opinion from the person who would do your maintainance, they are the one working on it!
Traveling Passengers in Horseboxes or Trailers.
This subject is important, and a little like Axle weights and tilt cabs one that gets avoided.
We will cover the easy one first, travelling passengers in trailers, this is illegal, and the is no grey area. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that everyone being carried is safe (Duty of Care), and the driver will be liable in the event of an incident; do not underestimate the seriousness of these implications.
The Department for Transport interpretation of the law as it applies to seatbelts fitted in horseboxes is as follows.
This information relates to the fitting of seatbelts and the wearing of seatbelts by adults, not children. There is clear legislation, introduced in 2006, concerning the carrying of children in vehicles.
For vehicles built up to October 2007 there was no legal requirement to have seat belts fitted to side-facing seats or seats that make up the accommodation area in horseboxes or motor caravans.
Regulation 46 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, states first used on or after 1st April 1982 but before 1 October 1988 shall be equipped with anchorage points for the driver's seat and specified passenger seat (if any); and for motor caravans (and Horseboxes!) first used on or after 1st October 1988 shall be equipped with anchorage points for the driver's seat and any forward-facing front seat. Ie In the cab.
This does not preclude manufacturers fitting seat belts to forward facing or rearward facing seats within the accommodation area if they wished to do so. If seat belts are fitted in the living, they must be worn.
Seats in the rear of a horsebox, and this is the part that affects most users, did not, prior to October 2007, require seatbelts (whether forward, rearward or sideways facing) and it is not illegal to carry unrestrained passengers in them while travelling, providing the vehicle is not overloaded, provided there is access from the cab to the “living”.
Although current seat belt wearing regulations do not prohibit carrying more passengers in vehicles than there are seat belts available, the police may prosecute drivers for carrying passengers in a manner that may injure someone.
We would advise that no-one should be carried in any unbelted seat in the rear of a horsebox.
An EU Directive (2005/40/EC) on the installation of seat belts required that from 20 October 2007 new vehicles have to have seat belts fitted on all seats except those seats intended solely for use when the vehicle is stationary.
The original advice given to us by the DfT was that, where seat belts are fitted, from May 2009, the seat belt wearing Directive would prevent more passengers being carried than there are seat belts in the rear of vehicles.
In addition to considering the legal and safety issues involved, owners who intend to carry passengers in unbelted seats must check with their insurers to confirm that this is acceptable to them.
As mentioned in the first paragraph, the driver has a duty of care to ensure that all passengers are safe, in the event of an accident the driver will be liable! Our advice is that all passengers are safely restrained. Its probably worth mentioning that if you stop suddenly at 30mph all the items in the back of the Horsebox start moving at that speed, including unrestrained passengers, so that’s probably worth baring in mind next time your boiling the kettle on the way to show.
E&OE Copyright Horseboxworld.
At the time of publication we have contacted the Dft on this subject and await their reply.
Horse Transport legislation and regulation.
Horse transport regulations are very clear, and concise. Here are a few pointers regarding Horse transport regulations.
Firstly Unlicensed transport operators are illegal. A licensed operator can be easily spotted by a sticker, which must be clearly displayed in the windscreen, listing the registration plate of the horsebox, and the name of the transport company with its license number.
The DTLR is responsible for horsebox licensing under their Operators Licence section. Call them to find out the number of your local Traffic Area Office that will deal with the licence application. DTLR Enquiry Service (8.30am - 5.30pm), Tel: 020 7944 3000,
Horseboxesover 3.5 tonnes must be licensed. Transporters who fail to meet this requirement can be fined up to £5,000, have their box impounded and be prevented from ever being given a license.
HGV horseboxes in excess of 3.5 tonnes are also required to carry a tachograph - they cannot be driven for more than 8 1/2 hours at a time.
The transportation of horses is covered by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997.
The Order does not apply if the transport is not of a commercial nature and this is very important to note, commercial nature also applies to producers of horses (ie Selling Horses for profit).
To decide whether the transport is commercial or not the following is examined:
Is the journey in the course of a trade or business? (Ie. Do you compete horses to sell them and make profit)
What is the status of the animals i.e. work horses? (Not common now)
What is the purpose of the journey?
If any of the above are commercial then the order applies.
The Order also differentiates between registered (recognised breed society, or registered with companies such as the British Database, or those horses who travel with a passport issued by the Federation Equestre Internationale such as polo ponies) and unregistered.
Registered horses are subject to all the provisions of the Order except for:
Specified journey times
Feeding
Watering
Rest periods
Route planning requirements.
For non-registered horses the rules depend on the length of the journey. A horse cannot travel in a basic vehicle if the journey takes more than 8 hours. A 24 hour rest must be given after 8 hours travel.
For journeys lasting more than 8 hours the standard of vehicle must be higher. For up to 24 horse the horse must be given liquid and food if necessary every 8 hours.
If the journey is in excess of 24 hours a 24 hour rest must be given at a staging post.
The journey time is calculated from the loading of the first horse to the unloading of the last horse.
If the journey is over 50 kilometres but does not take 8 hours, the horse transport company does not need to apply for specific authorisation but will need trained staff are employed for the journey and they will require an animal transport certificate.
If the journey is over 50 kilometres but will take over 8 hours, the horse transport company will need to apply for specific authorisation from the Minister of Agriculture and will need to ensure that trained staff are employed for the journey. Travel within the UK will require an animal transport certificate, outside of the UK a route plan will be required for non registered horses.
The driver or the attendant accompanying is responsible for the animals during transit when they are loaded. In the case of an accident the employer may additionally be held responsible depending on the circumstances.
The Ministry of Agriculture has various powers of enforcement for breach of the provisions of the Order.
The above only applies to horses being transported by road, different regulations apply for transportation by air or ferry.
The good news is that the DEFRA website is very clear on whats needed and is updated regularly.
Horsebox Security & Keeping hold of your horse trailer
Its all about common sense!, and making it as difficult as possible for would be thieves to take your prized possession. This section makes some simple suggestions to help you keep hold of your horse lorry or trailer.
Horse Trailers
1) We suggest putting your postcode on the top of the trailer in large letters, its difficult to hide a horsebox / trailers inside so if you are unfortunate enough for the thieves to “have it away”, it will be far easier for a police helicopter to spot it with your postcode on. These can be purchased from any good vinyl sticker / design company.
2) Make sure you have a good wheel clamp and hitch lock, we have used 2 products which we have found to be excellent. Trailer Cop which fits inside the ball and a Venus adjustable wheel lock (also see lokmas), both meet good standards of security, but more importantly to us, they only take minutes to fit, and our Williams security is done. We have had some huge metal industrial looking things which then take thor to come and put them on or off.
3) Smartwater is a great idea, but not a massive deterrent to thieves optically unlike the wheelclamp or a hitchlock. However, in the event of your trailer being stolen there is a chance that you will get it back.
4) Tracker, the price of vehicle trackers has come down dramatically, we are currently in discussions with a national company for a self fit device, that has no annual contract, details soon to be published on our news page.
Horsebox security
1) As per the horse trailer, put your postcode on the top of the lorry. See above.
2) A wheel clamp is an option for your lorry. They are expensive and difficult to fit with prices starting at about £300. However they are very effective indeed, you would need a grinder and cutting gear to get these off. We recommend Wheelok extensive range, which are used by authorities all over the UK.
3) Vehicle immobiliser, this should be a must for everyone, the price depends on what sort of ignition system you have on your horse lorry, but needless to say they are very effective. Alarms are great, but many trucks are parked on livery yards or away from the home, and after 2 or 3 nights of them going off because there is some wind, may make you think twice about this being the best security option!
4) A tracker is probably one of the most effective deterrents for would be horsebox thieves, as there is a chance that they will be “caught in the act”, there are a wide range of products available, and prices have diminished for trackers in the last few years. Horsebox insurance companies quite often give a discount to owners who have a monitored tracker fitted. Currently we are in negotiation with a national Horsebox tracker company, keep an eye on our news for details. Many horseboxes are stolen to order, and make their way “over the water” to Europe, where a quick body swap or paint job ensues. Many ports have tracker detection equipment, and this is certainly worth considering when purchasing an expensive lorry.
5) Simple as it seems, security posts are a great deterrent to thieves for horsebox theft. Posts are around £100 each and they need to be fitted competently. Putting 1 or 2 of these in front of your horse lorry will be a very obvious visual deterrent.
Having your Horsebox stolen is not only a real pain financially, in that you have to claim on your insurance and your premium will increase etc, but often its quite emotional as you keep mementos, rosettes, your favourite good luck jacket or whip in them. On that note, if you do leave your lorry away from your premises don’t leave valuables on show. Make sure that your truck is the hardest to pinch, thieves soon move onto somewhere else with easier pickings.
Horsebox and Trailer Insurance
Five Steps to Cheap Horsebox Insurance Premiums
Although Hosebox insurance is compulsory, it's not necessary to pay more than you have to. A few simple
steps combined with some time surfing for low cost Horsebox insurance really can save you hundreds.
STEP 1 - EXCESS
The easiest way to cut your horsebox or trailer insurance premiums is to accept a higher voluntary excess.
An insurer's standard excess may be £100; but if you meet the first £250 of any claim, you'll see a reduction
in your premium. This is because you're taking on more of the risk so you get a discount. But it's a gamble,
be aware that you might have to meet the cost of a broken window after an attempted theft, then a bill for repairing
bodywork damage after a car park crunch.
STEP 2 - SECURITY
Fitting security devices can also result in cheaper car insurance premiums. All major insurers insist on Thatcham
rated security equipment, usually a minimum of an alarm. If you live in a high-risk area for Horsebox or Trailer
crime, it makes sense to fit extra security. It saves you money when your horsebox insurance renewal is due and gives you
extra peace of mind.
STEP 3 - ANNUAL HORSEBOX MILEAGE
If your annual mileage is, 5,000 miles or less, ask insurers if they offer discounts for agreed mileage restrictions.
Many insurers won't offer this option as standard but will agree a discount if you ask.
STEP 4 - NAMED DRIVERS
Adding a named driver to your policy can increase or reduce your premiums depending upon the named drivers age,
sex and driving record. Adding a young driver will increase your horsebox insurance premiums, particularly with a limited or poor
driving record. However, adding a driver over 30 years old with a long and clean driving record can cut premiums,
particularly if the named driver is female!
STEP 5 - SHOP AROUND FOR GOOD RATES
The biggest potential savings come from shopping around. This has been made much easier with the explosion of the
internet and price comparison sites. There can be massive differences between the lowest and highest Horsebox insurance
quotes for exactly the same car and driver(s). Start off using at least two Equine Insurers.
Don't Just Accept Your Horsebox or trailer Insurance Renewal Quote
UK Horsebox insurance companies make substantial profits every year because a large number of existing customers just
accept the renewal quote from their Horsebox insurance provider.
Many people assume that because their first years premium was competitive they will continue to get good value for
money from the same insurer. In fact, as an existing customer, you could be paying for discounts your insurance company
offers to attract new customers. This is a common way for Horsebox insurance companies to get new customers onto their
books.
A simple way to ensure you don't pay more than a new customer for exactly the same cover is to become a new customer.
Instead of just accepting your renewal premium, get a quote from your current insurer as a new customer. Call the
insurers advertised phone number or get a quote from their website, but don't use the contact details from your
renewal pack.
Armed with the best quote from your current insurer compare it against at least ten other Horsebox insurance companies
or brokers.
Adding to the Horseboxes for Sale section
Adding your Horseboxor Trailer to the Horseboxworld Horseboxes for Sale Pages.
Advertising your Horse Trailer to the Horsebox world site could not be easier.
Firstly you need to click on the ad creator, this takes you to the log in area of Horseboxworld, if your not registered then you need to fill in the basic contact details to establish you as a user. You will only need to do this once to advertise your Horse trailer or Horsebox in the Horseboxes for sale section of the website.
Once this is done, you will be taken to the portal for advertising. Have a good look at other adverts on the site as see how they have worded their title for example. “Oakley 7.5t 3 stall 2003”. Please read the section in the FAQ’s “Horsebox selling guide”. Keep your content short and accurate and make sure you take some great pictures. Upload these, pay through our secure portal and your done. Your advert will be live within minutes.
And that it! You advert is placed and your horsebox or Horse trailer will hopefully be sold very quickly.
People Browsing the horseboxes for sale on the Horseboxworld.com site can be done by county, price, or search for horseboxes for sale or horse trailers by keyword or phrase or number of stalls.
All adverts for horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale remain property of horseboxworld.com until paid for in full.
Horseboxworld is the only site to specialise in Horse transport, we don’t have any content on Bridles, Saddles or Horses!
Horseboxes for sale, Horse trailers for sale, Horsebox Insurance, Inspections for horseboxes,
Horsebox training, Recovery & Rescue for Horseboxes, Horsebox Hire, and Horsebox and Horse trailer Finance, all from Horseboxworld, the best resource for Horseboxes and Horse Trailers.
Horse Trailers for Sale and Adding your advert.
Horseboxworld is the specialist for Horse trailers for sale in the UK. Horseboxworld has the largest dealer network for href="http://www.horseboxworld.com">Horse trailers for sale within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Horse trailers for sale adverts appear within minutes of being submitted. The most commonly searched horse trailer is the Ifor Williams 511 and HB510 For sale You can Browse horse trailers for sale on the horsebox world site by name such as Ifor Williams, Bateman, Bockman,Cheval liberte, Rice or Equi-Trek by county, price, or search for horse trailers for sale or a large horsebox by keyword or phrase or number of stalls. New advertisments for horsetrailers for sale are added every few hours. So if your looking for a horsetrailer/box for sale be sure to visit Horsebox world regularly to view new adverts for horse trailers and boxes for sale. For those looking to sell horseboxes, then Horsebox world is the hub for Horse trailers for sale as well as being the ideal site to advertise horseboxes for sale. All adverts for horseboxes for sale and horsetrailers for sale remain property of horsebox world until paid for in full.
Horseboxworld is know as the largest provider or Horsebox Hire, Sales, Training and Inspections. In addition we have the largest database of Horse trailer distributers for the likes of Ifor Williams, Equi Trek, Rice, Bateson, Wessex and Cheval Liberte.
Horse Trailer Manufacturers
The Ifor Williams Range has the following models:
HB403 Single Horsebox. As a single horsebox, the HB403 provides more stall width than our double horsebox models and offers enough headroom to take one 16.2hh horse. Being a narrower trailer, the HB403 is easier to tow and produces less wind resistance when towing.
The HB403 is ideal for transporting nervous horses that require a wider stall and may prefer to travel alone.
The HB506 model is suitable for two horses up to 16.2hh. HB506 models feature a pair of side windows and a larger front inspection window, allowing more daylight into the trailer.
Centre partitions and breast & breeching bars are fitted as standard.
For owners with larger horses, the HB511 is likely to be the natural choice. Being longer and wider than the HB506, the HB511 is suitable for carrying two horses up to 17.2hh.
The HB511 is fitted with a pair of side windows and a larger front inspection window, allowing more light into the trailer.
The Equi-Trek of horse trailer is as follows:
Space Treka
A self conainted two horse trailer with seperate tack room and changing area. Rear Facing travel with side ramp. Available in 2 models depending on size of horses.
Show Treka
The stylish Show-Treka carries two horses with seperate living areas which come complete with kitchen hob, sink, wardrobe, table and seating which can be made into bunks if required and a rear tack locker for two saddles and bridles. Available in 2 models depending on size of horses.
Star Treka
The NEW Star Treka. A spacious two horse trailer with luxury overnight accommodation. Aerodynamic styling and well equipped. Two horses up to 18hh.
Multi Treka
Tri-axle trailer designed to carry up to three horses/ponies depending on the size and weight of the animals. Luxury overnight accommodation for two people.
Carriage Treka
A purpose built tri-axle trailer designed to transport a carriage and two horses with optional overnight accommodation for the owner.
The Rice Range of Horse trailer composes of:
Europa
Famously elegant horsebox trailer, designed for two lightweight horses.
Beaufort Double
Designed for two large horses
Beaufort Sixty
An extra large trailer, designed to transport two horses each weighing in excess of 700kg
Beaufort Treble
A stylish versatile three horse trailer (Two large horses and on
Use our advert creator if you have an item to sell.
