TRANSPORT.
On PRE-TRAVEL VEHICLE CHECKS Before setting off on your travels, it’s important to carry out vital checks: • All horseboxes and trailers must be correctly maintained and serviced in line with the manufacturer’s warranty. • Regular checks must be made to tyres, brakes, fluid levels, windscreen wipers, lights, battery, ramp and trailer floor. • Adjust the partition so it is in the correct place for your horse. • Ensure haynets are correctly tied up high so the horse can’t become tangled. • Don’t forget to pack essentials such as food, water, rugs and first aid kits.
WITH CHANGES TO THE LAW ON TOWING, MANY RIDERS ARE OPTING FOR THE CHEAPER OPTION OF A CAR AND TRAILER, SO HOW CAN YOU ENSURE YOU GIVE YOUR HORSE A SAFE RIDE IN A TRAILER AND WHAT VEHICLES MAKE THE BEST TOWING CARS? STEPHANIE BATEMAN INVESTIGATES.
A
s of December 2021, drivers who passed their car driving test after 1 January 1997 are now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). This means that horse owners who previously needed to take and pass a trailer towing test in order to tow their horses within the law, no longer need to. But for those keen to hitch up and head on their way, where
should you start when it comes to choosing the best trailer for your horse? “To ensure travel goes smoothly, there are several things to think about,” says Tom Janion of EquiTrek. “First of all, any form of transport must be suitable for your individual horse – your horse’s weight, loading behaviour and preference
for orientation must all be considered. Around two-thirds of horses when travelled loose
ABOVE: FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN THE LAW, TOWING A TRAILER MAY SUIT SOME HORSE OWNERS BETTER THAN DRIVING A HORSEBOX. RIGHT: CONSIDER HOW YOUR HORSE TRAVELS BEST – WHETHER IT’S FACING FORWARD, TO THE REAR OR HERRINGBONE.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 2 2022 // 25
