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| Author |
Message |
    
Shelley Wiley (Swiley)
| | Posted on Monday, Feb 18, 2002 - 11:31 pm: |   |
Decided to make this a new discusion. I am figuring out the details for ordering a new trailer. (2 horse, straight load with ramp) My problem is that I have a few 16.2 H horses and an 11 hand pony. My old trailer has a 44 inch butt bar which has been OK but Ive noticed that some of my horses sit on it and I worry that they could lose their footing. If it is too high say at the top of their tail, they could feel inclined to slip under. My pony can slip her butt right under the 44 inch bar(44 inches is 11 H). I want to put attachments for two bar heights but I can only put them about 5 inches apart without having to get an extra deep divider to attach them to. Does anyone have any guidlines for this, or just plain experience? |
Imogen Bertin (Imogen)
| | Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2002 - 6:12 am: | |
The market leaders in Europe are Ifor Williams Trailers made in Wales (I think it's www.iwt.co.uk). These come with adjustable breast and butt bars (two width adjustments and three height adjustments on each bar). In my experience this will deal with anything from an 11 hand pony to a 17 hand heavyweight Irish draught hunter. However for a very small pony you might have to tie their head up a bit short to be absolutely sure they could not get their head under the breast bar by backing up and then ducking.
All the best
Imogen |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2002 - 9:58 am: | |
Imogen,
would it be possible for you to measure the possible height adjustments so Shelly has an idea of where a tried and true position would be?
DrO |
Imogen Bertin (Imogen)
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 4, 2002 - 3:01 pm: | |
OK, I got around to measuring the adjustments today. I have a single trailer 4 ft wide but the same adjustments are available in double Ifor Williams trailers as well. There are two possible heights - 42 inches or 50 inches. There are three possible length heights at the front and the back (breast and butt bars) with four inches between each setting.
So you get a total of 8 inches on each bar( using middle, front or back holes) making a maximum possible adjustment of 16 inches in length. The shortest setting is 5 ft long. The longest is plus 16 inches (if you understand me) or 6 ft 4 inches. This may not sound like much but as I said, I have trailered anything from a 12 hh pony to a 17hh heavyweight Irish draught hunter in mine with no problems.
The trailer is 10 ft 1 inch long inside with a tapered front and I think it's 7 ft 4 inches high though I'd have to check that. The best thing about Ifor Williams trailers is the incredibly solid rear ramp which encourages confidence in horses that are nervous of loading (I know some north American trailers require the horse to step up into the vehicle but that's not common in Europe).
All the best
Imogen |
Shelley Wiley (Swiley)
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 4, 2002 - 4:11 pm: | |
Imogen
Thanks for doing some homework for me. Sounds like I will be 4 inches below your trailer. I ordered my adjustable bars at 38 " and 46" . That was as far apart as I could get them without getting an extra tall divider. Your trailer sounds really nice. I love being able to move things around like that. Mine will not have an adjustable length but that sounds like an excellent idea. I am trying to think of a way to put extra attachments at a shorter length without having something protruding into the horse area.
Thanks Shelley |
Imogen Bertin (Imogen)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 5, 2002 - 9:17 am: | |
Have a look at the Ifor Williams website and see if they show the breast and butt bar attachments. The bars have a hook on one end and a right angled narrow piece at the other. You have to hook on at one side with the bar hanging down. Then raise the bar horizontal and the right angled piece drops into the hole on the other side where you latch it with a spring clip.
The attachments that the bar hooks into are identical on either side of the trailer. They are metal, rounded in profile with vertical holes in them so a horse cannot damaged themselves on them unless they try really hard...
Very clever, those Welsh people... they also do good stock trailers and tipping trailers.
All the best
Imogen |
Joni Valerio
Member
Username: 3rsatsmf
Post Number: 87
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 23, 2003 - 4:44 pm: | |
How high from the floor of the trailer would you recommend the butt bar and breast bars be placed for maximum safety for a 17H+ Friesian? Alternately, at what point of his anatomy are the bars most effective and safest? (I assume 1-2" below his windpipe for the breast bar, and 3-4" below where the poop comes out for the butt bar?) Can anyone help me? I don't mind measuring and I'm buying a new, custom trailer and want it to be right!
Thanks,
Joni |
Imogen Bertin
Member
Username: Imogen
Post Number: 281
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 24, 2003 - 2:35 am: | |
Joni - see message earlier in the thread for a description of the standard maximum height on Ifor Williams trailers. I have transported a horse similar in size to yours with no difficulties in this type of trailer.
All the best
Imogen |
