Horsebox V's horse trailer - which is right for you?
The decision to buy a horsebox or equestrian trailer is a big one. There are several major aspects that need to be considered. For example, there is of course the issue of the number of horses you want to transport and the cost of purchase and maintainance. Horse boxes are generally more expensive to buy, although if you are buying a second hand vehicle, they can be relatively cheap. If you buy a lorry, you will still need another vehicle to drive around and so you will be paying road tax, MOT costs and insurance for two vehicles. Whereas if your car is suitable (size, weight etc) to tow a trailer and be used for everyday driving, you will not need a second vehicle, with all of the associated costs. Another crucial point is the size and weight of vehicle that you are considering. This is vital due to driving license legalities. If you want to buy a lorry or tow a trailer, you will need to consider the size required and whether your current driving license is sufficient or whether you will need to take another driving test. Click here to go to the DVLA page explaining the type of license required for different vehicles. The size of your parking area and access is also a serious consideration, as well as the type of competitions or venues you are planning to visit. If you have limited access and parking (or the places you want to visit have limited access and parking), then you need to be realistic and decide if you have room for a large horsebox or trailer. If you are going to be travelling to local shows, many of which have field gate access off country lanes, then the chances are that you won’t be able to get a large horse lorry on to the site! There are of course benefits and disadvantages to owning both trailers and horseboxes. Trailers are generally cheaper to buy and maintain and are smaller and so allow you the freedom to go almost anywhere. The downside is that although some trailers these days do have a living / tack area, they’re not very big and so they’re less comfortable at shows for the rider to get changed or sit between classes. Also, it’s difficult to get horses tacked up in a trailer. Although horseboxes can be bought without living, most do have at least a small area to sit and get changed. Some have the added bonus of a toilet...so no trudging across fields to use a smelly port-a-loo! There’s no messing about hitching up a lorry, just drop the ramp, load up and drive off. At the end of the day, it generally boils down to cost and practicalities and of course, personal choice, but at least these days, there is a lot of choice in size and style of both horseboxes and trailers to choose from. back to Horse Transport
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