Horse boxes

[Dustydog]

The rules for towing horse boxes was updated on the 23 September 2025.
Updated rules.

And no horses were hurt in the preparation of this bulletin😉

 

[trevormonty]

Having towed a horsebox trailer many years ago and for many miles, don't criticise until you have been in their shoes. One thing you have to remember is that the cargo is up to a ton of live animal, and they DO NOT stand still. Even with a Scott Stabiliser fitted (that's all that was available then) they could make the trailer move around, and cornering is nowhere near as easy as with a caravan. Back in the day we moved on to a 7.5 tonne truck based horsebox within a couple of years.

After towing a caravan I realised its not that easy to pull over and let cars pass. With caravan need lot more time to assess and then pull into a layby, given half laybys here are full of large potholes that rights a lot off.

PS saw good sticker on MH the other day. "If you think we a slow now wait until we get to a hill".

 

[borderbilly]

And no horses were hurt in the preparation of this bulletin😉

Nay doubt they weren't

 

[woodsieboy]

Having towed both horse trailers and caravans , the horse trailers are notably more stable, they are usually twin axle and considerably shorter than many caravans, and also tend to have a lower centre of gravity
As a previous poster said there can be the best part of 2 tons of live animals inside,especially as often the trailer will have 2 horses loaded,
As a driver I have no way of knowing what state the horses are in , they may be nervous travellers, I also have no way of knowing the towing drivers experience, it may be the first time they have towed.
So I adopt a cautious attitude and hang back behind them, it can be frustrating , but so are many other things, including cyclists, road works and tractors, even caravans and motorhomes,but they all are part of modern life on the roads.
Better to be late in this world than early in the next.