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Miska
Gold Member
 United Kingdom
627 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 7:07:34 PM
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THIS IS LONG BUT PLEASE READ
After loosing Ettie last year I have been searching for a new friend. I found one a fortnight ago, we've called him Enys. I have stepped away from the arabs as he is an ISH but the fiasco that followed is something that all breed owners should read, so I am posting it here.
On saturday I went to go and pick him up. We have a little 3.5tonne horsebox, rear facing. Everyone always remarks what a lovely box it is. Enys is quite young, 5 and not long over from Ireland. He's been in lots of big boxes but never a small one.
He loaded with no problems and we set off at about 3pm. A few miles down the road he started mucking around. While I was watching though our little window, I saw him rear up and get his front legs over the front partition, that seperates the living from the horse bit. We stopped immediately but he panicked and ended up even further into the living. In the end he had two feet in the living, two feet in the horse bit.
Lukcily I managed to calm him through the door. We kept the door closed, as he was flailing at times. We tried calling the old owner to get the number of the vets but no luck. So we called 999 and the police came out. The police said it would be 30mins before a vet could come. By miracle however, an equine vet was passing and stopped. He was able to give Enys a bit of sedative, though with some difficulty.
Then the fire service and animal rescue came out. After more time it was decided that the only way to get him out was forward and as our jockey door was too small they would have to cut open our horsebox. They also decided that they wanted to try and do it at the vets, which miraculously was only down the road. So my mum had to drive our horsebox with Enys still in the same position.
It was about 4.30 by the time we arrived at the vets. We had over fourteen people working on getting Enys out. They aenestised him and then started cutting down the partition and the back on the horse box.
It was about 7pm that they managed to drag him out using winch and then pull him into the vets padded room on a taurpaulin. Until this time we had been unable to see if he had damaged himself at all. To our relief there were no huge gapping wounds.
Him waking up was one of the most dangerous time, because shock and we didn't know if he had damaged his legs. Thankfully he got up fine.
To cut a long story a bit shorter. He stayed at the vets a few days and then was brought to ours in a big lorry today. He travelled fine.
We were very very lucky with the circumstances - a vet coming past when they did probably saved Eny's life. The animal rescue guy said they have cases like this once fortnight around the country, mostly ending in the horse being put to sleep. He said the only way to warn people about the dangers was by word of mouth. So this is me spreading the word.
I don't know what long term damage it has done to Enys, either mentally or physically but we'll cross that bridge when we came to it.
Here are some photos of our horsebox:
A huge thank you to everyone involved. It was one of the scariest moments of my life but due to the teams calm efficency, Enys is now home and safe with only a few scraped and bruises.
(Enys and Miska, 20 years age difference!)
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RIP Ettie 2003 - 2010 |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 7:22:49 PM
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Poor lad - must have been terrifying. GLad you are all well and only the lorry is broken!
This is my concern with those boxes and similar large trailers etc. Fine for experienced horses but have heard of several incidents similar to your ordeal. If it happened in a trailer you'd ahve a front ramp to get the horse out.
I notice that transporters using these lorries offer anti weave grilles to deter any ambitious horses doing the same thing.
I have also been witness to some horrific accidents in traditional 'big lorries' too. 17hh experienced SJ stood on the lockers and in danger of breaking it's neck, sparks flying off the checker plate and shoes as poor thing scrambled about, owners nowhere to be seen, ramp down at a show.
There was also an acident in a parked lorry locally where a dressage horse broke both front legs
(new boy is lovely!) |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
Edited by - Mrs Vlacq on 18 Jan 2011 7:55:26 PM |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 7:38:11 PM
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What a horrific experience for you, so glad that he survived ok, and thank you for posting. I must admit that I have looked at a number of these very smart small new boxes and been a bit concerned about the division between the horse/living area. We do have a small purpose built rear facing box which is 20 years old, but it has breast bars rather than a solid partition,facing a haynet/tack area as in a trailer rather than living, which hopefully would avoid the situation that you found yourselves in (easier to release the horse). All of ours have travelled well in it, but I can imagine the trauma if one of them decided to play up for whatever reason. Our other lorry is also 2 horse (but a 5 tonne lorry), but is forward facing and has a conventional full height partition with door through to the living area and breast bars in the horse area. Both boxes have side ramps. I have heard of a couple of horror stories of horses trying to get out of grooms doors and becoming trapped. Hope your boy has not sustained any long term trauma.
I remember reading Ginny Leng's autobiography years ago, when she said that following an accident with her lorry she always carried a small axe afterwards in order to be able to cut them out (I think she had to get hers out through the roof). |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
Edited by - Callisto on 18 Jan 2011 9:10:00 PM |
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Nut
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 7:44:15 PM
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What a horrific ordeal for you all and glad you have come out of it all ok. This happened to two girls on our yard, different horses, different lorries where they went over and into the grooms space then panic.
Both times vets and fire brigades had to cut them out, both fine, one has never loaded since, other thought nothing of going straight back in.
Accidents can happen to us all though; make sure you share piccys of your new boy with us all x |
     www.ndlarabians.webs.com
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Miska
Gold Member
United Kingdom
627 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 8:01:49 PM
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It is horrific hearing horsebox stories...i've heard quite a few since the weekend. Our horsebox can be fixed, so we are thinking of having the horse bit seperated from the living (our living is big enough) and having a large door put in the back - just in case. Hopefully with it blocked off he won't do the same again.
Ok Nut you've twisted my arm, here's some photos of the lucky boy:
(you can see the silver spray where he scrapped all of the inside of the top of his legs. Though this is only superficial.) Also his manhood is quite swollen...poor boy!
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RIP Ettie 2003 - 2010 |
Edited by - Miska on 18 Jan 2011 8:02:42 PM |
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OldHand
Bronze Member
184 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 8:39:07 PM
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| Just been looking at 3.5t boxes my self.Its a surprise how many are made by 'new' names that I dont recognise as box builders ! Perhaps if you stick to the 'old' names they will be better designed to carry neds in safety , its just a bad design that lets a horse get in so much trouble to my mind. |
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rifruffian
New Member
17 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 9:05:09 PM
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| In my opinion you should not have humans living area taking up space in a 3.5 ton horsebox. |
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kathleen
Platinum Member
England
1835 Posts |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 9:21:20 PM
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OMG thank goodness your boy is ok! My friend has one of those little Equitrek lorries and for fear
Of this happening had the day living made smaller and full height division installed for the horses with breast bars (so room for their heads and hay)... I think anti-weave grills at a very least should be standard issue on these as they'd have a job to jump through those - bet some still could though! |
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Miska
Gold Member
United Kingdom
627 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 9:40:24 PM
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Our living area isn't really a living area...just a space for tack.
We looked at the anti weave grilles but I would be worried that a horse would get there head stuck, particularly if they were reaching for hay. I've looked at all the big makes of 3.5t lorries and not many seem to seperate the living. I did see a company in Hampshire (can't find website) which did a sloping partition thing that you can have put in. The vets where Enys was were going to have a hydrolic version of this inserted in theres...or something like that.
Now that this had happened I am so paranoid! I don't like trailers either, i've heard of too many on their sides. Perhaps we should have teleportation devices! |
RIP Ettie 2003 - 2010 |
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Arabianknights
Bronze Member
England
156 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 9:43:17 PM
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This is a terrible story and I'm so glad your horse is OK.
We've recently bought a 3.5 tonne van conversion (rear travelling) and the mechanic put in a removable breast plate to stop this very thing happening. We also had a larger "horse area" and so the grooms area is very small and hopefully uninviting.
If I'd passed my test before 1999 i would have had a 7.5 tonne horsebox by choice! |
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Miska
Gold Member
United Kingdom
627 Posts |
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natntaz
Platinum Member
England
2919 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 10:23:34 PM
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I had similar happen with a pony few months back but
that was in trailer, pony decided to jump over front
bar. was stuck upside down, neck to one side, thought
she had broken her neck. luckily i managed to hold her
legs up and undo bar so she could drop down and get her
self up, I did get a kick in the face but to be honest
it was well worth it just to see her standing with just
a few scrapes. I went on to take all partitions out and
travel her on to her new home 
Glad your new boy is ok x |
   
Natalie Pix. Essex. Tariq ibn Radfan and Taroub |
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OldHand
Bronze Member
184 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2011 : 11:28:34 PM
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Jan 1 1997 is the date you had to pass your test by guys not 1999 !
Prior to that you can drive up to a max of 8250Kg (incl a trailer) or 7500Kg solo. |
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Jess.And.Tiger
Silver Member
England
344 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 12:23:34 AM
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omg sounds horrendous, I don't know what i would do with myself if it happened to me!!!
I have heard to many of these stories, and I have seen alot of people now use the V bar anti weave thingies!!!
We recently bought a 7.5 ton lorry although were looking into the 3.5 ton although funny enough we were put off by the many horror stories we heard!!!
We had a standard ifor trailer before the lorry which has served us well and took us up and down the country with a tent haha!!! Trailers tipping is a rarity and only ever happens in dangerous weathers and I suppose dangerous driving!!! So in EXTREMELY strong winds ect!!!
I'm glad your boy has finally arrived safely and wish you all the best with him he looks like a lovely chap!!!
xxxx |
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
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Ennik
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1923 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 07:13:06 AM
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| An awful, nightmare story! Just another travelling nightmare to add to so many others! |
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Misshana
Silver Member
England
449 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 08:19:35 AM
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Remember reading a story about these horseboxes. Think it was BHS newletter. Horse stuck over bar, useless Vet arrived, Police wouldn't do anything. Horse eventually died. Was horrific story.
Got Ifor Williams trailer and ALWAYS carry the allen keys to remove breast bars. |
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Milotkha
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 08:28:13 AM
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Thank goodness all was ok in the end.
I am a huge beliver in fate and the vet coming by was a god send..!
I hope you both have a long happy life together xx |
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OldHand
Bronze Member
184 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 09:02:55 AM
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A grooms door in horse area is a huge problem and a no no for me.
One very well know Arabian Stallion was badly hurt as a Colt when he kicked a Grooms Door in front of him! The door flexed and stayed locked,but his leg was stuck in the gap ! He recovered and had a long happy show and stud life, BUT it could have been so different !! |
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karitaz
Gold Member
England
622 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 09:45:22 AM
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So sorry to hear about your poor boy's ordeal. glad he's ok. I have a 3.5 tonne horsebox a bit like yours and have worried about this sort of thing but I don't think the risks are exclusive to these boxes. With inexperienced or young horses I have travelled in the back to be there to keep them calm if necessary and they always seem to travel much quieter than in our old 7.5 tonne lorry.
The problem is that there are horror stories for any kind of transportation of horses - they are so strong that if they panic they can get into all sorts of trouble. As a child I remember a number of horses at shows getting stuck or somersaulting over breastbars in trailers, knew of a horse who slipped under herringbone partitions in a large lorry with horrific injuries, a horse who went through the front living area of a large lorry and through the windscreen and even a horse who somehow got stuck in a shower area of a large lorry.
We can't always second guess what might happen but can only do the best we can to minimise risk and try to keep horses calm and safe. I'm not sure that there is any perfect way to transport a horse sadly. |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 10:13:01 AM
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| You must have been terrified I know I would, thank god his OK he looks happy enough bless him, I hope you manage to fix your lorry and I just wanted to add a new livery moved into our yard last week and the day before she loaded up her small horsebox similar to yours with all her stuff to bring before she picked up her horse, I spoke to her briefly introduced myself then she left well about half an hour later she was back she looked really shaken, I asked her if everything was OK she said she was driving home and overtook a bus that was stationary, and heard a massive bang lorry was empty, so she stopped and the top partition flap that you lift up to get your horse in had opened whilst she was driving and smashed into a another lorry going the other way, well her lorry is a mess and thank god it was empty the horse would have been seriously injured, she was really worried as this really shouldn't have happened as they were locked so it seems that it was a fault, she is taking it back to the company that made it to have it checked, it seems allot of these new type horse boxes have many design faults. Good luck with your new horse.x |
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LadyLuck1
Gold Member
England
730 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 7:36:42 PM
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Glad he is ok,he looks nice. Enjoy and post more pics.
Mary |
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phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 7:49:53 PM
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it is a problem that the small horsebox manufactureres are aware of and a lot of them are now putting extra large jockey doors in that a horse could get through without injury and putting weaver grills up to discourage the horse wanting to go over
my daughters pony did this but as my box has double doors on the back we got the pony out easily.... but it scared the bcrap ouuta me!
The pony now travels facing forward as she's only 12.2 so theres room |
   
www.liveryatcordwell.co.uk |
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Arabianknights
Bronze Member
England
156 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 9:49:51 PM
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Karitaz - I think you are absolutely right. I think there will always be horror stories/risks no matter how the horse travels. All we can do as owners is make ourselves (and each other) aware of the risks and try to avoid them where possible (e.g. removeable partitions/anti weave grills etc).
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xsara
Gold Member
822 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2011 : 9:57:12 PM
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| poor boy glad he is ok he is lovely and hope you have a long happy time together. We have one of the small lorries at work and had no problems so far but we do have anti weave bars and not much room for the horse to get over the doors are also quite tall. But I do know that another yard who uses the box for over water racing one of there horses did go over the door but managed to get it out safely with out damage to box or horse so not sure what really happened. I have seen a few injuries that has happened in bigger lorries two horses with fractured pelvis, One horse who got her head stuck and ended up luckily with a broken jaw, nerve damage down face and lip and a cut on knee to bone luckily there was three strong stallion handlers parked next to us and they were able to get the divider ripped out or we would have lost her. Travelling young horses is always a risk |
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PLEASE READ - the dangers of small horse boxes
