Horsebox Insurance And Trailer Safety – 3 Steps To Safe And Stress-free Travel On The Road
Are you hitting the road to compete, take a trip to the vets or have a lesson? How confident are you of what would happen if you had an accident or if something did go wrong with your horsebox or trailer?
Whether you drive a luxury 26-tonne horse lorry or you transport your horses or ponies in a more modest trailer, getting your precious cargo to where it needs to be can be fraught with worry. After all, horses are sensitive creatures with a natural flight instinct, and even the most steady, reliable traveller can get spooked and take fright.
Making sure your trailer or lorry is regularly maintained and is road legal can help reduce your worry when travelling on the road, and taking out the right kind of horsebox insurance and breakdown cover, to help you out quickly if there is a problem, is another crucial step for your peace of mind.
1) Regularly check your vehicle for signs of wear and tear
When it comes to preparing for a competition you might follow a strict feeding and exercise regime and spend hours getting ready to make sure everything goes like clockwork – but do you spend any time checking that your transport is fit for the job? It’s easy to overlook with so many other important tasks to do, but a crucial part of your plans for the day if you want to avoid any dangerous incidents ruining it.
Major culprits to look out for include worn or perished tyres – especially if your trailer or box has been sitting outside all winter and this is the first trip of the year. Another common problem is with rotten floors or ramps. The floor of your box or trailer can get very damp and, if left unchecked, can rot and suddenly give way. Just think about what the outcome will be if your horse’s leg suddenly goes through the floor as you’re driving along.
Read the owner’s guide for horseboxes and trailers produce by VOSA, which offers more practical advice and information on keeping your horsebox roadworthy.
2) Check you’re road legal
It’s fairly obvious that you’ll need an HGV licence to drive some of the larger horseboxes, but did you know that not everyone can automatically tow all horse trailers? If you passed your driving test on or after 1 January 1997 you will need to take an additional test to enable you to tow or drive any horsebox or trailer with a maximum combined weight (of car and trailer) of over 3,500kg.
If you’re towing a trailer you’ll also need to check that your car is up to the job. It will need to have a large enough towing capacity for your trailer when it is loaded to stay legal.
3) Insurance and breakdown recovery
It might not be as exciting as treating yourself to a new show jacket and you may desperately need to buy a new travel rug, but buying insurance for your trailer or horsebox is an absolute essential that you can’t put off.
No one wants to pay over the odds, but skimping here can end up costing you more in the long run. It’s worth bearing in mind just how much it would cost if you did suddenly find yourself stranded with a horse on a motorway following an accident or breakdown: sometimes it pays to spend a bit more to make sure you’re covered for everything in the event of something going wrong.
Basic trailer or horsebox insurance covers it for damage or theft, but there are additional extras you can buy to give you extra peace of mind on the road, such as breakdown recovery. This covers your trailer or horsebox for mechanical or tyre failure as well as taking the headache out of getting your horses safely home or to secure stables if needed.
Buying breakdown cover in combination with your insurance can be a cost-effective approach, but you need to make sure that it definitely covers livestock recovery if you want reassurance that your horses will be safely transported in the event your vehicle can’t be fixed at the roadside. It’s also important to check that this recovery service is provided by a company you can trust to understand the specific needs of horses as a roadside rescue can be a stressful situation for animals.
Aside from the trauma of seeing your horse in distress or worrying about getting them safely off the road, accidents can end up being very costly. Tack is a major investment, and if that’s travelling in the trailer you’ll need to make sure that it’s also covered in the event of theft or damage. And if you’re travelling abroad it’s also worth double-checking that your insurance keeps you covered even when not in the UK.
Peace of mind with our tailored insurance for horseboxes and trailers
With over 20 years of experience helping everyone from leisure riders to competition yards, you can trust our dedicated equine team at Park Insurance to find you not just a great price but the right level of cover to take the stress out of travelling.
Call us today on 0117 955 6835 for a no obligation quote.