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  Discussion on UK/IRL Ifor Williams trailers - ALWAYS use the foal grate
Author Message
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 4:05 pm:

Dear all

A salutory warning for members from the UK and Ireland who use Ifor Williams trailers (the most popular type in Europe) to transport foals. And apologies to US members as I know your trailers are designed differently and you may have trouble understanding this post... you may wish to visit https://www.iwt.co.uk/brochures/horsebox.pdf (661k) to see pictures of their horse trailers. I notice the foal grate is no longer sold as a separate accessory...

Buy a foal grate and ALWAYS use it or else shut the top doors when transporting foals. I have a foal grate - these hang off the roof at the back and then there are two metal lugs in the top centre of the ramp normally used to close the top doors which can also take the bottom attachments of the grate. This grate means you can travel the mare and foal without having to shut all the doors on a summer's day.

Like most people I tie up the mare and leave the foal loose in the box. My current foal travels well and is getting quite big so today I didn't bother putting on the grate today and I didn't shut the top doors. No problem trailering. Got to the vet's, usual hangabout of an hour or two and then it was our turn.

Before unloading I went inside the trailer to attach the rope to the foal's halter and as usual she was standing looking backwards over the top of the ramp (in these trailers horses normally face forward in the direction of the towing vehicle).

Somehow in the next few seconds, she managed to get the halter ring where you usually clip the lead rope OVER the metal lug exposed because I hadn't put on the grate and was basically hanging herself off the ramp/back door.

Thanks to the vet's staff running out when they heard the rumpus in the trailer and my calls for help and quickly physically lifting the foal up from behind, I was able to unhook the halter ring from the lug, panic over, no harm done, but it could have been very nasty indeed. In fairness to the foal she calmed down the moment she was released and walked into the trailer again without a murmur half an hour later.

So don't get complacent just because you don't think your foal will try to jump out of the trailer - use the top doors or else use the grate to make sure the lugs are covered up and the foal cannot get hung up. I don't imagine I am the only person this has ever happened to...

All the best

Imogen
Member:
Paardex

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2005 - 6:30 am:

Dear Imogen
Having owned an Ifor Williams trailer I couldn't agree with you more. Just wanted to add that in my opinion you should ALWAYS use it if you don't close the doors. I've seen a Welsh pony who had got loose in the trailer jump out of it and had a 2,5 year old warmblood stallion trying to do the same. I know they aren't supposed to get loose but accidents happen so additional safety measures are in my opinion always useful
Jos
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