Horsey horsey...

Author
Discussion

QBee

21,371 posts

150 months

Wednesday 3rd April
quotequote all
I can see the attraction of owning your own kit.
Boys toys, and being able to do stuff when you want to.

When we owned 8 acres of Norfolk paddocks, we didn't go that route, mainly because we didnt have the cash and the maintenace expertise, and realised that we would never have the right tool for the current job.
Instead we simply found (one recommending another) local farmers who would do the main topping/fertilising, mowing, hay making for us, using their own kit.

We were fortunate, in that the land was in a long thin strip with a track all the way down one side of it and road access from both ends.
Having 3 acres mowed when it got too long cost us £20. Having 100 small bales of hay cut and baled cost us £1 a bale.
We did/still do have a 4x4 and suitable trailer to move smaller stuff about.
Bigger hay and straw bales were delivered and unloaded by the supplier straight into our store.
The 10 foot deep ditches down the side of the land were maintained by the Drainage Board with their 20 tonne digger. Drainage rates were £31 a year
Prices are 10-15 years ago, but it really surprised me how little farmers charged to hire them, their knowledge and their decent sized modern equipment.

The jiffle king

7,048 posts

264 months

Wednesday 3rd April
quotequote all
We have 15 acres and a lot of things were left behind by the previous owner and we've supplemented a couple of things. We were left
Ford 4600
Bolens Lawn Tractor from 1974 for the manege
Countax ride on mower which we use for pulling the flail

Chain Harrow
Cambridge roller
Drag for manege
Various spares

Stihl strimmer
Brush cutter
and loads more things

We have a local farmer who comes and does things but his equipment is heavy and on clay it's not always suitable and it also costs. We use him for big jobs like cutting back dense shrub and moving rubble around etc. Have also used him for muck spreading

We have bought
- Wessex flail - Amazing bit of kit
- Millcreek muck spreader
- Flat roller for the manege
- Bale spike

So the final leg for us is a front loader and then I think we are pretty much done hence the question above.... And everyone who visits wants to drive a tractor

LooneyTunes

7,453 posts

164 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Bit late to the party, but I’d recommend going a bit larger if you can.

Our small tractor is a 50hp New Holland and for the sorts of jobs you describe it works pretty well. If you go much smaller, your front loader capacity will be quite limited. One with a cab (and air con) is much more civilised if the budget will stretch to it. Man maths also helps as they hold their value as many smallholders/horsey types want them.

Tractors are a slippery slope. We started with the above and soon ended up with various other bits of kit…

If you’re wanting something for loading/moving work and already have a tractor, consider a telehandler. Ours is used far more than the front loader on the tractor. Forks, bale spike. and a large capacity bucket make light work of many jobs. Often overlooked, they can sometimes be found at a decent price.

QBee

21,371 posts

150 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Since we moved house, my horse (we are now down to one) is at the farm across the road from me.
They run a livery stables with about 20 horses, plus have about 15-20 of their own (farmer's wife and daughter are into dressage and eventing big time).

They do have tractors around, shared between 2 farms, but they are mainly for the arable farm work. The telehandler gets far more daily use, both for moving bales and also for shifting the muck heap. Great piece of kit, so versatile
If the muck heap gets much bigger the scouts will be setting up base camp on it in the summer holidays, with a view to conquering it by 31st August whistle

The jiffle king

7,048 posts

264 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Thanks for the counsel.
We have a 75hp Ford which does our harrowing, moving large bales , cambridge roller Millcreek muck spreader etc
We have a couple of lawn tractors which pull a flail, arena drag, flat roller, sprayer etc

We just want to load muck onto the small muck spreader, occasionally carry a few bits around (bigger stuff we put on the big tractor )

Its just that maneuverability is needed in a smaller tractor as we only have 15 acres and most of the time we only need to do small jobs. I think we are going to go and have a look this Saturday to see how realistic a smaller vehicle would be

Cheers

LooneyTunes

7,453 posts

164 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Telehandlers have 4 wheel steer, which also helps with manoeuvrability (probably better than our 50hp with loader). In our case, a 120hp tractor (without loader) and telehandler sort most jobs.

The jiffle king

7,048 posts

264 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
LooneyTunes said:
Telehandlers have 4 wheel steer, which also helps with manoeuvrability (probably better than our 50hp with loader). In our case, a 120hp tractor (without loader) and telehandler sort most jobs.
Thanks, Let me talk with the other half who deals with the horsey farm side as it's a good question you raise

LooneyTunes

7,453 posts

164 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
If it helps, to give an example of capacity, this is the bucket we have on our telehandler: https://quicke.uk.com/products/implement/gl-genera... (GL+180)

The machine itself is the smallest JCB make but together the bucket capacity is several times greater than that on our 50hp tractor, and it’s lifting capacity is greater. Muck heap is pushed back in minutes and much easier/faster to load a spreader.

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,655 posts

205 months

Wednesday 4th September
quotequote all
Been AGES since i updated this thread. Are we still horsing around?

We're doing our thing and as well as the Welsh we have a part loan of another. The loan was badly neglected for years and we've been working hard to try and get some trust re-built.


LimmerickLad

2,032 posts

21 months

Wednesday 4th September
quotequote all
Davie_GLA said:
Been AGES since i updated this thread. Are we still horsing around?

We're doing our thing and as well as the Welsh we have a part loan of another. The loan was badly neglected for years and we've been working hard to try and get some trust re-built.
We have just moved and have gone from not having enough grazing for our 2 ponies and having to feed them to the complete opposite and now have far too much tahn we need................and no she isn't getting any more ponies!!!! so says me biggrin

The jiffle king

7,048 posts

264 months

Wednesday 4th September
quotequote all


No new ponies but we did get a new little tractor to help out which is doing ok.
One of ours qualified for hickstead on the sunshine tour but is not going as he’s been a little lame a few weeks ago and not worth the risk .

Caddyshack

11,685 posts

212 months

Wednesday 4th September
quotequote all
We got a Hickstead sunshine tour too but cannot make the date. Daughter came 8th for the UK champs in Tetrathlon (won in 22 and second in 23). Should have done better but the ride had a run out.

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,655 posts

205 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
Horse trailer owners.... assemble..

I'm in the market for a horse trailer. It's the wild west out there and i need to get a tow bar fitted to the family bus to boot.

Any tips / advice on what i'm looking at? We just need a single for the main man who is only 14hh but when he is retired he will be upgraded to something around 16hh.

Can someone ELI5 how things like electrics and brakes work on these things? Payload including the horse will be around 1200kg and the car is only 2.0l to might wheeze a bit on the inclines but can plan for that.

What about insurance / maintenance etc.? Please don't tell me to google it smile

QBee

21,371 posts

150 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
You need to find out your car’s maximum Gross Vehicle Weight including trailer, horse and tack.
Horse weight will be 450-750 kg depending on horse. An average riding horse perhaps 500 kg, this boy at 15.3 hands is 700kg.



But you should know your horse’s weight anyway for medical dosing purposes.

My old Equitrek Spacetrekker is a two horse trailer, and can take two horses total 1200 kg, but with the trailer being 1250 kg, you are looking at car plus that lot weighing around 4 tonnes +

The trailer will have a weight plate, so you need to know the car’s max towing weight, the trailer’s permitted gross weight etc.

Then is your licence pre or post 1997? Post 1997 you will have a 3.5 tonne total weight limit.

Sorry to get technical, but you need to find out this info before you get anywhere near to buying a trailer.

Apart from the legalities of it, too much weight behind your car could easily cause a serious accident.

K50 DEL

9,337 posts

234 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
As QBee says above, there are a couple of aspects to this.

Firstly your license - have you got the entitlement to tow a trailer, if so, what's the max weight you're allowed, this varies according to when you passed your test, though in all honesty, if you've never towed before then a few lessons is a good idea anyway, even if only to teach you how to reverse!

Secondly, the legality of your vehicle, find out the max towing weight your vehicle is rated for, be aware that it can be quite unpleasant towing a consist that is close to that max - don't forget that your limit includes the car and everything in it - 4 people and boot full of saddles, tack and water adds more than you'd think.

I started by towing a single horse, in a fairly modern BrianJames behind a BMW X1 and though it was technically within weight, the car wasn't happy and uphill junctions could be a struggle.

I then changed to a Range Rover Sport that most of the time didn't even know there was a trailer attached... made a massive difference to my enjoyment of the journeys for sure.

You should be covered on your normal policy for the trailer, I was - not sure about the actual animal though.

QBee

21,371 posts

150 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
As Del says, towing close to the weight limit is not much fun. I had a 4 litre V6 Ford Explorer with a 2.5 tonne towing limit. Trailer plus 2 horses was 2.4 tonnes, and it felt like it. Changed it for a 2.7 CDI Mercedes ML, which had a 3.5 tonne limit, and like he says, it was if we had left the trailer at home.

Also, THB diesel tows much better than petrol. Towing needs torque.
My Saab estate is a 2.3 turbo petrol, 170 bhp, similar torque. Not pleasant towing a 1.3 tonne caravan, despite having a 1.8 tonne towing limit.
I changed to a Nissan XTrail, a magnificent 136 bhp, but 270 torques. Makes towing a pleasure.

The other thing to bear in mind ……. One day you are going to have to extricate yourself plus trailer and horse(s) from a wet muddy field with a steep exit and a sharp turn onto the muddy track. That’s the day you are grateful you have a diesel 4x4.

A good friend of mine used to go to craft fairs as an exhibitor, taking their caravan with them and towing it with a front wheel drive Volvo V70 T5. 250 bhp of Swedish loveliness. After the fifth time being towed out of a muddy field they gave in and bought an XTrail. Never had the problem again. The weight of the caravan on the tow bar of an FWD car just gave them terminal wheelspin. And a caravan weighs less than a horse trailer plus horse plus kit.

LooneyTunes

7,453 posts

164 months

Monday 9th September
quotequote all
On the trailer thing, it can be a PITA of they suddenly decide they want more/bigger horses. The only real way to avoid it being an issue is to get one (and something to tow it) that is large enough to deal with the most likely scenarios.

One thing that sometimes gets overlooked is breakdown/recovery insurance for the trailer and the horses. Unless you have a ready supply of people who can help you out if you have a breakdown, you need to make sure your cover will deal with getting any horses you had on board out of the way.

Also, hitch lock and wheel lock… especially if you’re leaving it somewhere you can’t see.

If you buy second hand, a new floor (they rot out after a while) isn’t tricky to sort provided the rest of it is sound.

LimmerickLad said:
We have just moved and have gone from not having enough grazing for our 2 ponies and having to feed them to the complete opposite and now have far too much tahn we need................and no she isn't getting any more ponies!!!! so says me biggrin
Good luck with that! She’s probably already browsing the H&H classifieds… hehe

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,655 posts

205 months

Monday 9th September
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice, team - very insightful and i reckon i will be v close to the max limit taking into account my car and it's bits. According to the bumph in the manual:

"Braked towing capacity of 1600–1900 kg and an unbraked towing capacity of 750 kg"

The horse is just shy of 500kg so if the trailer is 1000kg +/- then slight inclines, never mind hills would tax it and i don't fancy torching clutches every time we go somewhere.

I passed my test in '96 so i can tow anything up to 3.5t and regularly do when we have to hire a box. The hire cost per trip is around £150 each time so i wonder if picking up a well maintained but not very sexy jeep might be the better long term option. I'll check the trader and auctions and if i can pick something up around the £2k mark then i reckon we would break even in a few months as we are able to simply get up and go and not worry about a box being available.

I've been quoted £580+VAT for a fixed swan neck with 13pin electrics and coding to suit., fitted.

On the braked / non braked thing - it sounds like i need to have something that is braked, what actuates that? I assume when the car is connected to the trailer there is a pump / brake fluid system that will be electronically triggered and some drum brakes? Or servo assisted?

LimmerickLad

2,032 posts

21 months

Monday 9th September
quotequote all
LooneyTunes said:
LimmerickLad said:
We have just moved and have gone from not having enough grazing for our 2 ponies and having to feed them to the complete opposite and now have far too much tahn we need................and no she isn't getting any more ponies!!!! so says me biggrin
Good luck with that! She’s probably already browsing the H&H classifieds… hehe
Preloved.........grrrrrrrrrrr

Seems theres a chance we may be taking in an elder Connomara as a companion for our other 2. banghead

LimmerickLad

2,032 posts

21 months

Monday 9th September
quotequote all
Davie_GLA said:
Thanks for the advice, team - very insightful and i reckon i will be v close to the max limit taking into account my car and it's bits. According to the bumph in the manual:

"Braked towing capacity of 1600–1900 kg and an unbraked towing capacity of 750 kg"

The horse is just shy of 500kg so if the trailer is 1000kg +/- then slight inclines, never mind hills would tax it and i don't fancy torching clutches every time we go somewhere.

I passed my test in '96 so i can tow anything up to 3.5t and regularly do when we have to hire a box. The hire cost per trip is around £150 each time so i wonder if picking up a well maintained but not very sexy jeep might be the better long term option. I'll check the trader and auctions and if i can pick something up around the £2k mark then i reckon we would break even in a few months as we are able to simply get up and go and not worry about a box being available.

I've been quoted £580+VAT for a fixed swan neck with 13pin electrics and coding to suit., fitted.

On the braked / non braked thing - it sounds like i need to have something that is braked, what actuates that? I assume when the car is connected to the trailer there is a pump / brake fluid system that will be electronically triggered and some drum brakes? Or servo assisted?
Old Jeep 3.7L petrol - £1500

Old Rice trailer - £1,000

Just moved home including as horses, sheep etc.in all about 10 trips with these 2 with only the main furniture going in a hired Luton for 1 day..best £2500 I ever spent and nobody even thinks twice about nicking them.......which I cannot say was the case when I had far more expensive stuff..just a thought wink