Horse Transport News
Archive 2010
Staying on top of Horse Transport Rules.
At some point it is inevitable that the vast majority of horse owners and riders will have to transport their horse. The ability to do so is an integral part of how some of us make a living, improve our riding skills or just enhance the enjoyment we get from our horses.
The recent changes in legislation mean that even the “old hands” may need a bit of advice when it comes to transporting horses. Whether you own a trailer or horsebox or are simply hiring one for horse transport, as long as you are transporting horses for no economic reward then the advice given below from the British Horse Society should apply.
Insurance:
Although it is not a legal requirement for trailers to be insured it is advisable to do so bearing in mind the possible costs incurred if for example the trailer becomes loose. Some car insurance also includes trailers so it is wise to check with your current policy provider whether you are already covered before deciding to take out additional coverage.
Gold members of the British Horse Society will be covered for Third Party property damage or Third party bodily damage where the member is held legally liable by law should their horse cause any damage during transport, for example getting loose during transport. This does not cover any vets fees or further transportation costs should your horse be injured in the event of an accident. It is advisable to familiarise yourself with any gaps in your insurance so that you can remedy them before embarking on your horse transport journey.
If you have hired a vehicle to transport your horse this should already be insured but you will need to check that this is the case and familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions of their cover.
Breakdown cover is also not a legal requirement but it is strongly recommended that you are covered before setting out on any journey.
Driving License and Entitlements:
Anyone who passed their test BEFORE 1st January 1997 will have a category B&E license. This allows them to legally tow a trailer of any size with a combined vehicle and trailer weight of 8.25 tonnes maximum or drive a horsebox of up to 7.5 tonnes.
Anyone who passed their test AFTER 1st January 1997 is restricted to a vehicle of under 3.5tonnes and are required by law to pass an additional test. This test will upgrade your license to a category B&E which will allow you to legally tow trailers of more than 750kg. More information can be obtained from the British Horse Society.
New regulations from the Driving Standards agency (DSA) regarding “Grandfathers Rights” for those people that have a driving licence pre dating 1997, will come into place on 6th April 2010. This affects the rights of these license holders to supervise others learning to drive a vehicle that requires a B&E license.
More detailed information can be found on the British Horse Society website- www.bhs.org.uk
Horse Transport:
Everything and the Kitchen Sink
As the showing season commences people look forward to an enjoyable and successful few months. A bit of homework and housework where your horse transport is concerned can make sure it isn’t costly.
The issue that concerns most people is the payload of their vehicle as they may not be sure of the exact weight especially if they have bought it privately.
As an example, a vehicle based on a Renault Master van with a rating of 3.5 tonnes means the vehicle and everything in it has to come under that limit. Most council’s have a weighbridge where anyone can take a vehicle and for a small fee get a ticket with an official read out. Once the weight of your vehicle is known you can deduct this from the 3.5 tonnes and this will leave you with the amount of payload you can put onto the vehicle for the purposes of horse transpoort.
VOSA often carry out spot checks on horse transport vehicles and if during this check they find your vehicle to be overloaded they could issue you with a fine of up to £5’000 and prohibit you from driving the vehicle.
People often think about the large things like the horses but in doing so they forget that the other contents such as tack, feed, water etc takes away some of the payload and needs to be accounted for. Before embarking on a journey have a look at what you have in your vehicle and assess whether there is anything you can safely leave behind.
Further information can be found on the VOSA website
Horse Transport:
Horsebox or Trailer – Insurance
Buying a vehicle to transport your horse is a major expenditure item associated with keeping horses. One of the first things to consider is whether you have adequate insurance in the event of loss, damage or breakdown during horse transport.
Breakdown cover is one of the most valuable elements of vehicle insurance as it ensures that both horses and owners are transported home, or covered for hotel and livery fees in the event of an overnight stay being required if the recovery service is unable to get the vehicle back on the road. With trailers the breakdown cover applies to the designated towing vehicle even when the trailer is unhitched and includes a home call out in the event that the vehicle brakes down at home. This cover provides peace of mind especially when travelling long distances or with children.
Fully comprehensive cover is essential for private horseboxes but this comes with several options depending on the age of the driver and any additional drivers required. Cover includes windscreen and accidental damage, even damage by horses.
High value trailers can be accommodated and cover for a trailer includes loss or accidental damage and there are discounts available if the trailer is kept at home. All trailers must be secured with a propitiatory security device such as a hitch or ball lock or wheel clamp.
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