by Bernard Uys, Emmanuel Trailers

The value of a horsebox trailer not only lies in the valuable content it has to convey but also in the people who transport the horses. For all of them – the horse handler, the driver responsible for towing the valuable load, and of course the horses, the trailer has to be safe, comfortable and durable.

After many years of experience Emmanuel Trailers developed the unique Equus Supreme. Manufactured from the best quality aluminium, as attested to by aero design engineers (chassis and frame made from 6082T6 aluminium), this horse trailer is unique in the market. Excellent aluminium work and welding can be seen from the tie beams, chassis, floor, and up to the roof. Curved square aluminium tubing, which completes the framework from front to rear and also in the roof, give this horse trailer its unique shape and strengthens the chassis. The special nose cone design streamlines the trailer and makes towing easier.

Exact wheel placing and Rubex suspension provides a stable trip with and without a load, eliminating the typical swinging action of horse trailers experienced as normal with heavy loads.

Copious use is made of Sikaflex 221 and special screws for strong fastening and good sealing. Polyethylene is used for bushes and other applications to provide moving parts, such as hinges and sliders, with a tight fit and strong affixing. It prevents clattering and the metal sections from rubbing against each other – noises which can make horses anxious.

A horse enjoying a quiet, peaceful ride is normally more docile and easier to handle. As a result of the tightness and stability of all mechanical parts of the horsebox, it is quiet and the life of the metal is extended.

The partitioning panels and centre panel of the horse stalls are padded to give the horses a soft transport environment. The side panels can be pulled down to provide bedding space for crew to rest after a long demanding journey.

Two dense fodder bags are provided for horse feed during transport as well as a saddle box in which two saddles and tack can be transported.

Every horse box is built to order. The special latches, wood trim, breast supports and solid-wood centre pillar gives every horsebox a unique own identity.

The client has several other options which can be decided on such as:

• Alloy wheel rims instead of standard steel rims;

• Coloured plating – colours can be selected from a colour chart;

• Water can holders and cans placed on the mudguards;

• A nifty mounted camera so that the driver can monitor horse behaviour;

• A complete electric-fence horse ‘paddock’ with aluminium poles packed neatly in the framework of the horsebox; and

• A tent to provide shade for relaxed watching while the horses are in competition.

Hints for comfortable, safe towing:

Due to the lightweight character of aluminium, combined with correct towing actions, the behaviour of the horsebox in tow is excellent.

The chassis of the horsebox should always be horizontal when it is attached to the towing vehicle. To obtain a horizontal level, the driver has to set the hitch higher or lower until the correct horizontal line of the chassis is obtained. There are special pre-fabricated steel plates with adjustment holes on the market to make it possible.

The horsebox has double axles and the exact horizontal towing position ensures that all four wheels support the load. To improve the towing action even further it must be ensured that all four wheels are inflated to the exact same pressure. A softer ride can be obtained on dirt roads by lowering the tyre pressure.

For safety the horsebox must already be hitched when the horses are loaded. This should never be done when the box is not hitched and standing on its nose wheel as only front support as it is unstable and the nose wheel cannot carry the combined weight of the horses and box.

During the transportation of horses the weight of the horse(s) in the moving horsebox must be kept in mind. The horse cannot anticipate and deal with sharp, unstable turning and stopping actions. Uneven driving makes a horse skittish and anxious and it becomes shy of the box. A horse cannot deal with sharp uneven turning and stopping actions. The driver must make sure that he approach a stop slowly with the towed box. The built-in mechanical brake system of the horsebox will assist in the execution of a stable, slow stopping action.

Always check the warning indicators of the horsebox before every trip and that the pressure of the tyres and spare wheel is correct. Check all the latches around the box and ensure all of them are in the locked position and all doors are properly hook-tight.

Emmanuel Trailers regard every horsebox as special and made as a piece of art to provide exemplary service to owner and horse. For further information, visit the website www.emmanueltrailers.co.za.