Fautras trailer for larger horses?

Bodshi

Bodshi

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Apr 23, 2009
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Anyone any experience of these?

I have an Ifor 505 which I love but I got it when we only had Rafi who is about 15 hh. Now we have Jack who is about 16.2 but he is a big horse (ie fat and long!) The 505 is really too small for him, plus he has issues loading which our RI is helping us with but although he will now load and stand in the trailer he isn't totally happy and we think it is just too confined for him. He tends to bang himself on the way out and walking up the ramp he has to lower his head to get inside the trailer which worries him. We haven't put up the breast/breach bars with him in yet, but it looks as though he will be very tightly packed if we even manage to get them up.

So, I was looking at Equitreks as I know they are quite spacious but I've read quite a lot on the Internet from people who aren't happy with the build quality, plus another horse on the yard has in the past destroyed one by kicking it out - apparently they are quite flimsy. Anyway, quite a few people seem to be recommending Fautras trailers which I've looked at and quite fancy, but I can't work out how long the horse space is - the dimensions are given for length and width but the horses stand at an angle so I can't tell how much room they have! Plus some descriptions say the horse loads, turns round and unloads via the rear door and another one I saw had a picture of the horse unloading by the front door. Not sure our Jack would cope with a tight turn and we already have the problem of him getting out the front door in the 505 so I don't want something similar. I just want to know how spacious they are inside really.

Anyone got one/seen one in action? Or alternatively, suggestions for a trailer for larger horses would be welcome - I'd quite like one that has extra space in the front for storage/tack if poss.
 
Sorry can't help with the trailers your asking about but why not just look for a bigger Ifor? We hav a 510 and travel moet (15.2h) with my friends 17.2h together in it. My friends horse has no issues at all in/out or travelling in it.
 
No idea about the Fautras, sorry, but agree an Ifor 510 could suit you - I travel a 16.3 and a 16.2 in mine. The clumsiest one goes the side furthest from the front ramp, which makes it easier for her to get out, but the ramp on the 510 is wider than on the 505 anyway. There is loads of space inside the 510.

But if they do travel herringbone in a Fautras, he might enjoy it - I read somewhere recently horses often choose herringbone when travelling, given the choice.

ETA for storage, IFOR do a tack box on wheels which clips in place at the front - easy to wheel up and down the ramp to tack room etc apparantly.
 
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Fautras are french made trailers.
If you want a light and airy trailer, fautras is not the one to consider TBH.
I've used a standard 2-horse version (which was of the older model) and it was horrid. Very bad quality IMO, the back doors were a misery and quickly misaligned. The paintwork faded very quickly too (saw this on several trailers too) though I think they've made an effort on this since.

I know Fautras' strong point is their oblique/herringbone trailer.
Was looking at the brochure for the new model and it doesn't seem too bad as it now has a front ramp (option). From what I understand, first horse loads but has to turn around in trailer as it travels facing backwards. Second faces forwards so either turns around to unload or use front ramp (if you have the option)

Things to consider for obliques (I am considering changing my trailer for one so am doing research).
They are wide and heavy and long.
They are ideally suited to having 2 horses loaded at all times as the weight distribution is calculated this way. Otherwise alot of people find that there is too much weight pressing directly on the tow bar (which on most cars should not exceed around 70 kgs, if I remember correctly).

Your current trailer does sound a little tight for your bigger horse, why not look at the size up ? If you really want an oblique and are happy with your ifor, they do the 511 in oblique now - you might want to have a look ?
 
Thanks for the info, most useful.

A larger Ifor is certainly another alternative, I can't fault my 505 except that it doesn't have a separate storage area. I've got the tack box but to be honest find it too small to get two saddles in without a real squeeze, plus you have to take it off the trailer before you can unload the horses and it isn't as easy as they make it sound when it's full! Nor is there room for the usual buckets, water, spare hay etc if you're making a long journey/staying away, which normally I'd put in the back of our old Pajero but OH is hoping to get a 4wd suitable for towing as his next company car so Pajero will have to go :(

It does sound though as if the Fautras might not be the right one for us, especially as we might only tow one horse. Plus really we did want something as light and airy as possible. Had a look at the big Ifors - wow! Still no separate storage area though, I'm sure there must be room in the bigger model if it can transport 5 ponies or two horses, wonder why Ifor don't make a model with storage included?

Shame, I really did fancy an Equitrek (with living!), then I really fancied a Fautras. Mmmm, back to the drawing board I think.

Thanks again.
 
A lot of makes of trailer propose a tack area which I think is meant for up to 2 saddles, bridles and maybe a bucket.
Some makes which spring to mind are the german trailers (Humbaur or Böckmann), even Cheval Liberté trailers have a tack area in the jockey door !

One big question would be what kind of budget you have and what use of the trailer will you realistically have.


If you're possibly thinking of long journeys and/or sleep over, will that be with one horse or 2 ? If only with one horse, you can put stuff in the other partition. If you're going with 2, it is a little more complicated. If you only intend on going long distance with the 2 horses once in a blue moon, could you not hire a bigger luxury trailer for that outing ? You might also bear in mind that small bales of hay fit perfectly into gardening plastic bags so no hay littering the boot of the car :wink:

If there are any larger horse shows in your area, you could go and visit the sales reps on site ? I know that there is the Paris horse salon at the beginning of December where most of the trailer people are present with trailers on expo, there must be the equivalent in the UK !
 
Two people on my yard have Equitreks and love them...although must admit I have doubts as to their quality - the YO's ramp seized closed WITH the horses still on board!!!

Although tbh if I could afford one I prob would!

How about a 3 horse trailer? Would give u more room inside for extra bits and pieces...mind u still expensive and not solving the sleeping idea!
 
My friend had a 505. According to Ifor, it fits two 16.2 horses. Tobes used to load badly and leap off the front ramp which was quite scarey!!

I was very anti Ifor's until we borrowed a friends 510 to go off for our week course.

I was really impressed. Tobes walks off beautifully now, somehow that extra room makes a real difference. I also was looking at different makes but was so impressed with the ifor during our trip, OH very kindly bought me one.

From the research I did, the Equitreks seem pretty problem prone. Oh and the other thing Toby really rates on the 510's is the windows at the side!!! He just loves to look out and it seems to relax him!
 
Thanks folks. Ifors are looking more and more likely then, although do like the sound of the Böckmanns - sound pricey though as they seem pretty hard to get hold of.

I would love to go to a big show to look at different trailers, that would be ideal, I don't know of any shows offhand but will have a look into it.

If the 510 has a wider ramp than the 505 that might be all we need for Jack. Unfortunately he will have to travel on the right as he is much heavier than Rafi, which gives him the tighter turn.

Thanks again.
 
Bodshi said:
If the 510 has a wider ramp than the 505 that might be all we need for Jack. Unfortunately he will have to travel on the right as he is much heavier than Rafi, which gives him the tighter turn.
Click to expand...

I know that with the new ifor range, you can specify which side you want the ramp so you could well find a 510 with the ramp on the LHS which would be perfect for your larger horse :wink:
 
Tobes has to travel on the right as well, but somehow it is a better turn for him and I can travel him with his saddle on and unload with no problem, which is a real plus.
 
Until you've towed, long term, a non Ifor trailer you might stick with Ifor. But when and if you do, you'll be converted. Independent rubber suspensionand trailers designed for horses and horse owners, not afterthoughts by a company who has made farm and general trailers and used the same rules.

One word - Pegasus. Wonderful trailers, very airy, great tack locker and everything works for horses and horse owners - decent sized and located jockey door with big glass panel so you can see the horses for example. No stupid roof vent. They've also ALWAYS had the ramp on the left which means there is never the situation that the larger horse has the tighter turn AND it's better if, God forbid, you ever have to unload on a road. I argued with Ifor about their old policy of ramps always on the right and they defended it to th eback teeth talking about the fact it's illegal to unload on the road. I once was picked up by someone with a smaller horse than me but he had to travel alone to our yard so was on the right. My slightly larger horse went on the left but on the way home had to unload first - that would have been possible in the Pegasus, but was a nightmare in the Ifor and I wish we'd unloaded both of them.

Sorry I know loads of you love Ifors but I think too many people buy them because they have the biggest deailer network, not because they've researched all the options and decided on them that way.

I'd not travel a horse on the slant unless I had to - as far as I know most horses turn themselves backwards if given the chance as the hocks work much better at absorbing the forces generated by braking.
 
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Thanks, interesting. Pegasus - another one to add to my research list! Didn't know Ifors gave you the option of the left front unload door though. Right, off to google Pegasus.
 
I had heard the new ones are somewhat better so good to see they have improved them. I wonder if weight on the floor is different to an actual horse with a higher centre of gravity? And of course they've not compared it to any British trailers, just German makes. That Pegasus is not the one I'm talking about, which is made by Wessex.
 
Its actually the same suspension as the old models - I emailed Ifor customer care, saying I was interested in a 2nd hand Ifor and how different was the suspension on the new trailer. This is the reply:

The chassis and suspension has not changed as the newer model was introduced. We still use the leaf spring suspension.

Would be interesting to know what type of suspension the Wessex Pegasus uses - more like Ifor, or more like the German or French makes they tested, or something entirely different.

I do know that as a back seat car passenger, softer is not necessarily better - can be rather 'ship on the sea' type wallowing, so maybe the 'harsher' Ifor ride is actually better, even if its firmer?
 
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