Q&A: Towing heavy horses

• Friday, 6 June 2008
• Claire Evans
• 0 Comments

Q: Is it practical to tow two Shire horses to shows in a trailer with any car, or is this a lorry only job?

A: Depending on the combined weight of your trailer, horses and equipment, it may not be advisable to tow them with your 4X4. You will be breaking the law if you exceed the permitted towing weight limits.

The combined weight of your horses, their equipment and your trailer could total around 3,750kg — 1,000kg for each horse, up to 1,500kg for the trailer, and another 250kg for kit — and this exceeds many vehicles' maximum towing weight for a trailer with brakes.

For this type of trailer, it is recommended by the Caravan Club that the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed 85% of the weight of your vehicle, which is likely to be around 3,000kg for a Discovery, and that you should never tow anything weighing the same as, or more than, your vehicle.

You could also be exceeding the overall permissible weight for your car and trailer together.

Whichever vehicle you consider as an alternative, you must first work out the weight of your trailer, horses and equipment and check this against the manufacturer’s towing weight guidelines to ensure you will be within its limits.

Even if you use a 4x4 with a larger engine and more pulling power, you may still come close to the towing weight limit, which can mean excessive engine wear and fuel consumption if you do a lot of trailer work. You may like to consider using a professional horse transport company to get to shows, or investing in a lorry.