Q&A: dealing with a flat tyre

• Wednesday, 11 June 2008
• Jon Phillips, Managing Director of the Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer Owners
• 0 Comments

Q: What should I do if I get a flat tyre on either the car or the trailer while I have got a horse onboard? Should I continue to a safe place to unload the horse before jacking either up or is it better to leave the horse onboard.

A: Loaded trailer tyres usually
blow rather than develop a puncture. In this situation immediately decelerate
and try to coast to the side of the road. If you plan to unloading a horse on
the highway in an emergency then the Highways Agency will need to be involved,
especially if you are on a major route or motorway, as the road/lane will need
to be closed, which can be a lengthy and involved business.

Jacking the tow vehicle to
change a wheel while the horse is on board is no different from usual. It is
always operationally easier to change the trailer tyre while it is laden, but
this does require a specialist heavy duty trolly jack. An account with a
national tyre company or breakdown organisation should solve the problem.