Is Three a crowd?
Having a double horse float is no fun when you need to transport three horses or ponies.
You look into buying a truck but you can’t justify the extra expense plus you already
have the tow vehicle. As I have successfully discovered a triple horse float can be the
answer that will get you where you need to go.
When your children ride with you there is no greater pleasure- my eldest daughter had
ridden with me since she was four and when my younger daughter decided that she too
would like to ride too often we had to juggle which horses we could take out, who would
miss out riding or the time consuming option- do two trips.
My Hatton Deluxe double float was great but two trips everywhere was getting rather
tiring. I rang up Lyn Hatton to see if he could offer any suggestions. He said, no worries,
he could make me a triple horse float. Lyn talked through all my questions and worries
and sent me a floor plan for me to look at and consider. My main concern was that my
Nissan Safari would not be able to tow three horses with ease. However, I found the
Nissan could tow three horses and the float up to 2500Kg with double safety chains
crossed over.
Lyn assured me that the float would be well balanced and as easy as the double had been
to tow and manoeuvre. Lyn discussed what extras we wanted and we decided that an
inside light, dust cover, water tank with pump and fold down beds would allow us to use
the float for weekends away as well.
Waiting the six weeks for the float to be made and sent up to Auckland went quickly and
we had the float mid July 2004.
When the float arrived we couldn’t wait to put our horses in and go for a drive. They all
travelled well and it was a no hassle trip to the local pony club, out for a ride and then
home.
More about the float.
The float is designed for two horses to load and travel as normal (facing forward), the
third horse enters through the ramp at the front and travels facing the rear while its head
fits neatly between the two horses facing forward. When the first two horses are loaded
the rump bars shut and clip safely and easily behind them. Then they are tied and secured
ready for the third horse to load. The third horse loads through the front ramp and when
in place secured. The front ramp is then closed, and then the rear ramp is closed ready to
travel. There is a side door to put your head in a check if they are all OK. There are grills
either side of the horse’s heads to stop any biting or arguing and all horse are completely
protected from each other.
When you arrive at your destination, the ramps at the front and the rear are put down and
the horses untied. We found it easiest to unload the rear horses first then the horse in the
front. Simple! The float has the additional advantage of being a walk-through if
required.
We have used the float over the season in a variety of situations, sleeping in it over night
and finding it very comfortable.
The float can easily just take two horses and to change over to transport three horses
involves a simple conversion of the chest bars, which takes about 2 minutes.
So if you think you may need a truck but want to explore other options, this is a good
alternative taking two large hacks and a pony or two large hacks and a smaller hack up to
15hh.
When you travel two horses you can put all the gear in the front area, and when you take
three horses the gear needs to be in your vehicle.
The float travels well on the road at the speed limit with two or three horses. The braking
system is smooth and effective giving good control and stopping in all situations. The
float is easy to manoeuvre and reverse.
The drawbar is covered with non-slip sheet metal and easy to climb across, the jockey
wheel is simple and easy to use- well placed with good fittings. The tow coupling is dual
fitting so can fit both size tow balls; double safety chains provide extra security.
The float is made with a one-piece chassis from tow ball to rear and is rust-proofed
underneath. The exterior panels’ arid roof is galvanised and glued and riveted. (Doesn’t
leak or sweat when sleeping in it). Internal roof and walls are lined with marine carpet to
cut down noise. Ramp is lined with marine ply carpet that provides a quiet non slip
surface. Floor of the float is solid timber with a rubber overlay, easy to clean and a nonslip
kick board protects the sides of the float. The exterior front has a stone guard to
prevent stone damage from gravel roads. Three windows, one in front and two on the
sides gave plenty of light. Vents on each side can be open or closed as required. The
spare wheel has a cover and is located on the side of the float. Painted white and dark
blue, with gold detailing gives an attractive finish to a very stylish float
Specs
- Length overall
- Height external
- Weight
- Stall Length Rear
- Stall length front
- Internal height
- Stall width
- Construction
- Paint: two pack
- Flooring Timber 200 x 40HP with solid rubber floor
- Frame Duroglav
- Panels: Colour steel reinforced
- Options: Bed, double or single
- 100 water tank with pump for exterior wash down
NZ Horse and Pony Review
25 Aug 2005