Feel so miserable that we have no trailer or car to pull one!

[knackeredoldcow]

We found a loan pony for the dds last year and he is lovely, we hack him out a lot. dd1 has so much confidence that now she wants to do pony club and small shows and jumping competitions. BUT we don't have a trailer, OR a car that will pull a trailer :-( (we have a car but it isn't a tow vehicle and doesnt have a towbar). This morning I had to tell her that her friend (who sometimes tows her about) wasn't going to the show they were planning to go to so we couldn't go either

I feel so sick of trying to persuade people to take us around, and not being able to take the girls to PC or anywhere with him.

dd got cross with me and asked me why I didn't text them to ask us to take her anyway, I explained of course I couldnt do that and she was (uncharacteristically) really angry with me, said she was bored of hacking, the pony would get fat etc etc. I stayed calm. She sounds a bit spoilt doesnt she? I can see how frustrating it is though. I am thinking of taking out a bank loan to buy a tow vehicle and a trailer but nervous of doing so. Thanks for listening .

[ExitPursuedByABear]

You can hire those small horseboxes - the ones on a sort of transit bed - don't know how much for but it would probably be cheaper than buying a car and trailer.

Although if your DDs are going to stay involved in the horse world then maybe you should bite the bullet and invest.

[Treblesallround]

We haven't got a trailer, but do have a car we can tow with (just) so we hire a trailer (35 a day, but that's very cheap). To hire a small lorry is around 100 a day (pound sign not working). Depending on what happens re GD's knee injury (she may have to give up riding)we will bite the bullet and buy a trailer. It is frustrating, there does come a point when you need to be able to travel, and hiring is a bit of a pain as you've got to fetch it and return it etc.

If I was you I'd look into buying something old but reliable to tow with and either rent a trailer for a while or buy one with a loan, depending on finances.

BUT, I wouldn't be putting myself out at all until she'd apologised, agreed additional chores to contribute to the expense, and generally got over herself a bit (sorry, don't mean to be harsh, I'm sure she's not usually like it, and just disappointed)

[marge2]

Have you got somewhere you can keep the trailer?

[knackeredoldcow]

yes I have marge2. What would be a good cheap towcar? I don't feel confident enough to have a really old car that needs lots of maintenance.

This pony lark is never ending!

trebles I am sure she will apologise. She is lovely really and already doesnt get any pocket money as it all goes towards the pony upkeep which she is totally happy about, even though her sisters do and they still ride him that's prbably not fair really either.

[BlueChampagne]

Check out lorries as well. May be similar cost to car+trailer, and easier to drive unless you're confident towing and manoeuvring. Check your driving licence too, to see what categories you can drive.

Alternatively, do you have a local bridleways group or riding school who might have access to a vehicle you could use?

[ExitPursuedByABear]

If money is tight I wouldn't go down the lorry route personally. A trailer can just be left idle incurring no costs - but a lorry needs maintaining and tax and insurance.

[Pixel]

It is frustrating isn't it? Last time I got someone to transport dhorse it wasn't very far, took ages to find someone who could do it and was expensive. I saw a lovely trailer for sale at a very reasonable price but don't think my car would manage it. We do have a towbar, and I tow a little trailer for camping but that's a bit different to a big trailer with a lardy cob in the back!

[Butkin]

Trailers are really cheap option. You can get a decent 2nd hand Ifor Williams for about 1,500 pounds and they hold their value. Buying a car strong enough to tow is a different option but there are lots of cheap 4x4s if you're prepared to go for an old one with high mileage such as a Discovery.

Horseboxes are a big step up. As you know from my posts we're really into our competitions and have been into horses all our lives but have only just ordered a box thanks to an inheritence. There are loads of hidden costs and we're already looking back fondly at our hard working but cheap option trailer.

[AlpinePony]

I'm going down the route of hiring, either small box ( b license) or trailer & "big car".

Whilst trailers are cheap as chips, it's the vehicle you need to pull it which costs.

Additional tax and petrol alone annually would afford me to rent a nice box a few times.

[SueHeck]

I bought an old trailer but in great nick for £500 from Ebay! We use it every week plus it carries bikes, diesel, logs and everything else!