Make horse box maintenance your ‘mane’ priority
With the Grand National just a few days away, horse boxes are currently being prepared for their first outing of the year.As such, rural insurer NFU Mutual is urging owners to get their trailers checked before they set off on their journey to avoid any potential accidents.
Maintenance checks for trailers are vital, especially after a break for the winter.
Therefore NFU Mutual has put together the following tips to keep you safer on the roads. Make sure your lorry or trailer is serviced annually, including a thorough check on the brakes and ensure it conforms to the manufacturers guidelines
Check the tyre pressure and make sure your spare tyre is in working order and fully inflated
Check the wheel nuts
Check the fluid levels
Check that the indicators and lights are working
Ensure that the ramp, doors and coupling are securely fastened
If your lorry or trailer has a wooden floor, check it regularly for signs of rotting - reports of floors giving way while horses are in transit are not uncommon and can result in serious injury!
Ensure the towing hitch is the correct height for the trailer and that the trailer can be towed level, to prevent uneven tyre wear.
Laura Wood, at NFU Mutual comments, “As a rural insurer, we realise that your horsebox is more than just a means of transporting your horse. Breaking down on the motorway in the pouring rain, with one or more horses in a lorry or trailer isn't anyone's idea of fun. Unfortunately, it can happen and whether you are travelling to a local show or venturing further afield, a simple breakdown can quickly turn into a nightmare - particularly if the horses in transit are young, or do not travel well.
“Therefore the next time you are busy checking over your horse or pony, ensure your trailer gets the same level of treatment. Naturally accidents can happen but having the right insurance can ease the burden. As a rural insurer, NFU Mutual offers a wide range of equine insurance policies, including specialist horse box cover.”