Horsebox Care

Avoid serious issues and follow these recommendations before freezing temperatures or if you aren't using your horsebox every week...

Most of us use our horseboxes every week - if not travelling to shows, to go training or taking horses to the vet, etc. However, if you are not regularly using your horsebox, we recommend it gets driven at least every two weeks. Not just turned on either, driven around in, horseless if necessary. This can help prevent the brakes from seizing up. Think about where you will keep your horsebox – a muddy patch or damp grass can rot the chassis and also makes it harder if you do have to move it. Leaving it under trees is best avoided, landing debris can cause damage to the paint or bodywork. Rotten leaves will lead to mould on the roof and in seals or windscreen wipers. Hard standing or under cover, such as in a barn is better if possible. 

Gas bottles should also be turned off. 

Ensure your levels of anti-freeze and its strength are satisfactory – you may need to top up several times over the winter or add some more to increase its strength during a really cold snap. To prevent a water leak – drain the water from your tank and pipes. Top up enough to meet requirements if you head out with horses but drain again afterwards. If water freezes overnight during a really cold spell, the ice can damage the pipes leading to cracking and leaking. 

The toilet tank should also be emptied. 

Have a clear-out of your cupboards – damp, muddy clothes stuffed in a drawer could lead to mould and bad smells. The emergency digestive biscuits should be taken out – you don’t want to entice mice!

If your lorry has a hook up, run the heating at least once a week throughout the winter. This will help to prevent damp from building up. You can also put a dehumidifying gel in the living and cab to absorb excess moisture. Another option is a plug in heater on a low temperature – as long as it is safe to do so.

Clean out the horse area! Urine and droppings can damage the floor. In fact, clean the whole lorry. A thorough clean without the time constraints of getting ready for a show can highlight any minor repairs. Get these done over the winter so they don’t become big problems when you come to use the truck more in the spring. 

Generator

The new generation of standard unleaded fuels (E10) introduced in 2021 contain a higher level of ethanol than the previous petrol and subsequently causes issues by congealing in the generator. The shelf-life of normal unleaded fuel is just 30 days, so we recommend that you run the generator at least once every two weeks. If not being used for more than 1 month, please run the generator until all the fuel is used up from the generator fuel tank. Alternatively, there is a new type of petrol that does not congeal and does not require draining. See: https://aspenfuel.co.uk