national transporters (north to south) any recommendations?

[Mitchy1nge]

friend has suggested Gillies, just wondering if anyone here could recommend (or warn against) any other companies (from Durham to Suffolk, I can't ask anyone I know to put 800 miles on their elderly vehicles!)

[Butkin]

If you speak to some of the Newmarket shipping companies (such as BBA Shipping, Rapido etc) they can make recommendations and sort everything out for you.

[Mitchy1nge]

thanks Butkin, didn't think of them (thought would need something based oop north)

equine transport terrifies me, even trundling to topthorn and back

[ADishBestEatenCold]

When are you going and what are you transporting? I know someone who does a North to South run quite regularly (not a transporter). I could ask her if you want.

[Mitchy1nge]

if our offer is accepted (I am scared we have pissed off the seller somehow, it's been hard to relay stuff between me, my ex and the seller argh) then just whenever, I guess

is from Durham to Suffolk

[Mitchy1nge]

sorry you asked what, it's a Welsh and I know she's ok in a trailer but probably hasn't ever spent a night away from her own yard, is quite young

is all very nerve wracking

[ADishBestEatenCold]

Shall I contact my friend and see when she's next doing North to South, and whether she'd be willing to help? It's a lorry and there would be other horses there. Your young Welsh would need to have all vacs up to date and documentation.

[Mitchy1nge]

I'd appreciate that yes, thanks, we have actually bought her now so it's just a matter of fine tuning the bloody awful journey (how do people do it? I hate it, makes me feel sick with anxiety)

she hasn't been on a lorry so it's a really big unknown

[frostyfingers]

Generally they are happier on a lorry than in a trailer. Dhorse has always been a reluctant loader on the trailer, he needs his nanny pony to come with him but he skipped on and off the new lorry last week even though it must have smelled strange. He practically loaded himself!

Make sure she's hungry when she gets on and has a nice haynet. Plenty of ventilation (but nothing in her face) and probably no rugs in this weather, but a tail bandage and probably something on her legs. A decent transporter will always drive carefully and stop for checks - I would try not to worry too much.

[Mitchy1nge]

I think I might just do it (hire a little lorry) - go up the night before, load her nice and early in the morning and hopefully land in Suffolk at a respectable hour

we only have to do it once!

have never even had or witnessed any sort of incident with horses travelling so I don't know why it makes me so anxious

[ADishBestEatenCold]

I've sent my friend a text and email, so fingers crossed. I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

It's a shame you are getting so anxious about travelling, because it really is a lot lot simpler than everyone first visualises and, if you or any of your family want to compete, it opens up the country to you and is a huge amount of fun.

Four hundred miles is nothing to a healthy horse, as long as they have a secure transport, and even the young, nervous and inexperienced will usually settle quickly and doze for most of the journey. I promise. Wish I was free just now and I'd come and move it myself .

My friend (really the mother of one of my DCs old school friends) competes most weekends, so is unlikely to contact me before tomorrow, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

[ADishBestEatenCold]

I've just cross posted, Mitchy. (I will still let you know what my friend says) but I do think that's a brilliant idea and, if it turns out you have a great time, you'll maybe end up hooked and travelling everywhere!

Do you have someone who would do the journey with you for company?

[Mitchy1nge]

thank you! I really do appreciate it - the more info regarding as many options as possible the better!

I'm sort of ok if mine go on a friend's lorry or trailer and someone else is driving and being the Grown Up! or if there are at least some other experienced people around

I would love to be able to take mine to Thetford forest or to Holkham beach and other nice places or even run them up to the vet (about 3 unhackable miles) and save £million call out for jabs and stuff - but I don't miss the expense of having a towing vehicle and keeping it alive and road worthy and fed with diesel etc

[snorris]

I'm a fairly confident driver and not worried about travelling horses but I think I would probably get a transporter to bring her down. I know several people who have used Gillies to transport ponies from Scotland to The New Forest and vice versa - they come highly recommended. It might take a bit of the worry away.
Good luck and enjoy your new pony!

[Mitchy1nge]

thanks - it would be so nice if I could just magic her here to arrive tomorrow! it's actually 'only' just over 500 miles as a round trip, so I exaggerated as usual

it is starting to feel like something that can be done with much less angst than I thought

[snorris]

That's not too bad - definitely a lot less than Scotland to The Forest . I have done Dorset to Oxfordshire and back for a show which is half that distance but you'll only have a load one way. I also towed my trailer to Leicestershire to collect a trap so no live load.

[Butkin]

We had to get DD's pony from near Sheffield and that was a hike but it's really quite easy and they travel well in a lorry. Plenty of hay and try not to stop (probably just quick petrol stop) because we find they are happiest when they keep going.

We've just commuted the pony to the Winter Champs at Arena UK nr Grantham - 2 hours each way - on both Friday and today..

[Mitchy1nge]

ok

am galvanised! I didn't think I could do it without stopping. It feels much less scary already - probably a lot of the anxiety is just the aftermath of making such a big decision in the first place

thank you tack room people :)

[ADishBestEatenCold]

Sorry it's taken so long to get back, Mitchy. Friend has got back to me to say she expects to be running to capacity, having got together with another competitor to cut costs.

So sorry. I feel awful for getting your hopes up, and am delighted that you seem much happier about making the journey, anyway.

Good luck!

[JRsandCoffee]

Gillies, all the way, it was a good recommendation, you get what you pay for and the service and care is brilliant.

[Mitchy1nge]

now the quotes are trickling in am thinking it probably is as well to leave it to the professionals - really, by the time have paid for diesel and a hotel (not that enamoured of doing it all in one day) and rounded up an extra pair of helpful hands (someone who is used to horses and can drive if necessary) it's not a massive saving

also it could be done really quickly as a dedicated load (I suppose she would be ok on her own on the move?) and this appeals hugely

(is ok to ignore me while I witter on to myself)

[frostyfingers]

Witter away Mitchy - you're just thinking "out loud" which is very helpful when there's a lot to think about! Good luck.

[Muddiboots]

I dont mind transporting horses, we regularly take our ponies 5hrs plus for competitions but if buying from a long way away like that I would use a transporter. The cost of diesel there and back plus time usually makes it not much more. You never know how a strange horse will load/travel etc thats the thing.
There is a website where you put in details of your trip and transporters then email you quotes, have used that with great success several times. I would guesstimate you are looking at 300 or less if you can be flexible re dates. Not necc a shared load but often tied in with transporting another horse from your area back.

[Mitchy1nge]

eeeeeeeeeeeeeek transporter will be loading her early tomorrow morning and heading fairly directly to us

so anxious just thinking about the journey, am an actual freak, how do people cope with shipping them from Ireland and Holland and places?

[5OBalesofHay]

Great news, she will be fine. Best keep busy till she arrives. Try not to invent 'what ifs' am very prey to the 'what ifs' and they never happen.

[Butkin]

It'll all be fine. We've sold ponies to Switzerland and Guernsey! I've flown with horses from Stansted to Sydney (via Winnipeg and Honolulu) and they didn't turn a hair!