Hi Suzanne,
We have not yet shipped a trailer to Australia, although I have lost count of the number
of requests and enquiries from over the ditch. Our material is in most European
university libraries, and there are over 400 published papers on the subject
of rear-facing transport.
My father was the first to patent the design in the 1970's and these early designs were
adopted by Rice Trailers of England. Today they produce the Equi Trek which is
rear-facing (although it is front load and not true to the original platform load design).
At the Burleigh Horse Trials in the UK in 2007 there were over 17 rear facing hybrid
designs- all front or side loading. The idea has now been in the public arena for
over 40 years and is common in Scandinavia and parts of Europe.
I would love the opportunity to showcase our design at Equitana in both hemispheres.
The cost is of course prohibitive. What I'm now looking for is manufacturer with the
vision and capability to build to our design and try to make the units cost effective.
The trailer on the DVD was our first prototype.
I then viewed the above mentioned DVD, showing a horse travelling in a conventional
trailer, then in a purpose built rear facing trailer.Overwhelmingly the horse’s ability to
balance was enhanced by travelling in a rear facing orientation.
This visual evidence, along with practise travelling on my hands and knees in the back
of our tow vehicle, gave further insight into what it would be like for a horse to experience
accelerating, braking and turning without any notice, in a cave on wheels !
So then began the journey of building a rear facing, purpose built float from the basics
of a conventional straight load float.
Overview
Rear-facing horse transport
When standing, 60% of a
horse's weight is on its forequarters. This weight distribution
enables a stationary horse to rest a back leg and remain balanced,
and this is how a horse naturally stands in a motionless float.
Instead of a collarbone,
the horse has what is termed a 'thoracic sling.' The front legs are
not attached to the body by a joint, but instead are connected by
tendons and ligaments. The sling supports the forequarters and allows
the horse to balance and rest whilst standing. For the sling to
operate effectively the horse must maintain this natural position,
with the majority of its weight on its forequarters.
When people are standing
in a moving bus, their feet have very little surface area in contact
with the bus floor. On acceleration they are thrown backwards, which
is why they need to grab on to an anchor point or sit down so they do
not completely lose their balance.
We have become accustomed
to seeing horses travel with their heads facing forward. When a
forward facing float accelerates the horse's weight is thrust back
onto the hindquarters. This instantly unbalances the horse, causing
him to unnaturally spread his legs. This strains the muscles in the
rump region and also increases anxiety levels. The vulnerable horse
cannot sit or hold on like we do in a bus, typically he then leans on
the rear of the float trying to remain upright. In this position the
thoracic sling can not function effectively, therefore the horse is
not very well positioned for changes of direction, deceleration or
emergency stopping.
Today, across the world,
people are now increasingly aware of the benefits of transporting
horses facing toward the rear of the float. When a purpose-built
rear-facing horse float accelerates the bulk of the horse's weight is
maintained on the forequarters and he can balance naturally. This
also enables him to make adjustments for changes of direction, raise
and lower his head, and not lean on the float for support.
Therefore he does not need
to spread his legs or scramble trying to balance. On deceleration and
emergency stopping the already balanced horse can use his rump as a
shock absorber against a fixed wall.
Horses that travel facing
to the rear of a custom built float benefit greatly by being
able to balance more effectively. This is the result of being able to
maintain a natural, efficient weight distribution. This improves
their confidence, reduces stress and enhances performance levels and
most importantly, their safety.