15 Things Horse Float Owners Know

Essential accessories for all horse people, whatever your breed and discipline of choice, are a towing vehicle and horse float! If you’ve spent many an hour carting horses around the countryside like we have, you’ll be able to relate to these: 

1. Horses sometimes enjoy making us look like liars

If you're running late or have just told everyone what a great loader your horse is, today is the day he will decide that maybe he doesn't really feel like leaving home.

2. Horse + Float = poop to pick up

Your horse will never poop before getting on the float. This has to be done just as the tail gate is going up.

3. 'Horse Time' is different

Getting up at 6am for work is murder, however, rising at 3am to load that "Tricky" horse to get to the show on time presents no problem.

4. Always keep calm and carry on

When a youngster is being travelled on a float for the first time, the owner is usually far more nervous about the whole experience than the horse.

5. The impossible can happen

Although not theoretically possible when floating, a 16hh 500kg horse can jump out the front door/ turn himself completely around with the divider across/ get under the chest bar.

6. Our minds and our horses minds are linked

When traffic is bad, your horse telepathically can feel your stress and will start pawing the floor.

7. Safety first

When you leave a big space between yourself and the vehicle travelling in front for braking, a non-horsey person will always think the space is there for them to take.

8. We covet the reversing 'gene'

Being good at reversing and having the reversing ‘gene’ is essential when you own a horse float. Whether it’s to hook the float up or to turn it around, for those of us who don’t have the ‘gene’ all the practice in the world will make you better, but never brilliant at this and it can cause great stress.

9. Drive in drive out spaces are a gift

If you don’t have the reversing ‘gene’ driving around the showground 8 times looking for a spot where you can drive in and drive out is totally acceptable and finding such an elusive position is a great achievement. Or you just get to the show 6 hours early to ensure the securing of such a position. As those who are challenged with reversing know, 10 acres is just about enough room to turn a float around.

10. Loud noises when floating are cause for concern

A float tyre explodes with a noise like a bomb going off and every person in the car, after nearly having a heart attack, will turn the air blue with expletives, while the horses just stand there with wide eyes enquiring politely ‘what in the name of all that is holy was that?’

11. We see good people

Floating dramas are a nightmare, but they can restore your faith in humanity when a) a total stranger horse-person driving past saves you and your horse with absolutely no gain to themselves (days before mobile phones) or b) you’ve called a horsey friend who lives 2 hours away and with no questions asked they’re on their way with their float to rescue you (days since mobile phones).

12. Gravity is real

Tailgates are heavier at the end of a show.

13. Our horses do love us

Horses, a naturally claustraophic creature, are the most trusting animals in the entire world. Time after time they get into what is essentially a metal box on wheels, no matter how glamourous and safe it is, just for us.

14. Horses are smarter than us

Horses are actually the winners – for centuries they carted us around and laboured for hours on end, now we put them in a float and cart them around… for fun! Well played horses, well played.

15. Towbars hurt

There is no worse pain than a towbar on the shins.

As a horse person you experience a rollercoaster of emotions just to get your horse from A to B. Don't you think you should at least be getting there with your dream horse float?

If you’ve located the perfect Horse Float but don’t have the cash, Australian Credit Acceptance can help.

Australian Credit Acceptance are the horse float finance experts, with 20 years of experience, they have excellent credit products on offer with fast and easy credit pre-approval. Their caring financial advisers can explain the many options available with a wide variety of lenders.

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