Return to news index

Five Tips for Upgrading your Horse Transportation

This is sponsored content.

Photo: Copyright (c) 2018 Almazoff/Shutterstock.

Photo: Copyright (c) 2018 Almazoff/Shutterstock.

We all want to ride in comfort – ourselves as much as our horses – and the old-style horse float you’ve been using for decades just might not cut it any more. This might be for the horse’s benefit or your own; and older floats may run afoul of the latest government regulations. Whatever your reason, going in and buying new or upgraded horse transportation can be daunting; but here’s five tips to make the process easier.

What can you reasonably tow?

Before considering a "dream" horse float or gooseneck, you need to figure out if your current vehicle can tow it. Unless you are also looking for a comprehensive upgrade by purchasing a full horse truck, look up the total braking weight of your vehicle and see if it can comfortably tow the float (not just meet the minimum standard) – with your horses inside it!

Horse Floats, Trucks & Goosenecks usually require finance.

If you’ve had a gander at our classifieds , you can see that even the most modest single horse floats may require some kind of finance . If you’re taking a look at finance, don’t just go to your bank and call it a day. Bill Tsouvalas, finance expert and Savvy Managing Director says to sift the good loans from the bad (and the ugly), you need to do some homework.

“First off, not all loans are the same. Some are advertised as base interest rates. You need to get the comparison rate to be able to compare different personal loan products before deciding. A comparison rate gives you the interest rate plus most fees in one percentage. You also need to consider the loan term and the amount you want to borrow. Then you can put this into a loan calculator and get an approximate monthly repayment. Remember to add insurance and registration on top, too!”

How to get a good deal using finance.

Though 2021 has been good for borrowers due to super low interest rates, you can get a better deal on goosenecks or trucks by getting pre-approval for your loan. “This is basically an agreement between you and your lender that you can borrow a certain amount when you pull the trigger to buy,” Tsouvalas says. “This gives you a price ceiling which a dealer or seller has to meet, which gives you extra leverage in negotiations. It also means you’re a hot prospect, so they’ll be at pains to let you get away.”

Buying new over used – what’s better?

Used floats and goosenecks are cheaper to buy – but they can also be more of a liability. They have lower residual value than new floats and trucks and depending on their age, some lenders may be reluctant to finance them. Or if they do, they will at a premium. New floats are generally more durable and safe – so weigh that into your calculations.

Avoiding used lemons and scams.

If you are going used, you need to perform due diligence. That means checking if the float or truck is listed on the Personal Property Security Register as a write-off, stolen, or owing money. Other common scams are “sellers” contacting you out of the blue with too good to be true deals, saying they need to sell fast because they’re leaving the country. They usually ask for a deposit – and vanish once you send it. If you are asked for a deposit, promise to meet in a secluded location, or are in any way cagey – walk away. For more information, visit Scamwatch.

Remember to consult a financial professional before making any decision on credit or loan products.

Sign up to our newsletter

Your browser is out of date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×