What happens if your horsebox, towing vehicle or horse trailer breaks down while you are travelling with your horses?
Key Features of our membership packages:
- 24/7 assistance and support, 365 days a year
- Just one call will source all the assistance you need
- FRESH HORSE TRANSPORT If your vehicle can't be fixed at the roadside (no low-loaders or lorry towing with horses on board)
- Regular contact from your dedicated helper throughout your incident
- UK wide breakdown assistance
We know how stressful it is to experience a breakdown when you have your horses, children and dogs with you so all of our membership options are carefully designed to offer maximum peace of mind at affordable prices.
Your questions answered:
Why do I need Equine Rescue Services?
For Horse Trailers & Cars
Ordinary car breakdown cover doesn’t include rescuing your horses or trailer, full stop. Quite simply, if you are towing with horses on board and your car breaks down, and can’t be fixed by the roadside, you are stuck.
You are equally stuck if your trailer breaks down – a flat tyre or brake failure for example. Again, you are not covered at all by any ordinary breakdown cover.
So how would you get your horses and a broken down trailer home if you had to? You need Equine Rescue Services membership. Buy our Trailer Assist Membership or our combined ‘Equicar’ Trailer & Towing Vehicle Memberships
For Horseboxes (lorries)
Not many of us have a UK wide network of licensed and accredited lorry mechanics and recovery experts. Very few people have a phone book full of specialist registered horse transporters when they need one.
It’s difficult, complicated and very expensive to recover broken down lorries. In an emergency, your time is far better spent looking after your horses than trying to find specialists to help you and worrying about the money.
Honestly, it's a no-brainer. You really do need Equine Rescue Services breakdown membership so please read on or buy a suitable membership for your lorry.
Will you fix my vehicle by the roadside?
Yes. We aim to get you and your vehicle back on the road as quickly as we possibly can.
What happens to my horses if my vehicle can't be fixed by the roadside?
Our top priority becomes getting one of our UK wide network of specialist horse transporters to your breakdown. Your horses will then be recovered by a professional horse transporter to any UK destination.
What happens to my horsebox or trailer if it can't be fixed by the roadside?
Recovery destinations of your vehicle depend on the membership package you have.
What happens to my towing vehicle if it can't be fixed by the roadside?
If you have our Equicar membership we will recover your car for you. If your towing vehicle breakdown membership is with any other organisation please refer to their terms and conditions.
What's the difference between the Trailer Assist membership and the Equicar membership?
Our Trailer Assist membership does not cover your towing vehicle (car) in the event of a breakdown. You will need a separate breakdown membership with another company to fix or recover your car. We will recover your trailer and horses if your car cannot be fixed by the roadside, but not your car.
Our Equicar membership is a comprehensive package that covers your trailer and your towing vehicle in the event of a breakdown. One simple membership and car, trailer, horses and people will be recovered if you can’t be fixed by the roadside. What's more, your towing vehicle is even covered when you are not towing your horsebox.
What happens if it's late at night and we are too far away from home for the transporters to travel?
Don’t worry, we will find overnight accommodation for you and your horses, then take everyone on in the morning.
Does my membership cover me if I have a road accident with my horses on-board?
Yes. Just one phone call to Equine Rescue Services will source all the help and emergency services you need.
What happens if my horses need a Vet?
We can arrange for a vet or a farrier to attend if necessary (this is a pay on use service).
Does Equine Rescue Services ever use a Low-loader lorry to transport a horsebox with horses still in it?
No. We think this is a dangerous way to transport horses and we never send low-loaders to a breakdown. Your horses will always be transported in fresh, accredited horseboxes or trailers.*
*In extremely dangerous road-side circumstances the Police have carte blanche to remove a broken down vehicle to a nearby place of safety as quickly as possible. It is therefore technically possible that they will order such removal methods, but we believe this is rare.
Does Equine Rescue Services ever tow a horsebox at an angle with horses still in it?
No. We know that this can damage a horse and our network of vehicle recovery specialists are instructed not to do this.*
*In extremely dangerous road-side circumstances the Police have carte blanche to remove a broken down vehicle to a nearby place of safety as quickly as possible. It is therefore technically possible that they will order such removal methods, but we believe this is rare.