User talk:BarnetEngineer

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 * I recommended that we merge the horsebox and horse trailer articles, clearly both encompass material on tow-behind vehicles and could be expanded to include the limited number of van-type vehicles. I think most of the big outfits today on both sides of the "pond" (US-Europe) use 18-wheelers if they are hauling many animals.   Montanabw (talk) 21:29, 28 February 2013 (UTC)

I think a merger would be logical. The entry on horse trailers is interesting and has some useful history (at least the history of horse transport in the US).

However, there are distinct differences in the design of horseboxes in Europe and North America and any article should address them appropriately - not least because I actually find the differences very interesting.

We don't actually have many 18 wheeler horseboxes in Europe. As a carriage driving enthusiast, I've seen one or two (carrying five horses, two carriages, etc) - but they are rare.

The vast majority of horseboxes in Europe tend to be rigid goods vehicles - relatively few are semi-trailer/gooseneck rigs - or small two horse trailers for towing behind SUV type vehicles.

Our rigid horseboxes have two axles (four to six wheels) and range from 3.5 to 18 tonnes GVW, carrying between 2 and 7 horses.

Moreover, the popularity of 3.5t van-based horseboxes has been increasing in Europe due to driving licence restrictions introduced 15 years ago.

Secondly, as there are so many English terms for horseboxes, horse vans, horse trailers, horse floats, etc. I would propose having both the Horsebox topic and Horse Trailer topic redirect to a new topic, perhaps called "Horse Transport" or something similarly geographically neutral.

Here is a link to some of the horsebox manufacturers in the UK and other European countries (so you can appreciate the types and range of horseboxes):

http://www.oakleyhorseboxes.co.uk/forsale.asp http://www.mtm.fr/index.htm?lang=en http://www.boeckmann.com/_eng/index_en_123995.html

Regards,

BarnetEngineer BarnetEngineer (talk) 21:53, 28 February 2013 (UTC)


 * I like the idea of "horse transport" or something like that. If you are good with that title, I'll maybe do a clunky merge of both articles into that one and redirect the titles. Then we can each work on whatever bits we wish to from there?   Montanabw (talk) 22:35, 1 March 2013 (UTC)