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Why Tyre Safety Matters for the Equine Community
Whether you’re heading to a competition, the vet, or just out for a hack, your horse’s safety begins before you leave the yard.
Horseboxes and trailers are heavy, specialist vehicles. The tyres that carry them are critical—not just for the horses inside, but for you and everyone else on the road.
Tyres that are under-inflated, worn, damaged, or too old can cause dangerous blowouts or roadside breakdowns, leaving you and your horse stranded in a stressful and potentially unsafe situation.
By making tyre checks part of your routine, you can:
- Protect your horse’s welfare in transit
- Reduce the risk of roadside emergencies
- Avoid unnecessary costs for fuel and replacement tyres
- Enjoy smoother, safer, and legal journeys
ACT + A: Four Steps to Safer Journeys
TyreSafe encourages all horse owners, riders, and transporters to ACT + A before every trip:
A: Air Pressure
- Check tyre pressures before every journey, when tyres are cold.
- Follow the handbook for correct pressures.
- Adjust if carrying different loads (e.g. one horse vs two).
💡 Correct pressures = better grip, stability, and safety.
C: Condition
- Look for cracks, bulges, cuts, or embedded objects.
- Pay attention to unusual vibrations or pulling when driving.
💡 Damaged tyres can fail suddenly—don’t ignore the signs.
T: Tread
- Trailers up to 3500kg GVW: minimum 1.6mm tread depth.
- Horseboxes over 3500kg GVW: minimum 1mm tread depth.
💡 Worn tread reduces your ability to brake and steer safely.
+ A: Age
- Check the DOT code on the tyre sidewall for the manufacture date.
- Replace tyres after 5–7 years, regardless of tread.
- UK law bans tyres over 10 years old on certain vehicles, including minibuses and van-derived horseboxes.
💡 Tyres that sit unused can deteriorate faster than you think.
Don’t Forget Breakdown Cover
Even with the best checks, failures can happen.
- Make sure your breakdown cover includes horse transport recovery.
Tell your insurer and breakdown provider you tow or drive a horsebox.
💡 Peace of mind when you need it most.
Campaign Materials – Free to Share
To make it easy for owners, stables, clubs, and businesses to raise awareness, TyreSafe has created a suite of campaign materials:
- 🎥 Video: Produced with Lancashire Constabulary & Solihull Riding Club, ideal for educating riders and horse owners.
- 📢 Social Media Posts & Images: Ready-made content for your personal page, livery yard, club, or equestrian business.
- 🖨️ Posters: Perfect for stables, riding clubs, tack shops, and veterinary practices.
- 📘 The Ultimate Guide to Horsebox Tyres: In-depth advice for both horseboxes and trailers.
👉 Download all resources from: https://www.tyresafe.org/resources/tyre-safety-resources/
Spread the Word, Protect the Herd
You can help by encouraging others in the equestrian community to:
- Make tyre checks part of their animal care routine.
- Share campaign materials in their club or stable.
- ACT + A before every journey.
Together, we can reduce avoidable breakdowns and keep horses safe on the move.