Woohoo new float!!

[Lauren]

Yay looks great!! Just PLEASE make sure you pony proof it for Bega- im so scared after cooper's accident (and our float was pony proof- so we thought  ). They really are great escape artists...

[Stablekitty]

ehem, oh milly.... you gunna paint it hot pink?

Go on - make it purple to match the inside!

There was a hot pink and silver float on ebay not long ago, and it was soooooo cool. One day when I am lucky enough/rich enough to have my own float it will be hot pink.  Or possibly purple or blue.... 

hehehe.

At least if it got nicked you would know it a mile away

[Taff Pony]

Very tempted SK! Unfortunately buying a float has hurt my bank account haha, so any modifications to the float just to make it look pretty shall have to wait!

I am pleased to announce that it had it's rego check today though, and passed, so I can go and swap it into my name tomorrow! Yay! Just in time for PC LOL. It ended up needing a few things done to pass - one tyre was low so had to be swapped with the spare, and one brake light was out so I needed a new globe, and I needed *something technical* for the brakes, and they needed bleeding. No idea what the guy was talking about, as my car skills are limited to adding oil and water (and only on a good day!), but it is all done now anyway and good to go! I even managed to reverse it into it's parking spot down near all the other floats quite nicely.  Well it took a few goes, and I nearly backed into the rock wall - but not too bad for a first go! 

So what happened in your float Lauren? I thought it was pretty well set up for the littlies, Paul showed me the mods he did lol... I haven't quite decided how to set up mine yet for Bega. Currently it is all open, as the split tailgate is used as a bumbar. I'm not sure there is much point to the divider for Bega anyway, as it is just a pole one and he could probably just walk under it lol, plus the bum bars are obviously useless! So I am thinking of hanging some rubber from the chestbar (like you guys have done) to create a smaller space, and then tying him up on baling twine from the chestbar. It might require some fiddling to fix something up for him I think... Problem is, whatever I do has to be easy to put up and take down, as Taffy will be using the float too.

[Anokino]

I had my float modified so that I could put the chest and bum bars down low enough for my 10hh pony and that seemed to work ok so maybe you want to think of something like that? Otherwise, I just let them stand loose in the completely open float (ie without any centre, bum or chest bars in place) and that was the best way to transport them when I was taking both. Even when I took one along with a bigger horse it was easier to just remove the divider and let the small pony find its own space out of the way of the horse.

[Lauren]

Cooper got under the chest bar even though we have a rubber sheet stopping him from doing so and got into the front part of the float and managed to get the door open even though it was locked! Possibly fatal accident but luckily we weren't moving and got him straight off so all he will have is a scar- but was SO scary!!! If bega can fit under the chest bars (very likely) I think you should either get them lowered or arrange a way so he cant (like we have but better!), same with the centre divider if you have it in place- otherwise he could get stuck under or get twisted around in some silly way etc. Any modifications you make should be fine for taffy too as she isn't big! And you can just do it on one side so that side can be begas Probably a good idea to do before you go anywhere as I know what a good escaper he is!!!

Good luck!

[Taff Pony]

OMG that would have been scary Lauren... Lucky it didn't end up worse! I wonder how he got the door open? Ponies huh???

You just let them completely loose in the float Alison? Like not even tying them up? They don't run about wildly everywhere and try to run out as soon as you drop the tailgate? I've never even heard of the idea of floating them completely free in there before.

I will just measure things up in there first I think, and see how big he actually is in comparison to everything in the float.

[Lauren]

And just remember that ponies are really good at shrinking themselves to get under things that in theory they shouldnt be able to!!! 

[Taff Pony]

Hahaha I learnt that one already! I had to "pony proof" his yard cause he would just walk out between the tape when he felt like it... 

I told him he's just lucky he's so cute.

[Anokino]

I think that was me you were asking? About the ponies running free?

And yes, just free. They don't run madly or anything and if they are diving out the moment you open a door then they aren't ready to be in a float yet anyway. It's all just training. And I wouldn't be opening the tail gate while they were completely loose anyway, I'd go it via the side door, put the halter and lead on and then bring the tail gate down. Although both Munchkin and Baron were happy enough to be unloaded out the side door any way so I didn't really need to bring the tail gate down to unload them  .

[Taff Pony]

Ah yes, sorry Anokino!

I can't see Bega running madly ever, he isn't the type to bother wasting his energy on such things.

I think I will just put him in and have a play and see what looks best.

[Ricca]

You could maybe get in touch with someone like Resort Trailers in Queanbeyan and explain what you need, i'm sure they have done some modifications similiar to yours in the past 

[Andrew]

or M&T Fabrications near Braidwood

[Taff Pony]

Yep, I plan on doing this... Had a chat to the manager at CEC today and got some good ideas on how I can modify it to suit Bega and Taffy. It will have to wait a little while, but I will eventually take it to M & T and put my ideas into action!