Euro horse trailers

I lost my horsey independence in the Spring of 2007 when I moved to Germany. I miss it sorely.

Today J said we're gonna refinance our home and we should make a few extra purchases to fully enjoy the low rate.

I said nothing, my mind spinning around all the remodeling this 1890 house needs, and how much I hate remodeling, and contractors.

I much prefer lawyers to contractors. I would give my lawyer my last Starbucks Via packet, (obtained at great lengths) whereas I'd wipe my shoes free of dust after exiting our contratcor's property in Burscheid.

J said, "You could get a horse trailer."

Did he just say what I think he said?

I realized, "We finally have a place to PUT one!" September 1 we'll own 6 individual land parcels, with 3 of them adjacent to the street so there's the possibility of parking a vehicle.

"Of course we have no pulling vehicle."

Right. That might impede my re-found independence in owning my 3rd horse trailer.

*rubs hands*

J is now looking to see if the Land Cruiser comes in hybrid. Yes, but we're not rich. If we could afford a Land Cruiser, it will be a sad example of one, I'm afraid.

My first problem is I hate European horse trailers. I started looking at them, again, online today and slamming the web sites shut, "I HATE THIS!" with Data's voice in my head from that time he discovered emotions.

The fact that Mag also hates European horse trailers just bolsters my conviction that they are all for crap. (I swear, if I just had a stock trailer here, or my "open floor plan" 3-horse Triton from back home...poor Mag might be OK.)

I miss my Triton so much, and recently shopped on DreamHorse and found one similar to mine for only 5K$. Holy crap that's cheap. They're aluminum and synthetic materials, so they never rot and never rust.

Why is like this here? Many, (and not too long ago, MOST)trailers here are wooden with freaking canvas material for roofing. Not even a solid roof.

Here is a link to show you what this still-ubiquitous trailer looks like. You'll note it's from the 90s, in case you were tempted to think the 50s.

Here is a modern horse trailer made of plywood. They are not afraid to use that word. No joking, click on that just to see how proud they are of that word.

Are there any trailers in Europe without ramps?

Are there any with a large tack area in front? Am I kidding myself? *sigh*

You may recall in 2007 I crewed at an FEI endurance ride for Gabrielle Foerster (with her US Kanavy horse Priceless Gold). I wasn't very good crew for her, and she was no fun at all to crew for. She had this french horse trailer called Fautras and I thought it was strange and kind of crappy, but I later realized it's the most American-like trailer in Europe.

...search....

.........browse.....

...um gottes willen ist das alles........

As of 17:46 in the PM (*giggle* of course it's the PM if it's more than 12), I am veering strongly toward the french trailer Fautras. The one I thought was just sufficient but now I realize is as good as it might get here.

OH, I forgot to tell you my personal wishes. Alu/poly, no under-horse-head tack area, swinging rear doors, ....oh man, I've lowered my standards so much I guess that's it.

I had redesigned my Triton 3 horse slant into a large two horse with huge tack room and I had the tack wall cut in half and made removeable/adjustable so I could pull up a chair in my tack area and hang out with my horses in the event of rain. I often sat up there and shared my lunch with them.

What to do.

Ask the horse bloggers' help!

This "sufficient" Fautras seems to best meet my wishes. It oddly holds "either 2 horses, or 3 smaller ones" - OK. Is that a thing in America? Did you know that in Germany there is a large market for 1+ trailers? Which means "mare plus foal."

A Fautras Oblic is slant/straight adjustable, no ramp, alu/poly and has this freaking ridiculous window that pops UP. The trailer weighs between 2600 and 3000kg.

Why on earth would you want a horse trailer window to defy gravity while open, just propped in mid-air,  instead of flipping DOWN to secure to the side of the trailer? Logic anyone?

I don't know why every single model Fautras makes has a front unload door. That should not be required...wait....ohhhhhh....I think I get it now. It's cuz European horses don't know about step downs! They all know ramps just as all European horses know what it's like to be ridden/driven on pavement wearing steel shoes. Rather than ask Europeans riders to teach their horses to back off a step, they provide a front door on all their trailers. OK then. That probably amounts to a lot more profit for their company.

Finally, here are photos of the Fautras.

I like the Oblic best, because both the divider wall and "tack room" wall are removeable/adjustable. It's the most adjustable trailer I've ever seen. This flip up window is still killing me. I love how they made the tack room wall only 3/4 high, cuz why  not?

Images: Fautras Oblic 1 Problem is with that one - they are 13K Euros new. Paying 11K used is ridiculous.

Oblic 2 Sadly, same argument. I'm finding almost no Fautras models for sale that are not nearly new. I saw in total 2 that were 10 years old, and they looked great, but they still wanted 8K Euros for them.

My problem persists - finding vehicles that retain shockingly high value after years of use.

Help? I'd appreciate any help at all in any aspect of my problem. I hope there is someone reading this who knows my dilemna, perhaps knows options I have not seen yet.