Lorries of the stars

How do the equestrian elite live on the road? Alex Robinson talks to professionals in different sports to see what they prioritise in a horsebox

- Alex Robinson

WHAT really goes into building a lorry for the stars of the horse world? While luxury living with stunning design, modern appliances, and techie features are a bonus, our professional equestrians, like most horse owners, prioritize the security and well-being of their equine passengers. And manufacturers design and develop their boxes with this in mind.

When crafting a box for none other than Olympian Charlotte Dujardin, the experts at Bloomfields Horseboxes made sure their famously safe and secure two-horse box was customized to suit all her needs.

Bloomfield's director Helen Moody said that Charlotte – who owns a Sovereign-made larger horsebox – opted for the “Professional” model, which is pitted as “the ultimate horsebox for difficult horses”. When loaded, the horses are separated by a full-height, grilled partition, ahead divider, and two full-height grilled access doors, which removes the need for a breast bar.

“Charlotte was adamant that she wanted something that was both strong, safe, and ultimately going to do the job,” explains Helen. “If her horses are going to have a wobble or a kick, she needs to know that the box isn’t going to go anywhere. The bulkhead – the wall that goes between the driver and the horses – is one of the safety features.”

While the Professional model comes with high specifications, Charlotte asked for additional storage space in the back, so Bloomfields installed a roller shutter wardrobe.