​Top tips for looking after your horsebox in winter

​Top tips for looking after your horsebox in winter

During the winter it is likely you’ve parked up your horsebox for the winter months knowing you won’t be using it that much until the weather starts to perk up again. Not making sure you keep an eye on your horsebox can really backfire when you come to opening those doors to find rusted locks, cracked and deflated tyres and batteries that are on their last leg or completely dead. Here we look at a few ways you can make sure your horsebox is maintained during the winter months.

Also to mention, we’d highly recommend taking out a horsebox insurance plan to cover yourself.

Parking your vehicle during the winter

If you’re able, make sure to take your horsebox for a quick drive every now and then, this will make sure that your horsebox is working and gets everything warmed up and ticking over. However, if you can’t manage this, then here are some things you can do to maintain the horsebox over the winter.

• Don’t leave the handbrake on and chock the wheels to stop it from moving.
• Pop some WD-40 around the battery and under the horsebox bonnet.
• Make sure there is no food in cupboards or the fridge.
• Clean the horsebox thoroughly, make sure you’ve got the mud from under the wheel arches.
• Get lock oil and lubricate all the locks, this will make sure they don’t seize.
• If you can remove the wheel and pop the horsebox on blocks, this can help stop the tyres from cracking.
• Clean the lights every now and then.
• You can buy a charger for the battery to save it from mover charging.
• Make sure that the anti-freeze levels are where they should be.
• Check any carpeting inside to avoid it getting damp or moist.
• The AA recommend that you leave the tank full as less water will get in and it stops condensation.

What to do when you’re going to use your horsebox after winter

Before you use your horsebox after the weather has started to warm up make sure you check these things.

• Get your horsebox serviced – this is always a good idea as a precaution.
• Check your tyres; pressure, any cracks and replace if necessary.
• If the fuel tank wasn’t left full, check that it hasn’t be contaminated and hasn’t turned.
• Make sure your brakes are working properly – this is important as cold weather can freeze them.
• Check your water, oil, windscreen washer and brake levels.
• Tighten anything that was loosened previously.
• Give your horsebox a clean.

It is always worth researching as much as you can if you are going to be putting your horsebox in a field or storing it during the winter. These are just some things you can do to care for your horsebox during the winter, but it is not an exhaustive list.

British Pet Insurance Services offers a range of horse and pony cover levels, with up to £5,000 vet fees and a range of optional extras. Select the level of cover to suit your needs.