Your life is already complicated enough. The last thing you need, as a horse owner, is a long and complicated process for earning a horsebox licence. You will be happy to know that the HGV Training Centre offers a simple solution to getting your licence as quickly as possible and without spending a fortune. It takes only a few days to complete training for a Category B+E licence while a Category C licence can be earned in just a few weeks.
Why do we call our training programmes a simple solution? Because we do not require you to train for months on end before we declare you ready to take your tests. In fact, we do just the opposite. We employ a fast-paced and concentrated training approach that prepares you to take your tests as soon as possible while the information you learned is still fresh in your mind. Our approach leads to better understanding, better retention, and better recall.
The process of getting your horsebox licence may involve additional steps depending on the licence category you need. Yet all of the licences follow the same basic process:
- Sign up for the appropriate training course
- Undergo classroom training
- Undergo behind-the-wheel training
- Book and take your tests.
Choosing the HGV Training Centre as your training provider gives you immediate access to a training specialist who will guide you through the process every step of the way. We will help you make the right choices in terms of the licence category commensurate with the way you transport horses and the vehicles you choose to use.
Training Courses for the Horsebox Licence
Choosing the right courses for your horsebox licence training starts with determining what kinds of vehicles you intend to drive. Below are just a few examples:
- SUV and Horsebox Trailer – Most of our horsebox licence students merely want to tow a single or double trailer with an SUV or pickup truck. For them, the Category C1 licence is appropriate. It allows for towing vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes with trailers in excess of 750 kg.
- Tow Vehicles with Larger Trailers – If you are using a larger vehicle to tow a horsebox trailer capable of carrying 6-8 animals, you would need the Category C1+E licence. This licence allows you to operate a vehicle in excess of 7.5 tonnes with trailers heavier than 750 kg.
- Small Horseboxes – Self-contained horseboxes between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes are covered by the Category C1 licence. Trailers are not allowed if the total weight exceeds 12 tonnes.
- HGV Horseboxes – The largest HGV horseboxes heavier than 7.5 tonnes require a Category C licence.
The HGV Training Centre offers both three- and five-day courses for both Category B+E (for light trailers) and category C1 licences. The three-day course is for drivers who already have some experience towing trailers but who have never been formally trained or licenced. The five-day course is intended for people who have never towed a trailer at all.
The Category C licence takes a few weeks to obtain, primarily because it is considered a professional-grade licence. As a side note, obtaining this licence would allow you to work as a professional lorry driver in addition to transporting horses in your HGV horsebox.
What Our Training Covers
There is quite a bit to learn when you are training for a horsebox licence. However, getting a licence is not especially difficult if you apply a modest amount of effort to your training. The HGV Training Centre does everything we can to make sure the training process goes as smoothly as possible and at a pace most students can keep up with. In cases where a student struggles, our instructors provide the extra help and support necessary to keep him or her on track.
Our horsebox licence training covers a variety of topics in three categories:
- Driving Theory – When you earned your Category B licence, you were required to take a 100-question theory exam to demonstrate you had a basic understanding of road safety and hazard avoidance. No additional theory test is necessary for the Cat C1 licence, but we still provide theory training in order to make you familiar with the basic concepts of transporting horses. You will need to pass an additional theory test if you plan to obtain a Category C licence.
- Driving Skills – It will be impossible to pass your final test if you do not have the appropriate driving skills. But worry not as we help you develop those skills through hands-on training and plenty of practice. We will teach you to do things such as cornering, safe braking, reversing, and using your mirrors correctly.
- Practical Demonstration – Part of the horsebox licence test is what is known as a practical demonstration. This is where the examiner asks you up to five different questions requiring you to provide both answers and practical demonstrations of your knowledge. For example, you may be required to explain and demonstrate how to properly couple and uncouple a horsebox trailer.
Although we do not spend a lot of time on it, part of the theory training deals with your legal obligations as someone transporting animals within the EU. There are regulations in place requiring you to take every reasonable step to protect the health and welfare of horses during transport. For example, you are required to:
- maintain safe loading and unloading zones to reduce injury risks
- subject your equipment to routine safety inspections
- inspect your equipment prior to starting any journey
- ensure anyone assisting you as an animal handler is competent.
This is just a short sampling of what is required of you for safe and legal animal transport. We go over all the regulations so that you will not be caught off guard. It is a good idea to know and understand your obligations so that you do not run afoul of the law. Obviously, you also want to protect your beloved horses at the same time.
Simple, Fast, Convenient
The HGV Training Centre takes great pride in being the simple, fast, and convenient solution to obtain your horsebox licence. Our process is simple inasmuch as we do not waste your time on things that are unnecessary. Furthermore, we provide administrative assistance so that you don’t have to worry about things like submitting paperwork and booking tests. All you have to do is go to class and learn.
Our process is fast because we concentrate on teaching you only what you need to know to pass your tests. Any additional information can be learned through extra courses taken in the future or by working with experienced horse owners who can teach you, through hands-on experience, anything else you need to know.
Lastly, our process is convenient thanks to more than four dozen training locations throughout the UK. As our business has grown, we have expanded our service area to the extent that we now operate training centres very near every major metropolitan area in the UK. You will not have to travel for hours just to earn your horsebox licence.
The HGV Training Centre is one of the most respected training companies in the industry. We have a proven track record of success backed up by thousands of drivers who have completed training before going on to become proficient and safe drivers. We would be thrilled to add you to their numbers by training you for your horsebox licence. If you are ready to get going, we are ready to sign you up. Contact us right away so we can get started.
Related Equine Reading
Please find below a selection of our other reading materials related to equine transport on UK roads:
- What Licence Do I Need To Drive a 3.5 Tonne Horsebox?
- Find the Best Driver Training for HGV Horseboxes
- Find the Best Horse Box Trailer Towing Courses in Your Area
- Horse Lorry Types and UK Driving Licence Requirements
- The Best Intensive Training Course on Horse Trailer Towing
- The Easy Guide to Horse Transport Options in the UK
- The Simple Low Cost Solution to Getting Your Horsebox Licence
- How to Transport Horses Safely and Legally in the UK
- What Are The Licence Requirements For Towing A Horse Trailer?
- What You Need To Know About Towing Horse Trailers
