Time to tow?

AT THE END of last year (16 December), the government announced that the legislation surrounding towing trailers and caravans had changed following discussions in parliament.

Drivers who passed their car driving test after 1 January 1997 are now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM), meaning that those who previously needed to pass a trailer towing test to be able to tow their horses within the law now no longer need to do so.

The decision has divided opinion among equestrians, with some welcoming the new freedom to travel their horses without the constraints of having to train and pay for a test, while others have flagged potential safety concerns surrounding the new rules.

County Durham-based rider Nichola Gaines was among the riders who welcomed the changes. She recently purchased a trailer with the intention of taking her test, and had even booked it for September last