H&H has investigated what, if anything, you should do with your horsebox if it is parked up for a period of time to help keep them maintained, so that they will be in good working order when the time comes for you to use it again.
Graham Hutton, manager of E.H. Hutton Coachbuilders Ltd, a business that was first established in 1958, shares his tips for horsebox maintenance if it is parked up for a period of time:
Move your horsebox forwards or backwards 12 inches every now and then to help prevent your tyres from deforming or cracking after being sat on one spot for a length of time
Isolating or disconnecting your lorry batteries will help prevent them going flat
If possible start your lorry at least once a month, but don’t rev it immediately — give the oil a chance to run around the engine first, and then increase the revs. In some older lorries, the batteries won’t start charging until your lorry has been pushed over a certain number of revs. Aim to run your lorry for around 30 minutes
Don’t worry about the gearbox oil in your horsebox — it will circulate when you start the engine
Air brakes can freeze on if left for too long, so when you start your lorry and move it backwards and forwards to help maintain the tyres, make sure you use your brakes a few times as well
If the weather turns wet, check that your horsebox isn’t leaking anywhere as you can end up with serious mechanical damage if water is pooling into your lorry
Don’t leave the ramp down on your horsebox — it damages the springs
If freezing temperatures are forecast, make sure there is no water stored in your lorry as it can cause pipes to burst
If your lorry is accessible and on private land and you have the space to do so, taking it down the drive and back is a good option
If you have a generator on your lorry, you can leave that unstarted for longer than your lorry engine
SORN
You might have considered applying a SORN to your vehicle. You need to make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) when you take a vehicle ‘off the road’ and you want to stop taxing and insuring it. Your vehicle is off the road if you don’t keep or use it on a public road, for example if it’s in a garage, on a drive or on private land. You can not SORN a vehicle if it is kept on the public highway.
You must make a SORN in any of the following situations:
your vehicle isn’t taxed
your vehicle isn’t insured (even for a short time, for example because there’s a delay renewing your policy)
you want to break a vehicle down for parts before you scrap it
you buy or receive a vehicle and want to keep it off the road (you can’t transfer a SORN from the previous keeper)
If you decide to SORN your horsebox, then legally there is no requirement to have insurance in place. However, you would be unable to use your vehicle on the road under any circumstances, even for an emergency. In addition, if the vehicle was stolen or suffered fire damage, without insurance you wouldn’t be able to claim.
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If you are trying to save money, speak to your insurance provider about whether it’s possible to downgrade your horsebox insurance based on driving fewer miles across the year, but check the small print for any charges that may apply. These may cancel out the saving you are trying to make.
While cancelling your breakdown cover might appear to be an easy win, in most cases you won’t receive a refund if you do so, but it is worth checking with your policy provider. It would also leave you without cover if you needed to transport your horse for emergency vet treatment and your lorry broke down on the way.
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
