Month: September 2025

If you are a mobile trader who relies on a trailer to get your wares to and from each event, it is fair to say you will probably have run up a lot of mileage while using it over the summer.

Whether it is music festivals and gigs, flower shows, country fairs, food festivals, or sporting events, every summer brings a huge array of events across the country. That means lots of crowds will gather, and whether you are supplying them with food and drink or merchandise, it can be both a busy and lucrative time.

Now that summer is over, things might seem a little quiet, although there is always something on somewhere. This year, for example, sees all sorts of events associated with Bradford’s year as the UK City of Culture 2025.

Why Get A Service Now?

Nonetheless, now may be the ideal time for trailer servicing work, because the last few months of motorway journeys and taking the trailer across often bumpy and hard ground amid drought conditions may have taken its toll.

Whatever part (or parts) of your trailer need some TLC, getting it done now is a great idea, because things will soon start getting busy again.

Most of October is a quiet month, but half-term might see quite a lot happening as families take breaks and many rural spots could provide good pitches, for example, those near woods and forests in national parks displaying beautiful seasonal colours.

However, things will really get busy in November. Firstly, there will be lots of large bonfires and firework displays, and with November 5th falling on a Wednesday this year, many events will take place on either the previous or following weekend, providing multiple opportunities for vendors to provide refreshments to the crowds of spectators.

Muddy Marvels

Having a well-maintained trailer may be very important before this event in particular, because most displays will take place in fields that could be quite muddy by then, especially if the long-awaited rains that have deluged Yorkshire in September continue to fall over the coming few weeks.

That means your trailer will be tested in new ways. While it may have had to handle hard and bumpy ground in the dry summer, it could be dealing with a mud bath if November begins in wet fashion.

The Most Lucrative Time Of The Year

Barely has the last firework fizzled out than the first Christmas lights will go up, with the festive season proving to be another bumper time of year for vendors.

Whether it is being set up near a busy shopping centre thronging with folk coming into town to buy presents, or being set up at a Christmas market to sell food, drink, or gifts, this will be a time when you could find yourself very busy for weeks on end.

There will also be Christmas fairs and light shows in parks, as well as other festive events that can attract big crowds of potential customers.

For that reason, you may need your trailer to be heavily stocked with goods and perhaps make a lot of journeys as you replenish supplies ready for the next extremely busy shopping day.

The last thing you want is for something to go wrong with your trailer on the road when you are so busy. The time spent getting it fixed is time not spent selling goods, while some imperishable items might not keep for very long while you are waiting for help to arrive.

Once the busy Christmas period is over, many trailer owners might feel that it is a good time for a service and such thoughts may be increased by any problems encountered on the road in wintry conditions. That could help ensure your trailer is in tip-top shape by the February half-term and the spring and summer seasons that follow.

Don’t Let Small Issues Linger

Those issues might arise from incidents occurring during the busy late autumn and winter season, but if there are some problems already evident now, it would not be wise to allow them to remain and still be there when the next very busy period arrives. As with any mechanical issue, ignoring a small problem now risks it becoming a big problem before long.

Indeed, for some trailers, even the New Year may not represent a complete lull. For instance, there may be popular year-round walking spots where the presence of a van offering hot food and drinks is very welcome on a cold day.

For many traders, however, now may be the best time of year to get that trailer serviced and ensure you are ready to move from a hectic summer of festivals to a hectic winter of festivities.

The right horse box trailer is essential to any successful equestrian business, but it is particularly important for horse racing.

Not only does it have to provide the right amount of support, protection and comfortable amenities for the horse, but it is also often a major component of your brand.

This is why trailers such as the Ifor Williams Eventa not only offer comfortable herringbone layouts to keep your horse safe, but also the option to customise the exterior through elaborate bespoke wrapping.

The trailer, much as it is in motorsport or any other business-in-a-box, is a key part of the brand, and this can be as important as winning in the world of horse racing.

The best example of this is how a horse managed to save horse racing in an entire country without winning a single meeting.

Is History Written By The Winners?

The most memorable racehorses and the ones that had the greatest branding and breeding potential were the winners, and the horse trailer was invented to make their lives more comfortable and increase their chances.

Legendary horses such as Eclipse, Secretariat and Red Rum will never be forgotten either because they always won or they won in the most dramatic circumstances, turning them into celebrities and folk heroes.

However, despite the hypercompetitive nature of horse racing and the money that flows in and out of it, not every legendary horse is a winner.

In fact, some horses become famous because they lose more than any other. A decade after Red Rum’s success, Quixall Crossett was famous for being one of the only horses in history to start 100 races without winning a single time, yet often got bigger cheers than the winner.

At around the same time, Zippy Chippy became famous as a lovable loser more notable for his odd antics on the racecourse, mean streak and unusual publicity stunts; he once raced against a baseball player and a horse pulling a chariot in two of the only wins of his career.

However, by far the greatest example of a horse winning by losing was the tale of Haru Urara, a horse that managed to save Japanese horse racing despite never recording a maiden win. 

The Glorious Spring

Born in Hokkaido, Japan’s most prominent equestrian island, Haru Urara was considered to be rather small for a thoroughbred, and would take the long journey by trailer throughout the mountainous winding roads of Japan to Kochi Racecourse on the southern island of Shikoku.

There were three reasons why Nobuta Farm, Haru Urara’s birthplace, would send her there; it was the cheapest racecourse in Japan at the time, it was struggling due to the Lost Decade recession and had the weakest competition, making it the only course where the bay mare stood a chance of winning.

She hated training, did not like wearing a saddle, and it was difficult for trainer Dai Muneishi to get her ready for her maiden race. 

She kept losing monthly or fortnightly for the better part of five years, from November 1998 until June 2003, when something rather remarkable happened and she inadvertently started a boom in Japanese horse racing.

Shining Star Of Losers

In 2003, after losing 87 races in a row, the national media began to pay attention to Haru Urara’s remarkable losing streak, as it is unusual for horses to run that many races, let alone without winning. 

The national and later international attention led to record attendances and revenue, as attendees bought tickets and placed bets on a horse that had never won and often never came close.

The “Haru Urara Boom”, as it would later become known, managed to save Japanese horseracing, which had suffered immensely at the grassroots level due to a seemingly never-ending recession in Japan.

Haru Urara’s determination, distinctive Hello Kitty attire and underdog status would help turn this around.

Kochi Racecourse, in particular, was at risk of closing down completely, but with Haru Urara doubling ticket sales, it helped to buoy up the entire lower levels of Japanese horseracing.

At its peak, the inevitable lost betting tickets would become good luck charms, due in part to the fact that the word for losing a bet (atanari) also means avoiding being hit, so it was believed that they could ward off car accidents.

The absolute peak was on 22nd March 2004, where over half a million pounds were placed on Haru Urara bets at a special “commemorative ticket booth”, and 13,000 spectators gathered to watch one of Japan’s most successful jockeys, Yutaka Take, attempt to ride Urara to victory. He came tenth out of 11 riders.

Fame After Racing

Haru Urara would retire from racing in 2004, outside of one final race for retired horses in 2019 that she would ironically win.

She would take part in tours, be the face of a local traffic safety campaign and receive greater notoriety when a character based on her appeared in the franchise Umamusume, of which she is the only racehorse who never raced for the Japanese Racing Association.

She would retire to Matha Farm, where countless international fans would pay for ryegrass to be fed to her until she died of colic suddenly on 9th September 2025.

It highlights the importance of transportation, branding and love in the world of equestrian businesses, and having the right trailer for the right horse is a major part of this.

One of the biggest questions when it comes to agricultural matters is how much it is worth buying outright some of the most important equipment for taking care of your land, as opposed to hiring it as and when you require it.

Much like our range of Ifor Williams trailers, we offer a range of options when it comes to flexible financing, part-exchange and short-term hire, which can suit every budget and every set of needs.

If you want to learn more and get some dedicated advice tailored to the needs of your business, get in touch with us today, and we can discuss your options and ensure that any choice you make meets UK regulations and standards.

However, to help your decision either way, here are some of the most common questions and arguments when it comes to hiring or buying a trailer, and how your answers might tilt your decision in the direction of ownership or renting.

How Often Will You Use It?

The biggest and most fundamental question when it comes to hiring or renting is how often you are likely to use it as part of your business. The more regularly you expect to use it, the more likely you will be better off buying it outright.

Generally, if you can think of a use for your trailer every month of the year, it is almost always worth buying outright rather than renting, but if the trailer is needed for a rare or seasonally specific role or single project, there is value in maintaining a flexible approach.

The right trailer can last for many years as long as it is well-maintained, and there is always the option for part-exchange in the future, although this will depend on how much wear and tear it is expected to accrue as part of its role.

What Is The Total Cost Of Ownership?

A related point to the question of use is how much the trailer would cost in total to buy and maintain, compared to renting a trailer for each individual need.

Whilst the upfront cost of the trailer matters, particularly for cash flow purposes, the total cost, including any maintenance and overheads, is also critical, as these additional costs that may not be part of the comparative calculations could make renting more affordable than buying.

Similarly, it is important to look at the rental terms and any extra costs, whether they are inherent to your trailer hire or could be accrued if there are mechanical issues or unexpected damage caused during a particular job.

There is also the income a purchased trailer would generate, either during the process of doing business, when sold or part-exchanged, all of which could factor into a financial decision to buy.

Can You Use A Stock Trailer?

Rented trailers will typically be available from a range of stock units, but if you need additional adjustments to meet the needs of your business, farm or regular job, then hiring the perfect solution may not be available to you.

Some trailers require dedicated shelving for particular goods, as well as toolboxes or additional functionality as required.

For example, if you are considering an Ifor Williams Transporta but wish to add a more bespoke set of tools and equipment to turn it into a mobile garage for track days, purchasing a trailer might be the better option.

Our trailers often have a range of optional extras, but whether they would be available on a trailer hire would depend on availability.

If you can use a stock trailer for your particular short-term project, such as an office or house move, goods transportation or a specific seasonal job such as log splitting, hiring a stock trailer could be profoundly more affordable.

Is Your Trailer For A Horse?

Many agricultural businesses will involve the welfare, treatment and transportation of horses, which typically would require a stable owner to have a horse box.

A lot of equestrian businesses and horse owners have specific needs when it comes to partitions, size, amenities, tack storage and protective equipment for the horse or horses.

Because of this, it can sometimes be better to contact a trailer expert and get a trailer that is designed around the welfare and safety needs of the horse or horses that are likely to stay in them, as well as the people staying in the front in the case of an Eventa.

Horse transportation needs are also typically more frequent, meaning that in the vast majority of cases, owning a horse box will be more cost-effective than renting.