Trailer Buses for Horse Floats

Horse transport co’s started building semi floats late 1970’s. Had to use an “approved” coupling, as passengers carried. Holland BRQRTT from memory.
Wonder what was used on the older buses shown.
Old school trainers were sceptical at first, but soon saw their horses travelled much better than in the old rigid floats.

Paul, I am not sure on your dates for horse vans???? Unless I am NOT understanding your term "ridged float" correctly??? I know Smith Horse Trans from Chester PA USA had H-60 Mack petrol prime movers which were mid-late 50's.. Let me ask on the Big Mack Trucks website.
The blue H-60-61 that is in Tony Champion's collection is one of their trucks. If you go to some pictures of the ATCA national show in Macungie Michael Yarnell has one of their H-67's displayed in the original livery..

rigid = body truck
float = usually seen referring to a low loader trailer carrying the likes of a bull dozer, however in this case refers to the style of body that you carry horses in. But not cattle as that body we refer to as a crate. The style of horse trailer pulled by a car (tho increasingly by Dodges Rams) is often called a horse float and hence the cross over of the term to a truck carrying horses rather than earth movers.  ho hum

Horse trucks used in thoroughbred racing and for longer distance stud work were usually side load so the horses faced forward or to the rear. Up to 3 across the truck, with adjustable partitions for those uncomfortable in a single space and mares with foals.
Horses travelled best lower to the road, so rigid trucks had the chassis stepped forward and rear of the drive axle. Diff inverted and springs underslung to keep the tail shaft lower. Last allowed in Victoria early 1980’s. 
Usually 6 horses, all facing forward with attendants seats ahead of them. Mostly timber inside to keep noise down, much like a stable.
Some were built on UK bus chassis like AEC Regal and even Scanias tried. Others built up on chassis by Norlings with bus type bodies by Cooks.
Late 1970’s on saw semi floats being built for 9, 10, 11, 12 and even 15 horses. Legal trailer lengths dictated their configurations. Some had a few horses across the truck, and the 15 had 3 over the turntable with a folding ramp. The 12 had 3 up over the trailer axles. Oddly, best spot for nervy horses as they could see up to 6 others, rode on air bags with least swing when cornering. The trailer frames were built on similar lines to machinery floats. Thinking was they would outlast the prime movers with few mods  needed to update the unit.
Short WB single drive cab over prime movers used, like Scania, MAN, Volvo, IH, KW etc. Meant the driver got the worst ride on secondary and worse roads.
Many horse trucks are rear load with them standing across the truck, or even better herringbone style.
Extreme care needed with braking and gear shifts.
Stock horses, Polo Ponies etc the best to carry as they are often put in cattle crates.
Dig out some old pic’s to put up, sorry don’t have a lot more.
Thanks for your interest.

 

From RACV Magazine Article.
AEC restored and possibly taken to HCVC display back in the day. Fun drive, backwards H pattern gearshift with OD blocked out - too hard on the diff and a bit too quick on the road. Leyland 680 motor fitted. Horses travelled well as suspension designed for double decker buses, limited body roll.
Brakes just adequate.
One of the trailer floats, not sure if it is the first one with 11 spaces or a later 10 space unit.

First 3 G & G trailer floats. Bodies by Cooks.
RH one, 11 space single axle trailer on springs.
Soon modified to airbags. Ran heavy on the single axle fully loaded. Front 3 horses faced forward, then 2 across, next 3 faced the rear. Seat for attendants then 3 horses facing forward. Built for longer trips rather than race work.
LH one first 9 space trailer built for both race and long distance work, Scania 82 prime mover.
Put in the centre one in 1980, second 9 space trailer.
Easy tow for the 111 Scania.

From the late 50's (???) on up here in the States horse vans were built similar to a drop deck flatbed on air ride 15 inch wheels.

Took a while to catch up here Brocky.
Chapmans of Melbourne had 12 space floats built with the smaller single wheels and air bags.
Poor roads and speed killed the tyres quickly, so changed for low profile R22 duals.
 

That RACV Magazine photo looks like 1990's hand-done photo-shopping.

November 1996 Lang. Looks very ‘staged’. Unlikely to unload a horse in that position.
AEC sold soon after, to lie derelict out near Diggers Rest. Only used at G & G occasionally. Smoked the garage out until warmed up. Only a few blokes would have a go at steering it. Could see the road going by through a hole in the floor.