IN the world of horse ownership, which can occasionally involve serious injury to riders or animals, having a flat tyre on a horsebox or trailer might seem rather small beer.

But anyone who has suffered the problem knows just how traumatic it can be.

If it happens at a show or event, where there is room for the horses to stand while the tyre is changed and there are plenty of people to help, then the scenario might not be too bad. But if it happens while you are travelling, particularly along a busy road or, even worse, a motorway it can mean trouble with a capital T.

No one wants to be in the position of unloading horses beside a main highway and lifting the vehicle with them in is beyond many domestic' jacking devices.

So with the summer horse show season swinging into gear, now is the time to make some routine checks on your trailer or horsebox tyres.

For expert advice, I went to Caroline Haynes, who runs Equine Transport Tyre Cover, at Kidderminster, which specialises in tyre breakdowns on equestrian vehicles.

"Some of the problems can be spotted before they occur," she said. "A few simple checks could make all the difference between having a good journey and a bad one."

As a guide, Caroline has drawn up a list of tyre safety tips: Inspection

First, make it a habit each time you take your horse box or trailer out to visually inspect each tyre for perishing of the rubber, under and over inflation, tread depth and any other foreign objects that might have become embedded or wedged.

Pressure

Tyre pressures should ideally be read when the tyre is cold, because tyre pressures always read higher on warm tyres.

Tread depth

Check the tread depth. Up to three- and-a- half tonnes - 1.6mm minimum tread depth across the centre three quarters of the tread. Three-and-a- half tonnes and over - the minimum tread depth allowed is 1mm across the centre three-quarters of the tread.

"Vehicles involved in accidents where the tyres are proved to be illegal may result in your insurance being void," Caroline pointed out. "Any tyre that is replaced must be of the same type and construction as the original tyre that is removed and suitably rated according to the manufacturer's specifications regarding the weight carried and maximum speed of the vehicle."

Valve caps

Check there are high pressure standard valve caps. Valve caps, especially high pressure ones, are vitally important to the valve assembly. Because trailers and horseboxes travel across fields and rough ground, it is more likely dirt or foreign objects can obstruct or damage the valve core. This can cause slow deflation of tyres over a period of time which will lead to tyre failure.

Valve extensions

If you have a lorry, check it has valve extensions. Where a horsebox is fitted with twinned rear wheels, a valve extension should be fitted to enable pressure to be checked on the inner tyre without having to remove the outer wheel.

Wheel alignment

Where an uneven wear pattern starts to form across the tyre tread it usually signifies the wheel alignment is incorrect, which causes premature tyre wear, reduced handling and increased fuel costs.

Wheel balancing

When a new tyre is fitted to a wheel, time should be taken to balance the wheel and tyre prior to its being fitted back on to the vehicle. Unbalanced wheels and tyres cause poor handling, premature wear to the tyre and steering mechanism and again, increased fuel costs.

Spare wheel

Visually inspect both the tyre and the wheel to check its fitness in case it has to be fitted. Don't discover too late it's not up to the job.

Wheel nuts

These should be checked regularly for signs of movement and re torqued after a wheel have been removed and refitted. "I am a horse owner myself and I know what it is like to break down while pulling two heavy horses," Caroline said. "But checking tyres should be an automatic reaction when you have finished using your trailer or lorry and before you set out again.

"However, we don't want to alarm people into having sleepless nights, vowing never to transport a horse again. That is why we set up our company. We have contacts all over the country to help people wherever they are in the UK. We have special rates and added benefits for anyone who decides to join our own tyre scheme, but we are also happy to help any trailer or horsebox driver who is in trouble."

Caroline is hoping to arrange a seminar at the office headquarters at the Ikon Trading Estate, Kidderminster, and wants anyone interested in learning more about tyre safety to get in touch.

"I need to know numbers to see if it is worthwhile but I think drivers would learn a lot and it would save some people from getting into tricky situations," she added.

Anyone interested in attending the seminar can contact Caroline on 01299 251075.