Horses for Courses the S-Way

In-depth

26 Aug

Horse riding has been a lifelong passion for amateur show jumper Peter Carcary, it’s a ‘hobby’ that’s seen him compete in Europe and across Australia, and now his local competition schedule is made easier and safer thanks to a new IVECO S-Way AS 550 prime mover.

Coupled to a 48-foot Premier horse float, Peter travels to around 25 events nationwide each year, and he cites safety and ease of use as his two main requirements in a truck.

“I’m not just an amateur horseman, I’m also an amateur truck driver,” Peter quips.

“For me, it’s important that I can get in a truck, travel to an event and not be worried or stressed about handling the vehicle.

“The ease of operation of the S-Way, the comfort, the quietness and the intuitive cabin layout means that I actually look forward to getting in and driving long distances.”

The Premier float allows Peter to securely transport up to eight horses – normally he competes with two, ‘Equus Indemand’ and ‘Cachassini11’, a horse that has competed in many world cup qualifiers with renowned show jumper, Stuart Jenkins. Given the close-knit equine community, Peter often not only transfers his own horses, but those of friends and fellow competitors.

The impressive truck and trailer combination allows Peter to be fully self-sufficient on the road and at events. The float is equipped with a generator and inverters, full kitchen, bathroom and sleeping berths, and storage for riding gear and equipment, while two slide-outs maximise space. The prime mover itself with its microwave oven and fridge/freezer also adds to the convenience, making rest break snacks hassle-free.

Normally it’s a two year wait to have a Premier float built, but Peter was fortunate to purchase his in a lightly used condition when the previous owner and friend moved overseas to compete – the float still carries the former owner’s livery, ‘Kolora Lodge’.

As part of the package, the float came with another European brand prime mover, and although Peter said there was nothing particularly wrong with it, he was just drawn to the S-Way.

“The prime mover it had did the job, but when I saw the S-Way I fell in love with it, I liked everything about it, and when I test drove it, I was hooked,” he said.

“The Automated Manual Transmission is smooth and seamless, and when using the adaptive cruise control, you can just concentrate on steering and the truck does most of the work. Even then, equipment like Lane Departure Warning System helps you stay in the best position on the road, and the Driver Attention Support System and Driver Style Evaluation gives gentle reminders on safety.

“I’m also impressed with the fuel efficiency – it’s excellent. I’m often tapping the fuel gauge to check it’s working because it goes down so slowly.”

With a 550hp / 2,500Nm engine, the S-Way 550 offers well above what’s needed for the application in terms of power output, making the trips from Brisbane – where the horses are stabled – to events in Northern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria a breeze.

“I probably could have chosen a smaller truck, but test driving the S-Way filled me with confidence – it felt so planted and smooth on the road, and I’d rather have something that would do the job easily and without concern,” Peter said.

“It’s not only about minimising stress for the driver; given the value of the horses on board and our emotional attachment to them, I’m very focused on their welfare. The float has internal cameras that lets me keep an eye on them and they’re always in a relaxed and calm state, and ready to compete when we arrive at events.

“My exposure to horses began at four years old when I was given a pony, my mother was a keen rider and so was my older brother, so it was almost inevitable that I would follow. My wife, Janie, also competes but in dressage,” he said.

According to Peter, the S-Way and float combination is a standout wherever he travels.

“I get a lot of positive feedback and get asked many questions when I’m at shows, and I have no hesitations in recommending the S-Way,” he said.