Latest News stories from Empire Horseboxes Please click a Photo to Enlarge it...  

Hannah Biggs Empire Four is one week away from completion. We are looking forward to seeing Hannah on Easter Monday and to wave goodbye to another happy client. The Empire Four built for her was on a 2007 220 bhp MAN. We will be posting photographs of the living designed specifically to Hannah's spec. At Empire we pride ourselves on custom builds rather than off the shelf design.

In other news we sadly missed our first trade show of the year. Gatcombe Horse Trials on Princess Anne's estate very sadly had to abandon due to snow! We hope to see them at the September International event.

2012 Empire Demonstrator For Sale.

Very low mileage easy to drive 2005 DAF LF45. Lift up Luton bed, tilt cab, walk through access to living with full size cooker, flush faced sink, light oak storage cupboards and wardrobe, 19 inch flat screen digital tv with DVD, Italian leather seating and multiple electric sockets. Large shower room, seperate shower, wc and sink with vanity units and blown air central heating. Horse area has rug racks, cctv and a solid padded partition. Stunning metallic paint, underfloor storage, tack area with saddle rack and bridle hooks, power hose, petrol generator etc.

Built to last, priced to sell.

WAS :£89,950 inc VAT

NOW: £79,950 inc VAT

This NEC conference vehicle arrived at Empire this morning to be converted into a horsebox on behalf of a client. Photos of its conversion will be posted in the next month, it is to be turned into a luxury 3 horse box with full living.

At Empire we pride ourselves on our ability to be flexible to customers demands. So why not give us a call and see what we can do for you. from new builds, box conversions, refurbishments, respray's or simple MOT'S. Your job is not too small for us. Just give us a call for an appointment and a quote.

Progress is taking place at rapid pace on International Dressage rider Hannah Bigg's Empire horsebox. The delivery of the build is well on schedule and Hannah has been to Empire recently to go through the layout of her new four horse lorry. It is to be built with our new style lift up windows among other new and exciting features that we are adding to the Empire range of options.

Empire is also expanding! This is to accomodate demand of its refurbishments, insurance work, MOT'S and its range of work vehicles, the new team will be purely designated to this and is to start within the next few weeks.

To get more information call James on 07889365099 or email James on james@empirecoachbuilders.com.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all past, present and future Empire Clients. Wether you be coming for a MOT or a new build your business is important to us.

We wish you all a succesful 2013 season whatever you do with your horses and wether you be a professional or amateur.

Great News as another top international Dressage rider joins the Empire family........

Hannah Biggs was born in Hong Kong and there she learnt to ride from the age of 6. She enjoyed competing in every discipline, participated in Pony Club activities and tasted her fist international dressage success at the age of 13 on her ex-racehorse Fort Knox.

Since moving back to the UK in 1997, Hannah has gained valuable experience and knowledge from trainers at the very top of the sport of dressage. She now combines traditional and classic values with modern training ideals. Hannah is a member of the World Class Development Squad. This programme is lottery funded through UK Sport and is designed to and support talented riders and combinations that have the perceived ability to deliver medal winning performances on the world stage for Great Britain in the future

Hannah has represented Great Britain on Junior, Young Rider and Senior Teams at the European Championships and Nations Cup shows. She has many Young Horse, Regional and National championship titles and has competed abroad at Small and Big Tour at many CDI's including Hickstead, Leudelange, Ebreichsdorf, Sydney, Vidauban, Saumur, Weisbaden and Aachen

Hannah has also Competed internationally at Small and Big Tour in many CDI including Hartpury, Hickstead, Leudelange, Ebreichsdorf and Sydney

Pictures of her build will be posted soon.

Empire is pleased to announce that we are to use ipad technology in our top of the range Empire Horseboxes. We trialled ipad technology in the summer on our Empire domonstrator in the summer with our 7.5t demonstator and it worked with such success that we are now offering it as an optional extra.

You will never have to worry about the security of the vehicle. You can be alerted the minute the lorry detects a motion or a change of pressure, instantly phoning you. You can control a mas of other systems within the vehicle which include a simple light and electric blinds over the windows to heating and dehumidification cycles to deal with varying climate conditions.

All sounds complicated? NOT AT ALL! It's purposely made to be as simple as using your phone. Inside theres a very simple, full colour, touch screen control panel, and don't panic there's good old fashioned switches as well.

Empire has two stunning builds available for sale. Please feel free to contact us to view these boxes either by giving us a call or sending us an email to book a viewing from Monday to Sunday from 7am to 7pm.

If you don't want to come to see these stunning builds in the flesh then the 2 horseboxes featured in Horse and Hound this week are on the HORSEBOX SALES page.

You can view the 2 featured boxes as well as our 7.5 tonne demonstrator that is also for sale or why not also contact us regarding refurbishment work of your existing build, resprays or insurance work.

Earlier in the year we we're challenged by a client to make an indistructable partition for their large and fairly loony horses. The brief also said that the client wanted seperate headboards but didn't want the H partitions that these normally come with as they were concerned the horses would slip on the plastic that the bottom of the H partition goes into. A problem we hear about often and the reason we don't offer it as an option.

So we set about manufacturing the largest partition we have ever made at Empire and are pleased with the result! The partition is 18 inches higher than usual and 6 inches lower. The seperate headboards overlap the partition meaning that the horses will not be able to get there heads around the back of the main partition.

Your probably thinking was the client happy? ........Thrilled !

So were we, so much so that we have now decided to offer this as a standard partition option along with the all in one partition designed by Ferdi Eilberg in 2010.

The Empire demonstrator will be on show at Osberton International Horse Trials from the 26th to the 30th of September. We are located next to the world famous french saddlery manufacturer Devoucoux! So will be brushing up on our french over the weekend.

We at Empire are really excited to be attending this International Three Day event and Young Horse Championships for eventing in rural Nottinghamshire and hope that everyone there has a succesful week! Come visit the demonstrator and learn why we are fast becoming the choice of the descerning rider wether you be amatuer or professional.

Ever thought of having the tack lockers d in your existing lorry? Maybe you just don't have enough space and want to create some more by cutting into the horse area a little more?

The question often is Who would be able to do it for me?

At Empire as well as being a manufacturer of custom built horseboxes and specialists in insurance repairs we can also renovate your existing lorry by adding in new tack lockers, refurbishing the living area or renovating the horse area and finishing it with an all over respray!

The pictures here are an example of a before and after session on a refurbishment that came in recently!

For more information call Empire on: 01562825710

or email us at :enquiries@empirehorseboxes.com

Congratulations to Ruth Edge on her performance yesterday at the Land Rover Burghley 3 day event. Ruth's Empire 6 Horse with pop out visited us at the Kidderminster workshop to have a service and some minor repairs that take place while a busy competition season is afoot. Ruth has a easy day today while the other Empire client Mark Kyle struts his stuff in the Dressage.

We wish both of them the best of luck for the rest of the weekend!

Mean while showjumpers Claire Beecroft and Geoff Luckett have returned from a succesful trip to Valkenswaard after spending two weeks out there in there Empire refurbished horsebox and Mark Armstrong is rounding off a succesful summer season.

We will see you all at the Arena UK festival of Showjumping from the 17th to the 23rd of September where our 7.5 tonne demonstator will be available to view. 

At EMPIRE we focus on our horseboxes being personally and individually designed to your specific requirements. Our designs are always evolving, to make the best use of the very latest materials and technologies, as they become available.

We work out of a modern purpose built workshops in the town of Kidderminster within the West Midlands which also houses the famous yacht manufacturers Sealine.

We try to combine each customers requirements and dreams with over 50 years of experience in manufacturing, converting and refurbishing horseboxes. Our designs range from a basic 2 horse to a bespoke 8 berth horsebox with luxury living. Empire Horseboxes are British Built with emphasis on strength and long lasting qualities. We pride ourselves in our outstanding levels of Customer Service and Support.

So why not call in and visit us at the workshops ....

Empire Horseboxes will be attending The Young Horse Championships and the Brightwells Stars of the Future Sale at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in rural Buckinghamshire from the 16th through to the 19th of August.

Empire is extremely proud of its new demonstrator the first time we have built a 7.5 tonne horsebox and it will be for sale. We have put in the living you would expect to see in an HGV, underfloor storage space, a large tack locker and stunning shower room and of course luxury space for 2 horses...

So come view the Empire build quality and say Hi!!!

The team at Ruth Edge's yard sent us some pictures of them preparing for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London olympic games. Ruth who has recently moved to a more central location in Staffordshire compared to her old base in rural Cumbria. 

Ruth who had a luxury 6 horse with pop out from Empire 3 years ago did some entertaining in the lorry that night and took photos of the lorry living all prepared!

We bet it didn't look like that at the end of the evening!

On the eve of the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics we at Empire Horseboxes wish Mark Kyle who competes for Ireland in the Three day event to be held at the beutiful and historic Greenwich Park the best of luck.

Mark has been a long term supporter of Empire Horseboxes having 2 custom built HGV'S from us over the last few years. A top of the range strecthed artic MAN which has all the "bells and whistles" as Kevin Jackson our works director would say! Mark also has a more practical vehicle which is a 8 horse work truck on a Iveco Stralis.

It was the Stralis pictured here that delivered Marks mount to the Olympics in comfort. It is a great honour to know one of vehicles was entrusted to transport one of these elite irish atheletes!

Mark who along with the rest of the irish team has training from one of our other loyal customers Ferdi Eilberg has been on cracking form on what has been a beleaguered season for the eventing community in the UK in 2012.

Best of luck to this leading Irish rider! 

Ferdi Eilberg, Micheal and Maria where recently visited by Kevin Jackson one of the Directors of Empire Horseboxes to check over there 2 Empire Horseboxes. All part of the friendly service we offer our customers!

Kevin couldn't resist the opportunity for a photograph with this world class trainer and his family who are forging there own career's as successful riders.

Empire is proud of its association with the Eilberg family and wishes them the best of luck for the rest of 2012.

Empire Horseboxes has built a hunt/ work/ race horsebox to show we don't just do prestige HGV's!

Made by Empire on a 2003 plate low mileage DAF LF 45. It is yet to have a horse in it! One of the individual aspects is that it has been built on a sleeper cab making it suitable for long distance journeys or travelling more than 2 people over shorter journeys. It has been partitioned for 4 large horses.

Built to Empire horseboxes usual high standards with Empire all in one partitions. Suitable as a work / polo / hunt horsebox. Bench seating and saddle racks can be made and put in to your requirements or you could have a day living fitted at a price to be agreed depending on your requirements.

For sale including VAT for £24,500. Contact James on 07889365099 or 01562825710 or pop in and view it and other vehicles in build at the Empire workshop in Kidderminster.

Fantastic news for Empire Horseboxes....

Chris King has been looking for a new horsebox for months and when he had Empire Horseboxes recommended to him by his local mechanic because he had never seen build quality like it he gave us a call!

Chris and his wife Zanie run a professional eventing yard based in the beautiful wiltshire countryside. They had a good year in 2011, and are looking forward to the rest of 2012. Chris  has 9 horses to compete in 2012 ranging from Novice to Advanced.

Chris has competed at both Badminton and Burghley and was part of the Athens Pre Olympic test. His highest UK ranking is 9 and best place at Badminton was 13th in 2004. Zanie was Pippa Funnell head girl for 4 years and was part of Pippa's Grand Slam Success. She also won Groom of the Year in 2003.

We are excited to be building Chris a 5 horse lorry on a pre selected Scania chassis and regular pictures of the build in progress will follow.

Empire Horseboxes would like to wish Empire clients and international riders Mark Kyle and Ruth Edge good luck at the forthcoming Bramham International Horse Trials and to congratulate Mark Bunting on his recent successes abroad at grand prix level in show jumping.

Travelling these horses in the luxury that Empire Horseboxes can provide for both horse and rider shows in the success these riders are having recently.

To follow how they do visit the Bramham website:

http://www.bramham-horse.co.uk

International event rider Chris King has decided after years of searching to build a new 5 Horse with Empire Horseboxes, the chassis of choice which Chris was very precise about is to be a Scania!

Chris had Empire Horseboxes recommended to him from his local mechanic who had seen another of our recent builds and said he had never seen build quality like it.

The Empire Horseboxes show vehicle is well on its way and we will be at Show jumping shows, Horse trials and Dressage shows from July onwards. We will keep you up to date with locations throughout the rest of the year.  A photo of the build progress is attached.

To discuss a build with Empire Horseboxes call James Trevatt on 07889365099 or visit Kevin Jackson at the workshop in Kidderminster.

Empire Horseboxes is building a 7.5 tonne show vehicle. Empire is well known for building high quality HGV horseboxes and our first foray into the non hgv market will become a show vehicle for 2012 -2013.

We are excited about the opportunity to show people our build quality and our new idea's and concepts.

The Chassis of choice is a DAF as shown. We will be building a 2 Horse with full luxury living and underfloor storage.

A Empire Horseboxes show schedule will soon be available on our website.

To enquire about what Empire Horseboxes can do for you whether it be a new build a box conversion or renovation work to your existing truck visit our contacts page.

Due out of the workshop today is the latest Horsebox from Empire. Destined for delivery to Georgie Davies in time for Georgie to take the lorry to Badminton Horse Trials 2012.

The 2012 Empire 4 Horse has had some photo's taken of it prior to its departure and we will be taking many more to add to the website soon once the weather improves!

We at Empire wish Georgie the best of luck for Badminton and hope her maiden voyage in her bespoke and brand new Empire build is a succesful one.

To view the latest photo's please follow this link:

http://www.empirehorseboxes.com/hjs_gallery/index.asp?category_id21

Empire Horseboxes is a very small custom manufacturer building bespoke Horseboxes and commercial vehicles.

Often people think "bespoke" means expensive. But Bespoke means built to the customers requirements. So your requirements could be catered for while taking into account your budgetary restraints.

VAT is always an issue for all our clients and we aim to offer the best value for money possible. However our material suppliers do charge us VAT so obviously we have to pass this on.

Empire Horseboxes strives to offer:

MOT Preparation

Vehicle Signwriting

Part-Exchange

Finance Packages

Body Swaps

Conversions

We also offer a national collection and delivery service and are certified by the VBRA to undertake all types of insurance work.

The Empire Horseboxes refurbishment department has been busy again. A few weeks ago we had a horsebox arrive in desperate need of full refurbishment in the horse area. The partitions looked old and were not really working in the way the client wanted anymore. Plus they intended to be travelling abroad a lot more so the horse area needed to have fans and tempreture gauges put in to come into line with regulations for travelling abroad.

On seeing Ferdi Eilberg's 6 horse they also decided they wanted the feed troughs in his horse area and the amazing rug racks we make as a standard feature in our luxury horseboxes.

All in all we feel the pictures speak for themselves! If you were a horse how would you want to travel?

For a free no obligation quote or to see our build quality why not email or call us to book an appointment to visit the workshop....

Empire Coachbuilders LTD, Unit A, Hoo Farm Industrial Estate, Matthew Lane, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY117RA.

01562825710

enquiries@empirehorseboxes.com

The 4 horse with luxury living presently in build for Georgie Davies is coming along at speed and Empire Horseboxes is as always extremely proud of its work. The horsebox due in the paint shop on the 17th of April should be fully completed by then. This will be exciting for Georgie as she and her horse Orlando prepare for Badminton Horse Trials in early May.

The lorry which will be delivered in time for Badminton will also be photographed by Nico Morgan Photography and put onto the Empire website for all to see.

Empire Horseboxes always strives for customer satisfaction in everyway. With the competitors of today travelling for longer distances and often staying away we like to focus on bringing home comforts to the client. Many people ask for individual aspects to be built into each build from having sinks in the external lockers to 2 separate accommodations for the groom and the rider. Whatever the angle you wish to take we are here to help and to build what you desire.

Empire Horseboxes is proud that it offers a refurbishment department in its Kidderminster based workshops. We normally deal with maintenance work on horseboxes or other commercial vehicles manufactured by ourselves or other brands that have been used and have gathered day to day wear and tear over time.

Many of our clients who are competing internationally throughout the busy competition summer season visit us in the winter to have their horseboxes touched up and made ready for the start of the following season.

Occasionally we get the more bizarre requests! International event rider William Fox-Pitt had sold his old horsebox and the new purchasers sent it to Empire to have a new bathroom put in!

The photos we think speak for themselves...

To book your vehicle in at our state of the art workshops please feel free to call or email us at any time.

International event rider Mark Kyle on his return from a recent event in Ireland collected his 8 horse work truck that Empire Horseboxes had been working on for the last few months.

Mark who has over 60 horses at his base in Wymeswold, Leicestershire will be using his new Empire 8 Horse work truck in conjunction with his bespoke luxury 7 horse made to his and wife Tanya's specifications in 2011.

We wish all the best to Mark, Tanya and the team for the 2012 season. To see the photo's of this work truck please go to our gallery and click on ... "2012 Empire 8 horse work Horsebox."

To see if Empire Horseboxes can help you with a bespoke horsebox made to your requirements feel free to contact us by phone or by email or simply by popping round to the workshop in Kidderminster.

Empire Horseboxes is pleased to welcome Georgie Davies to it's swelling ranks of professional riders. Empire is fast becoming the choice of the discerning rider. Contact us to find out why.

Georgie started competing in eventing at the age of 17, having had a successful career in the Pony Club. She has since gone on to represent Great Britain on both Young Rider and Senior teams, and in 2006 became the British Under 25 Champion. She has achieved top 10 placings both home and abroad including Badminton, Blenheim, Luhmuhlem and Saumur. She has also been Lottery-funded as part of the World Class training programme.

Georgie is based in Hertfordshire, where she runs a small professional yard, which provides individual care and training to all her horses. With a strong team behind her, Georgie has proven her ability to produce horses from youngsters to advanced horses.

Photographs of the Horsebox in build will be posted regularly.

Empire Horseboxes would like to wish Mark Armstrong and his wife Emma the best of luck on the sunshine tour in Spain. Mark who recently purchased John Whinnett's Empire 7 horse was hugely impressed with the build quality available from Empire Horseboxes.

Mark, who has been a strong British team member since 1987 has represented Great Britain on 33 occasions and competed in one World Championship and two European Championships.

Empire Horseboxes are British Built and therefore proud to be associated with Mark and with our emphasis on strength and long lasting qualities we pride ourselves in our outstanding levels of Customer Service and are pleased to have this recognised.

Empire Horseboxes respects all enquiries, from people asking about a simple refurbishment of there much loved and cherished horsebox to those wanting a state of the art vehicle that will transport there top competition horses and allow themselves to relax in sumptuous surroundings.

So please feel free to contact our team today.

We wish Mark all the best for 2012 !