Comfort for horse and rider – thanks to the AL-KO VT low-frame chassis
When it comes to transporting horses, the requirements for safety and ride comfort for the four-legged passengers are particularly high. Additionally, due to the vehicle's weight, a special driving licence may be required. The French vehicle manufacturer MTM has found a solution: a horse transporter with a Mercedes-Benz drive head, combined with an AL-KO VT low-frame chassis.
Facts about the collaboration between MTM and AL-KO VT
- The vehicle manufacturer MTM and Mercedes-Benz France have jointly developed the SPRINTOVAN horse transporter, featuring a chassis supplied by AL-KO VT.
- The AMC low-frame chassis is 220 mm lower than standard versions, making transport more comfortable and safer for both horse and rider.
- Thanks to its lightweight construction, the vehicle remains below 3.5 tonnes permissible gross weight and does not require an additional driving licence.
MTM: Vehicle construction with tradition
Focus on animal welfare
The bodybuilder MTM from Poilley, near Le Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, specialises in lightweight and heavy-duty horse transporters. Now in its fourth generation, the company focuses on building horse transporters that combine know-how and long-standing expertise. MTM offers both horse trailers, such as the INOVAN tandem trailer, and horse transporters like the SPRINTOVAN—both based on AL-KO VT chassis.
MTM vehicles are not manufactured on an assembly line, but are individually planned and hand-assembled. Only if horses can travel stress-free and safely can they reach their full potential.
Horse transport: a challenge
Flight response unwanted
Transporting horses presents a genuine challenge. Horses are not goods to be loaded and unloaded—they are flight animals by nature, meaning they respond very sensitively to their surroundings and will often try to escape at the slightest sign of danger.
That is why horses need to overcome their fear of transportation. If they associate danger or stress with the vehicle, it can trigger a flight response. If a horse weighing several hundred kilograms panics in the load compartment, it becomes extremely difficult to keep the horse transporter safely on the road.
For this reason, it is important to familiarise the horse with transport through regular training. The journey should be made as pleasant as possible to ease the animal's fear. For this reason, the transporter needs to provide sufficient space—at least 2.40 m in height. The horse must be able to access water and feed at the right height; otherwise, it would have to eat in an unnatural posture. All of these aspects must be considered when designing a transporter. These decisions influence the height of the vehicle, the weight distribution, and the position of the axles.
Horse transporter with a low transport cabin
The lower, the better for horse and rider
In June 2022, MTM and Mercedes-Benz France launched a new project, developing a horse transporter based on a Sprinter 317. With a transport cabin positioned as close to the ground as possible, the vehicle today offers sufficient headroom for the horse while still being aerodynamic—which enhances ride comfort. The lower centre of gravity also increases safety, and the shallow entry angle makes it easier for both animals and people to get in.
AL-KO VT low-frame chassis in action
Minimal installation space & optimal driving dynamics
The standard Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis is too high for this purpose. That’s why MTM brought in its long-standing partner AL-KO VT Vehicle Technology. The AMC low-frame chassis from AL-KO VT is up to 220 mm lower than the original ladder frame. While the original chassis usually features rigid axles, AL-KO VT axles are equipped as standard with independent wheel suspension and torsion bars. This system takes up little installation space and offers optimal driving dynamics—ideal for a vehicle that needs to be both safe and lightweight. In addition, its shear-nut connection makes it simple to integrate with the Sprinter drive head. The variable axle positioning option is another benefit for the design of a horse transporter.
Bespoke solutions as a key discipline
The right weight distribution is key
“Like all living creatures, horses come in different sizes. That’s why, at MTM, we design transporters to match the individual needs of the animals. Comfortable, stress-free travel has a major influence on their wellbeing,” explains Olivier Theault, President of MTM.
“Tailor-made solutions are an important part of our work. For example, to optimally distribute the horse’s weight in the vehicle, we need to be able to position our axles so that the horse’s hind legs are positioned exactly over them. The horse must be placed within the wheelbase to achieve maximum stability. This ‘bespoke’ function and the lightweight concept of the low-frame chassis make AL-KO the right partner for our Mercedes-Benz transporter,” according to Olivier Theault.
AL-KO VT lightweight construction for transport
Every kilo counts
Drivers can also contribute a great deal to the wellbeing of the animals. By driving with foresight and care, sudden braking and acceleration manoeuvres—which could frighten the horse—can be reduced.
Weight plays a major role. Depending on breed, a horse typically weighs between 400 and 700 kilograms. Certain cold-blood breeds can even tip the scales at more than 1,000 kilograms. To be allowed to drive a horse transporter with a standard driving licence, particularly in the lightweight vehicle segment, every single kilogram counts.
Loaded with a horse, a transporter can quickly exceed the permissible gross weight of 3.5 tonnes. In France, as in Germany, a special driving licence (category C) is required if the gross weight exceeds 3.5 tonnes. In both countries, the requirements for driving licences are based on Article 2 No. 1 of EU Directive 2006/12.
“MTM prioritises quality, comfort, safety and animal welfare in all of its vehicles. Thanks to the strong cooperation between AL-KO VT, Mercedes-Benz and MTM, we have produced a transporter that meets all these requirements,” says Nicolas de Costa, Sales Manager at AL-KO France. “Together, we have created a suitable means of transport for animals of all sizes.”
