". . . and the filly said to the stallion, “Look at you. Just arrived in a brand-new Hyundai. So why the long face . . .” 
 
There’s a new boarding call heard in Perth . . . 
“Good morning ponies, please take your stalls, fasten your bridles and secure your feeding troughs. Welcome aboard your private Hyundai to your next event. You each have an individual compartment with padded sides, ample fresh air from permanent ventilation and your own private bathroom facilities (just dump it where you are and we’ll hose it out later). The menu for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner is – oats. All meals will be served with – water. Plus you get to stand up all the way. Finally, frisky stuff with the filly next door will not be tolerated!”

If this cabin announcement doesn’t appeal to you, you’re probably not a horse. But Brett and Nicole Christie could read this riot act to their ponies each time they load up their new Hyundai Mighty EX9 with a custom-designed horse transport module on the back.

The Christie’s, including daughter Teagan who is an accomplished “eventer,”- that’s dressage, cross-country and show-jumping – and who has her eyes on Olympic selection, travel extensively to events around the state and across the country. Finding a truck and tailored body was enough of a drama that they decided to pick a new cab chassis and design their own self-contained support body for themselves and the horses.

Hyundai’s Mighty EX9 fitted the bill perfectly, especially with its market-leading 608Nm of torque. The unit features stalls for three horses, feed and water storage, and a living space for the Christies, including a cab-over double bed, toilet and shower, fridge, and the obligatory microwave. Solar panels and batteries deliver maximum independence.

The new Hyundai delivers the highest torque of any light truck in its market sector, and combined with the Allison fully automatic transmission provides the smoothest possible drive that is essential for sometimes ‘jumpy’ passengers.