Stubbs Wheelbarrows: The Complete Guide to the Best Equestrian Wheelbarrows Made in England

Meta Title: Stubbs Wheelbarrows | The Complete Guide to Every Model in the Range Meta Description: Comprehensive guide to Stubbs wheelbarrows including the Stubby Barrow, Stubby Star, Cheeky Barrow, Large Stable Barrow and more. Specifications, comparisons and buying advice for every yard.


There are wheelbarrows, and then there are Stubbs wheelbarrows. Walk onto any professional equestrian yard in Britain — from a busy racing stables in Newmarket to a Pony Club centre in the Welsh valleys — and the chances are you will see at least one Stubbs barrow parked outside the muck heap. Often it will be several, lined up and ready for the morning routine, their distinctive Stubbythene bodies and galvanised steel frames as much a part of the landscape as the horses themselves.

That kind of ubiquity does not happen by accident. Stubbs England has been manufacturing stable equipment since 1836, and their wheelbarrow range has been refined over decades of feedback from the riders, grooms, and yard managers who use them every single day. The result is a collection of barrows that covers every need — from the compact Cheeky Barrow that you can throw in the back of a lorry for shows, to the mighty Large Stable Barrow that professional yards have relied on for more than forty years.

This guide covers the complete Stubbs wheelbarrow range in detail. We break down the specifications and best use cases for every model, explain the engineering and materials that set Stubbs apart from cheaper alternatives, and help you choose the right barrow for your yard. Whether you are mucking out a single stable every morning or managing a thirty-box livery yard, this is the only guide you need. You can browse and buy the full range of Stubbs wheelbarrows at Hall Fast, who offer competitive pricing and reliable delivery across the UK.


Why Your Choice of Wheelbarrow Actually Matters

It is easy to dismiss a wheelbarrow as a simple, utilitarian object — something that does not warrant much thought or investment. That attitude changes quickly on a working equestrian yard. A wheelbarrow is not something you use once a week for a bit of gardening. On a typical yard, barrows are loaded, wheeled, and tipped dozens of times a day, across uneven ground, through gateways, up ramps to muck heaps, and in all weathers. They take a battering that few other pieces of yard equipment have to endure.

A poor-quality wheelbarrow does not just break down and need replacing more often — it actively makes the work harder while it is still functional. Wobbly wheels, an unbalanced load, handles at the wrong height, a body that is too small or too heavy, rust developing on the frame within months of purchase — all of these things add up over hundreds of mucking out sessions. They add time, add physical strain, and add frustration. Over the course of a year, a groom mucking out ten stables a day with an ill-designed barrow is wasting hours of productive time and putting unnecessary strain on their back, shoulders, and wrists.

The difference between a well-designed wheelbarrow and a cheap one is felt in the muscles and joints of the person pushing it. Balance is the critical factor. When a barrow is properly balanced, the weight of the load sits over the axle rather than on the operator's arms. This means the operator is steering and guiding rather than lifting and carrying, which makes an enormous difference when you are doing it repetitively. Stubbs have spent decades refining the geometry of their barrows — the wheel position, the handle length, the body shape, the centre of gravity — so that a fully loaded Stubbs barrow feels strikingly lighter than the weight in the tub would suggest.

Material quality matters just as much. Equestrian wheelbarrows live outdoors and encounter not only weather but also some fairly aggressive substances — urine-soaked bedding, acidic manure, wet straw, and the inevitable impacts from being bumped against stable door frames, fence posts, and other barrows. Materials need to resist corrosion, UV degradation, and physical impact without cracking, rusting, or warping. The combination of Stubbythene bodies and galvanised or enamelled steel frames that Stubbs uses across their range is specifically chosen to handle exactly these conditions.


Stubbs England: Nearly 190 Years of British Manufacturing

Understanding the company behind the product matters when you are investing in equipment that needs to last. Stubbs England, formally known as WB Stubbs (Hawksworth) Limited, has roots stretching back to 1836 when the company was founded in the village of Hawksworth, Nottinghamshire. Originally established as a maker of agricultural implements, the business evolved through truck manufacturing and industrial trolleys before developing the equestrian stable equipment for which the Stubbs name is recognised worldwide today.

Now in its seventh generation of family ownership, Stubbs continues to manufacture all products at its facility in the heart of England. The company's capabilities span welding and fabrication, rotational plastic moulding, sheet metal work, plastic coating, and joinery. This breadth of in-house manufacturing skill is exceptionally rare among equestrian equipment brands and gives Stubbs direct control over the quality of everything that leaves their factory.

The Stubbs England label can be found on yards from Australia to Zimbabwe. The brand holds a reputation as one of the most trusted names in stable equipment, and their product range extends far beyond wheelbarrows — encompassing saddle racks, bridle racks, mounting blocks, rug storage, hay racks, mangers, show jumps, arena markers, and much more. However, it is arguably their wheelbarrow range that has the highest daily visibility on working yards.

Stubbs is also a trade member of BETA (the British Equestrian Trade Association), which provides an additional layer of quality assurance and industry accountability.

What Is Stubbythene?

A term you will encounter when looking at several models in the Stubbs wheelbarrow range is "Stubbythene." This is the brand name for the proprietary rotationally moulded plastic used in many Stubbs products, including the bodies of the Stubby Barrow, Stubby Star, and Stubby Shifter.

Stubbythene is a super-tough plastic that gives Stubbs barrow bodies their distinctive combination of strength, light weight, and weather resistance. Unlike cheaper injection-moulded plastics that can crack or become brittle in cold weather, Stubbythene is engineered for continuous outdoor use in the demanding conditions found on equestrian yards. It resists UV degradation from sun exposure, maintains its structural integrity in freezing temperatures, does not absorb moisture, and is impervious to the acids and chemicals found in horse manure and urine.

The rotational moulding process allows Stubbs to create bodies with complex shapes — including the stepped sides that give the Stubby Barrow its remarkable rigidity — while maintaining consistent wall thickness throughout. This means no weak spots, no thin patches, and an even distribution of strength across the entire body. The result is a wheelbarrow tub that can take years of daily loading, scraping with shovels, and impact from being set down heavily, without cracking, splitting, or deforming.

Stubbythene also allows Stubbs to offer their barrows in a range of colours — typically blue, green, and pink — which is not just cosmetic. On busy yards, colour-coded equipment can be assigned to specific areas, staff members, or horses, helping with organisation and reducing the chance of cross-contamination between isolation units and the main yard.


The Complete Stubbs Wheelbarrow Range

Stubbs offers a carefully considered range of wheelbarrows and yard barrows, each designed for a specific purpose and working environment. Rather than producing a single "one size fits all" barrow, Stubbs has developed models that cater to the different demands of professional yards, private owners, show competitors, and livery operations. Here is a detailed look at every model in the range. You can view the full selection of Stubbs wheelbarrows at Hall Fast to compare models and pricing.

Stubby Barrow — S1067

The Stubby Barrow is the flagship of the Stubbs wheelbarrow range and has become the industry standard on equestrian yards across Britain and beyond. If you picture a "Stubbs wheelbarrow" in your mind, this is almost certainly the model you are imagining.

Designed primarily for mucking out, the Stubby Barrow is equally at home carrying bales of hay or straw, sacks of feed, or general yard waste. Its defining characteristic is the remarkable balance between capacity and manoeuvrability. At 210 litres of dry capacity, it swallows the contents of a stable's worth of dirty bedding with ease, yet the twin-wheeled design and carefully calculated centre of gravity make it feel surprisingly light and responsive even when fully loaded.

The body is moulded from Stubbythene — tough, weather-resistant, and designed to take decades of daily use without cracking or deteriorating. The stepped sides are not just an aesthetic feature; they provide immense structural rigidity, allowing the body to hold its shape under heavy loads without flexing or bulging outwards. A steel-reinforced front edge protects the most vulnerable point of the barrow from impact damage, which is a thoughtful detail that anyone who has ever bumped a barrow into a stable door frame will appreciate.

All body mountings are positioned away from the central shovelling area. This is a design choice that may not seem significant until you have used a cheaper barrow where rivets or bolts protrude into the tub and catch your shovel with every stroke. With the Stubby Barrow, there is nothing to snag on — just a smooth, unobstructed loading area.

The barrow rides on two large 40cm four-ply pneumatic tyred wheels, which absorb the bumps and ruts of yard surfaces far more effectively than the solid plastic wheels found on budget alternatives. A galvanised steel frame provides the structural backbone, offering superb corrosion resistance without the need for ongoing painting or treatment. The entire barrow assembles quickly with just six bolts, requiring only a 17mm spanner.

Specifications — Stubby Barrow S1067: Height: 82 cm | Length: 182 cm | Width: 86 cm | Weight: 31 kg | Dry capacity: 210 litres | Wheels: 2 x 40cm 4-ply pneumatic | Frame: Galvanised steel | Body: Stubbythene | Colours: Blue, Green, Pink | Assembly: 6 bolts (17mm spanner) | Recommended tyre pressure: 28–30 psi (2 bar)

Stubby Star — S1066

The Stubby Star represents a natural progression from the Stubby Barrow, designed for those who want the same generous capacity with an upgraded tipping mechanism that makes emptying faster and more complete.

The headline feature of the Stubby Star is its tip-and-flip action. Where the standard Stubby Barrow tips forwards in the conventional manner, the Stubby Star's body rotates beyond vertical, allowing the entire contents to drop out cleanly. This is particularly valuable when dealing with wet, heavy bedding that tends to stick to the inside of a conventional barrow. The tip-and-flip design means you do not have to scrape out the last remnants — the barrow does the work for you.

The operation is stunningly easy regardless of whether the barrow is fully or only partially loaded, which speaks to the quality of the engineering behind the pivot mechanism. The body is superbly balanced when loaded, and the galvanised steel frame includes wear pads on the legs to protect against ground contact during the tipping action, extending the life of the frame.

Like the Stubby Barrow, the Star features an ultra-tough Stubbythene body with a steel-reinforced tipping edge. It is mounted on two large 40cm pneumatic wheels and assembles quickly with six bolts. The capacity matches the Stubby Barrow at 210 litres, and the overall dimensions are almost identical, meaning it takes up no more space in storage.

For yards where barrows are being emptied onto a raised muck heap or into a skip, the tip-and-flip action of the Stubby Star can save significant time and effort over the course of a day — making it a worthwhile upgrade over the standard model for high-throughput operations.

Specifications — Stubby Star S1066: Height: 86 cm | Length: 182 cm | Width: 86 cm | Weight: 33.5 kg | Dry capacity: 210 litres | Wheels: 2 x 40cm 4-ply pneumatic | Frame: Fully galvanised steel with wear pads | Body: Stubbythene with steel-reinforced tipping edge | Assembly: 6 bolts (17mm spanner)

Stubby Shifter — S1065

The Stubby Shifter occupies a different niche in the Stubbs range. Where the Stubby Barrow and Stubby Star are designed around maximum capacity for mucking out, the Shifter is built for versatility and portability. Its higher sides make it particularly well suited to carrying bales of hay or straw, sacks of feed, and loose materials that need to be contained rather than simply heaped.

The Stubbythene body provides the same toughness and weather resistance as its larger siblings, but in a more compact 130-litre form factor. At just 21.8 kilograms, the Stubby Shifter is noticeably lighter than the Stubby Barrow, which makes it easier to handle for smaller-framed grooms and more practical to manoeuvre through tight gateways or narrow stable aisles.

Despite the smaller capacity, the Shifter is well balanced and robust enough for daily stable yard work. The twin pneumatic wheels handle rough ground confidently, and the overall construction quality matches the rest of the Stubbs range. For private owners with one or two horses, or for yards that need a secondary barrow for non-mucking-out duties, the Stubby Shifter offers an excellent balance of capability and convenience.

Specifications — Stubby Shifter S1065: Height: 68 cm | Length: 155 cm | Width: 90 cm | Weight: 21.8 kg | Dry capacity: 130 litres | Wheels: Pneumatic | Body: Stubbythene | Colours: Blue, Green, Pink

Cheeky Barrow — S1062

The Cheeky Barrow is the newest addition to the Stubbs muck barrow range and was developed in direct collaboration with professional show jumpers and livery yard operators. It is designed for people who want a proper, professional-grade stable barrow in a lighter, more manoeuvrable package that is also practical to take to shows and events.

Lightweight and confident in handling, the Cheeky Barrow makes light work of mucking out while also being well suited to poo picking in fields and carrying bales or sacks. The twin-wheeled design provides excellent stability, and the 40cm pneumatic wheels roll easily across grass, mud, and uneven ground — a significant advantage over single-wheeled barrows that tend to sink into soft surfaces.

The construction uses a strong steel tubular frame that is hot-dip galvanised for long-term durability. Hot-dip galvanising provides a thicker, more consistent coating than electro-galvanising, which means superior corrosion protection — an important factor for equipment that lives outdoors year-round and is regularly exposed to corrosive substances.

At 27.5 kilograms and with a packed size of 110 x 90 x 49 centimetres, the Cheeky Barrow is compact enough to fit in a horsebox or trailer, making it a popular choice among competitors who want a reliable barrow at events without the bulk of the larger models.

Specifications — Cheeky Barrow S1062: Height: 69 cm | Length: 150 cm | Width: 88 cm | Weight: 27.5 kg | Dry capacity: 130 litres | Wheels: 2 x 40cm (16") pneumatic | Frame: Hot-dip galvanised steel tubular | Colours: Blue, Green, Pink

Large Stable Barrow — S106AS

The Large Stable Barrow is the heavyweight champion of the Stubbs range — a commanding performer with a 310-litre capacity that has been a fixture on professional equestrian yards for more than four decades. Many equestrians will have grown up with this barrow; it is the model that experienced grooms and trainers picture when they think of a "proper yard barrow," and it remains widely favoured by professionals who need maximum capacity and maximum durability.

What makes the Large Stable Barrow remarkable is that despite its substantial size and 310-litre capacity, it feels startlingly light to handle. This is entirely down to the quality of its balance. The twin large 40cm four-ply pneumatic tyred wheels are positioned so that the weight of even a full load sits over the axle, meaning the operator's arms are guiding rather than lifting. This engineering achievement is what has kept the S106AS in continuous production and continuous demand for over forty years.

The construction is robust steel throughout, finished in a hard-wearing enamel coating available in blue or dark green. While the steel body lacks the lightness of Stubbythene, it offers an unmatched level of strength and rigidity that professional yards demand. The large pneumatic wheels handle the heaviest loads with confidence across any yard surface.

For racing stables, large livery yards, riding schools, and stud farms where barrows are in constant use throughout the day and maximum capacity reduces the number of trips to the muck heap, the Large Stable Barrow remains the definitive choice.

Specifications — Large Stable Barrow S106AS: Height: 99 cm | Length: 198 cm | Width: 86 cm | Weight: 54 kg | Capacity: 310 litres | Wheels: 2 x 40cm 4-ply pneumatic | Frame/Body: Robust steel construction, enamelled | Colours: Blue, Dark Green

Balance Trolley — S2292

The Balance Trolley is a different proposition to the muck barrows. It is a flat-bed, pram-handled trolley designed for transporting heavy, bulky, or awkward items around a yard — bales of hay and straw, sacks of feed, bedding deliveries, tack trunks, water containers, and any other items that are too heavy or unwieldy to carry by hand.

The design features pram-style handles at both ends, allowing the trolley to be pushed or pulled from either direction. The central axle position means that loads are balanced over the wheels, dramatically reducing the effort required compared to dragging items manually or using a conventional single-wheeled trolley where all the weight bears down on the operator's arms.

The body is constructed from softwood on a blue enamelled steel frame, with two large 40cm pneumatic tyred wheels providing a smooth, stable ride across yard surfaces. With a maximum load capacity of 400 kilograms, the Balance Trolley can handle the heaviest items you are likely to encounter on a working yard.

The Balance Trolley is a made-to-order item, reflecting its specialised nature and the bespoke quality of its construction. For yards that deal with frequent deliveries of heavy supplies, it transforms what is otherwise a back-breaking manual handling task into a straightforward, one-person job.

Specifications — Balance Trolley S2292: Height: 92 cm | Length: 160 cm | Width: 69 cm | Weight: 43 kg | Capacity: 400 kg | Wheels: 40cm pneumatic tyred | Frame: Blue enamelled steel | Body: Softwood | Made to order


Comparing the Stubbs Wheelbarrow Range

Choosing the right Stubbs wheelbarrow depends on how it will be used, how many horses you are managing, and where the barrow needs to go. Here is a practical comparison to help narrow down the decision.

For high-volume mucking out on professional yards, the choice comes down to three models. The Large Stable Barrow S106AS offers the biggest capacity at 310 litres and is the traditional choice for racing yards and large operations where reducing trips to the muck heap is a priority. The Stubby Barrow S1067 offers 210 litres in a lighter, more modern Stubbythene design that many yards prefer for its lower weight and corrosion-free body. The Stubby Star S1066 matches the Stubby Barrow's capacity but adds the tip-and-flip emptying mechanism that is particularly valuable on yards with raised muck heaps or skips.

For private owners, small yards, or as a secondary barrow, the Stubby Shifter S1065 and Cheeky Barrow S1062 both offer 130 litres of capacity in lighter, more compact packages. The Stubby Shifter is the lighter of the two at 21.8 kilograms versus 27.5 kilograms, while the Cheeky Barrow features a hot-dip galvanised steel frame that some owners will prefer for its outright ruggedness.

For shows and events, the Cheeky Barrow's compact packed size of 110 x 90 x 49 centimetres makes it the most practical option for transport in horseboxes and trailers.

For heavy-duty yard logistics — moving feed deliveries, bales, water containers, and equipment — the Balance Trolley S2292 is in a category of its own, with its 400-kilogram capacity and pram-handle design that makes heavy loads manageable for a single operator.

Quick Reference Comparison

Model | Code | Capacity | Weight | Body Material | Best For Stubby Barrow | S1067 | 210 litres | 31 kg | Stubbythene | All-round mucking out Stubby Star | S1066 | 210 litres | 33.5 kg | Stubbythene | Mucking out with easy-tip emptying Stubby Shifter | S1065 | 130 litres | 21.8 kg | Stubbythene | Bales, sacks, smaller yards Cheeky Barrow | S1062 | 130 litres | 27.5 kg | Stubbythene on galv steel | Shows, events, compact yards Large Stable Barrow | S106AS | 310 litres | 54 kg | Enamelled steel | Professional yards, maximum capacity Balance Trolley | S2292 | 400 kg load | 43 kg | Softwood on steel | Heavy loads, feed deliveries


Why Stubbs Over Cheaper Alternatives?

The equestrian market is not short of budget wheelbarrows. Garden centres, online marketplaces, and agricultural merchants all offer barrows at a fraction of the price of a Stubbs. So why do so many professional yards — the places where equipment gets the hardest use and where purchasing decisions are driven by operational necessity rather than brand loyalty — consistently choose Stubbs?

The answer lies in total cost of ownership rather than upfront price. A cheap garden wheelbarrow typically costs between forty and eighty pounds. It will last, on a working yard, somewhere between three months and a year before the body cracks, the wheel buckles, the axle seizes, or the handles bend. Over five years, a yard running through one budget barrow per year has spent two hundred to four hundred pounds and endured the frustration and downtime of multiple failures.

A Stubbs Stubby Barrow, by contrast, represents a single purchase that routinely lasts a decade or more in daily professional use. The Stubbythene body does not crack. The galvanised steel frame does not rust. The pneumatic wheels, properly inflated, last for years before needing replacement. The total five-year and ten-year cost is lower than the budget alternative, and the experience of using it every day is immeasurably better.

Beyond durability, there are engineering differences that cheaper barrows simply cannot match. The balance point of a Stubbs barrow is the product of decades of refinement, and it fundamentally changes how the barrow feels to use. Cheap barrows with poorly positioned axles force the operator to bear a significant proportion of the load weight through their arms. Stubbs barrows place the load over the wheels so effectively that experienced users often describe them as feeling "half the weight" of their actual payload.

The twin-wheeled design used across the Stubbs range is another critical difference. Many budget barrows use a single front wheel, which requires the operator to balance the load laterally as well as pushing it forward. This is manageable with light garden loads but becomes exhausting and potentially dangerous with heavy, wet stable bedding. Twin wheels provide inherent lateral stability, meaning the operator can focus entirely on forward motion without the barrow trying to tip sideways on uneven ground.

Finally, there is the question of replacement parts. Stubbs wheelbarrows are designed as serviceable, long-life products. Replacement bodies for the Large Stable Barrow, for example, are available separately, meaning that if the body of a decades-old barrow does eventually wear out, the frame and wheels can be retained and a new body fitted — extending the life of the barrow for another decade or more. This is a fundamentally different design philosophy from the disposable approach taken by budget manufacturers.


Maintaining Your Stubbs Wheelbarrow

One of the advantages of Stubbs wheelbarrows is that they require very little maintenance to deliver years of reliable service. However, a small amount of regular care will maximise their lifespan and keep them performing at their best.

The single most important maintenance task is keeping the pneumatic tyres properly inflated. Stubbs recommend maintaining tyre pressure at around 28 to 30 psi (approximately 2 bar). Properly inflated tyres roll more easily, provide better shock absorption, distribute load more evenly, and are far less susceptible to punctures than under-inflated tyres. An under-inflated tyre deforms under load, exposing more of the tyre wall to potential damage from sharp objects. A quick weekly check with a standard tyre pressure gauge is all that is needed.

For Stubbythene-bodied barrows like the Stubby Barrow, Stubby Star, Stubby Shifter, and Cheeky Barrow, cleaning is straightforward. The non-porous surface of Stubbythene does not absorb liquids or odours, so a rinse with a hose and a scrub with a yard brush is sufficient to keep the body clean. For stubborn deposits, a mild detergent can be used without any risk of damaging the material. Avoid using solvents or abrasive cleaners, which are unnecessary and could potentially affect the surface finish over time.

For the steel-bodied Large Stable Barrow, periodically check the enamel coating for chips or scratches, particularly around the edges and mounting points. If bare metal is exposed, a touch of rust-inhibiting paint will prevent corrosion from developing. The galvanised steel frames on all Stubbs barrows are inherently corrosion-resistant, but it is still worth rinsing off accumulated muck and debris occasionally, especially around the axle area.

Check all bolts periodically — particularly in the first few weeks after assembly, as bolts can settle slightly as the barrow is used. A quick tighten with a 17mm spanner every few months ensures that nothing works loose.

Store barrows upright or on their side rather than inverted where possible, to prevent rainwater from pooling in the body. While Stubbythene is completely waterproof, standing water encourages algae growth and adds unnecessary weight when you pick the barrow up for use.


Professional Use Cases

Stubbs wheelbarrows are found in virtually every professional equestrian setting, but each environment tends to favour particular models.

Racing yards typically favour either the Large Stable Barrow S106AS for its sheer capacity — a racing yard with forty or fifty boxes needs to minimise trips to the muck heap — or the Stubby Barrow S1067 as a lighter alternative for string barns where speed of mucking out matters. Many racing yards use both: the Large Stable Barrow for the main mucking out round and the Stubby Barrow for afternoon skipping and touch-up duties.

Livery yards often standardise on the Stubby Barrow or Stubby Star, as these offer the best balance of capacity and ease of use for a mixed team of staff and livery owners. The Stubby Star's tip-and-flip mechanism is particularly popular on yards with raised muck heap areas, where conventional barrows require considerable effort to empty fully.

Riding schools and Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centres value the stability and balance of Stubbs twin-wheeled barrows, as these are frequently handled by volunteers and young riders who may not have the physical strength or experience to manage a poorly balanced barrow safely. The Cheeky Barrow, with its lighter weight and compact dimensions, is often chosen for these environments.

Competition yards appreciate the Cheeky Barrow's transportability. Taking a full-sized barrow to a three-day event or a circuit of shows requires one that fits in the lorry without dominating the limited storage space. The Cheeky Barrow's packed dimensions of 110 x 90 x 49 centimetres make it the clear choice for travelling competitors.

Stud farms, with their combination of heavy-duty mucking out and frequent movement of feed, bedding, and equipment across large areas, often make use of the Balance Trolley S2292 alongside one of the muck barrow models. The trolley's 400-kilogram capacity and balanced handling design is particularly valuable during the foaling season, when supplies need to be moved quickly and efficiently.


Choosing the Right Stubbs Wheelbarrow for Your Yard

Selecting the right Stubbs wheelbarrow is a decision that should be driven by your specific circumstances rather than simply choosing the largest or most expensive model. Here are the key questions to consider.

How many horses are you mucking out daily? For one to three horses, the Stubby Shifter or Cheeky Barrow provides ample capacity with the bonus of lighter weight and more compact storage. For four to ten horses, the Stubby Barrow or Stubby Star offers the capacity to handle full stables without becoming unmanageable. For larger operations with ten or more horses, the Large Stable Barrow's 310-litre capacity reduces the number of trips per stable and pays dividends in time saved over the course of a day.

What is your muck heap arrangement? If you are tipping into a skip or onto a raised muck heap, the Stubby Star's tip-and-flip action will make the emptying process significantly easier and more complete. If you are tipping onto ground level or into a muck trailer, the standard Stubby Barrow is equally effective and slightly lighter.

Do you need to transport the barrow to shows? If so, the Cheeky Barrow's compact packed size makes it the practical choice. The Stubby Shifter is also transportable but slightly less compact when packed.

What is your yard surface like? All Stubbs barrows handle hard standing well, but the pneumatic tyres across the range also cope admirably with grass, mud, gravel, and rutted tracks. The twin-wheeled design is particularly beneficial on soft or uneven ground where single-wheeled barrows struggle.

Who will be using the barrow? If the barrow will be used by volunteers, young riders, or staff of varying physical ability, lighter models like the Stubby Shifter (21.8 kg) or Cheeky Barrow (27.5 kg) are easier to handle. The Stubby Barrow at 31 kilograms is manageable for most adults, while the Large Stable Barrow at 54 kilograms is best suited to experienced yard staff.


Safety, Ergonomics, and the Hidden Cost of a Bad Wheelbarrow

The Health and Safety Executive reports that manual handling injuries are among the most common causes of workplace absence in the UK agricultural and equestrian sectors. Pushing, pulling, and tipping a wheelbarrow loaded with wet bedding is a repetitive manual handling task, and when performed dozens of times a day with poorly designed equipment, the cumulative strain on the lower back, shoulders, and wrists is significant.

This is where the engineering quality of a Stubbs wheelbarrow pays dividends that go beyond durability and convenience. The twin-wheeled design eliminates lateral instability, meaning the operator does not have to engage their core and upper body muscles to prevent the barrow tipping sideways — a constant low-level physical demand with single-wheeled barrows that contributes to fatigue over a full day's work. The optimised balance point places the load weight over the axle rather than on the operator's arms, which is the single most effective way to reduce manual handling strain when wheeling heavy loads.

Handle height and angle also matter. Stubbs barrows are designed with handle positions that allow the operator to push with their arms at a natural, comfortable angle — neither reaching up nor stooping down. This might seem like a minor detail, but over the course of mucking out ten stables in a morning, the ergonomic advantage of correctly positioned handles translates directly into reduced fatigue and lower injury risk.

The pneumatic tyres across the Stubbs range further reduce physical strain by absorbing the jolts and vibrations that travel up through solid wheels on rough surfaces. This vibration absorption protects the operator's wrists and forearms from the repetitive impact loading that contributes to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis in manual workers.

For yard managers responsible for staff welfare, investing in properly designed wheelbarrows is not just good practice — it is a meaningful contribution to reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries in your workforce. The upfront cost of a Stubbs barrow is trivial compared to the cost of staff absence due to a preventable back injury.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Stubbs wheelbarrow for mucking out?

The Stubby Barrow S1067 is the most popular choice for general mucking out across all types of yard. It offers 210 litres of capacity, weighs 31 kilograms, and is widely regarded as the industry standard. For yards that want easier emptying, the Stubby Star S1066 adds a tip-and-flip mechanism to the same capacity. For professional yards with high volume, the Large Stable Barrow S106AS provides 310 litres.

How long does a Stubbs wheelbarrow last?

A Stubbs wheelbarrow routinely lasts a decade or more in daily professional use. The Stubbythene body used on several models is virtually indestructible under normal equestrian use, and the galvanised steel frames resist corrosion indefinitely. The Large Stable Barrow has been popular for over forty years, and it is not uncommon to find examples that have been in continuous service for fifteen to twenty years with nothing more than occasional tyre replacement.

Can I get replacement parts for Stubbs wheelbarrows?

Yes. Stubbs offers replacement bodies for the Large Stable Barrow, allowing you to renew the body while retaining the existing frame and wheels. Replacement pneumatic wheels and tyres are also available. This parts availability is a significant advantage over budget wheelbarrows that are designed as disposable items.

What tyre pressure should I use?

Stubbs recommend maintaining tyre pressure at approximately 28 to 30 psi (2 bar). Keeping tyres properly inflated improves rolling efficiency, reduces the risk of punctures, and ensures the barrow handles correctly. Check pressure weekly with a standard tyre pressure gauge.

What is the difference between the Stubby Barrow and the Stubby Star?

Both have the same 210-litre capacity and similar dimensions. The key difference is the tipping mechanism. The Stubby Star features a tip-and-flip action that rotates the body beyond vertical for complete emptying, while the standard Stubby Barrow tips forward in the conventional manner. The Stubby Star weighs 2.5 kilograms more (33.5 kg versus 31 kg) and includes wear pads on the legs to protect the frame during tipping.

Which Stubbs wheelbarrow is best for shows and events?

The Cheeky Barrow S1062 is the most practical model for transport. Its packed size of 110 x 90 x 49 centimetres fits comfortably in a horsebox or trailer. At 27.5 kilograms, it is light enough to load and unload easily, yet its 130-litre capacity and hot-dip galvanised frame make it a genuine working barrow rather than a lightweight compromise.

Are Stubbs wheelbarrows suitable for garden use?

Absolutely. While designed primarily for equestrian use, Stubbs wheelbarrows are equally effective in large gardens. The twin-wheeled design is particularly advantageous for garden use, as it provides stability on soft ground, slopes, and uneven surfaces that defeat single-wheeled barrows. The Stubby Barrow and Stubby Shifter are both popular choices among gardeners who want professional-grade equipment.

How do I assemble a Stubbs wheelbarrow?

Most Stubbs wheelbarrows arrive with the handles, legs, and wheels packed inside the shrink-wrapped body. Assembly requires just six bolts and a 17mm spanner (not included). The process is straightforward and can typically be completed in fifteen to twenty minutes.

What colours are Stubbs wheelbarrows available in?

Colour availability varies by model. The Stubby Barrow, Stubby Shifter, and Cheeky Barrow are typically available in blue, green, and pink. The Large Stable Barrow comes in blue or dark green enamel. Colour options allow yards to colour-code equipment for different areas or purposes.

Where can I buy Stubbs wheelbarrows?

The full range of Stubbs wheelbarrows is available from Hall Fast's dedicated Stubbs Wheelbarrows page. Hall Fast offer competitive pricing, expert customer service, and reliable delivery across the UK.


Shop Stubbs Wheelbarrows

Ready to invest in a wheelbarrow that will genuinely last? Browse the complete range of Stubbs wheelbarrows — including the Stubby Barrow, Stubby Star, Stubby Shifter, Cheeky Barrow, Large Stable Barrow, and Balance Trolley — at Hall Fast's dedicated Stubbs Wheelbarrows page. Hall Fast offer competitive pricing, knowledgeable customer support, and delivery you can depend on.

Whichever model you choose, you are investing in a product that draws on nearly 190 years of British manufacturing heritage, engineered by a family business that understands what working equestrian yards actually need, and built from materials that are specifically chosen to handle the toughest conditions a stable environment can throw at them. A Stubbs wheelbarrow is not an expense — it is equipment that earns its place on your yard every single day, for years to come.