booting up ...TRavel

Both mine travel in either but mainly boots, try them on in the stable first some horses are not keen on the hock being covered, so I would only use leg protection if the horse is happy wearing it or they can cause more damage than good, one of mine used to kick out terrible when I first tried them, but I just used to keep putting them on in the stable and his fine now.

With a youngster I would start with brushing boots first once there happy with those progress to something bigger, and just keep putting them on while in the stable and leave them on until its not an issue.
 
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I just put them on and walked and walked my young horse until she was comfortable. To be honest once most horses realise they aren't as restricting as they first feel
 
Bandage, or brushing boots. I wouldn't travel with nothing on their legs, and I always have a tail guard or bandage; I also have a poll guard.

I do have travel boots but none of my horses have liked them much, so I've found it less stressful to bandage, and it doesn't take more than a couple of minutes.
 
JennBags said:
Bandage, or brushing boots. I wouldn't travel with nothing on their legs, and I always have a tail guard or bandage; I also have a poll guard.

I do have travel boots but none of my horses have liked them much, so I've found it less stressful to bandage, and it doesn't take more than a couple of minutes.
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Wish I could bandage mine, he just stands there and rubs his legs until they're either ripped or I take them off. Don't know whether he's had a bad experience with things on his legs or something, he's only 6 and I've only had him since July but he even hates brushing boots (although he's getting better with them) They just stress him out.
 
When I started travelling my last cob when he was about 13 I borrowed all kinds of travelling boots from my fellow liveries and lead him a few steps plus let him stand in the stable in each type. He much preferred the soft Polly Pad type, but when they wore out (not that durable tbh) he was used to boots enough to be happy in a harder pair of Mark Todds.
 
I used to use bandages while we were having travelling issues, thinking they weren't as restrictive, but much prefer boots with the extra tough bits around the foot. The ones I've got I paid about £40 for and I've had them about 7 years. I'm pretty sure they saved my mare from serious injury when she went down in the trailer initially.
 
If a short trip nothing, otherwise I bandage. He doesn't like travel
boots and kicks like mad in them. Last time I used them the boot somehow got wedged between his foot and shoe.
 
I used to use boots till the day one slipped and horse panicked in trailer and now will only travel in trailer on his own. Now i bandage fronts and leave hinds naked. Although i have got premier equine sports boots so i may try those next time.
 
Cheshire Chestnut said:
Wish I could bandage mine, he just stands there and rubs his legs until they're either ripped or I take them off. Don't know whether he's had a bad experience with things on his legs or something, he's only 6 and I've only had him since July but he even hates brushing boots (although he's getting better with them) They just stress him out.
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I would keep trying to get him used to them - what if he needs them bandaging for an injury? Better to just slowly get him used to them now, rather than have even more stress in the future.
 
Me yes I would always have my girl booted or bandaged for travel but if you ask my girl she is a naked non boot horse
she has had boots bandages on since foal fine on yard fine in stable, try's to kill her self each time you put her in lorry or trailer. She was so bad I changed my trailer for a horsebox just as bad but she would walk up both as good as gold it was only when we started to pull away all hell let lose

After a big vet bill due to her slipping under the partition with full boots on we tried her naked and not a sound no kicking at all so for the last 11 years she has broken all my rules about traveling and I have even bought a new trailer for her this week but only her
 
We used to travel our welsh pony in the soft type boots, but we travel our Highland naked.
He is unshod and has not been travelled in boots before and is clumsy :) so I can imagine they would do more harm than good.
 
Once upon a time....when on the M23 and having had a serious accident.....in a lorry with two on board....the recovery lorry that collected us, flatly refused to carry horses with travel boots on!!! He stated that they caused more accidents and also damage to his lorry.

Since that time we have travelled naked.....with no problems, no kicking around whatsoever......the most damage my boy does is kicking out with the damn travel boots on!!
 
Don't use anything. I always used to then my last horse HATED travel boots as he had never had them on. Couldn't get him used to them and he wouldn't stand up properly with them on, so I gave up. Never started again when I got the current horse. I used to put O/R boots on this one to begin with as he was a bit of a fidget, but don't bother now.
 
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