The ongoing question.... travel boots and tail bandage or nothing?

[Stenners]

What do you all use and if you use boots, what brands do you recommend? I know some people say its better to have nothing but also the horses rocking up at Badminton don't wear nothing! I know its 50/50 and I'm still undecided!

 

[Auslander]

Overreach boots on all 4 feet for me. I don't use boots or bandages unless it's a horse I know to be an unsteady traveller

 

[Kaylum]

Found that people prefer using the wrap type travel boots as they aren't as clumpy and usual a tail bandage, but showing people like the back boots as they keep the legs clean and a tail bag.

 

[Identityincrisis]

I don’t use anything, he was a nervous traveller when I got him so I didn’t want anything to fall off and make him panic further, he also doesn’t lean on his tail (rear facing van) at most, I would use brushing boots and a tail bandage

 

[Stenners]

I quite like the wrap boots as well but it's a minefield with where to start!

 

[Roxylola]

Tail guard/tail bandage always. A friend's horse years ago made a real mess of her tail travelling without. Otherwise, nothing unless I know they're unsteady

 

[Steerpike]

Tail bandage or tail guard with no boots for my horses.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I use front brushing boots, that's all. I havnt used a tail bandage in nearly 20 years after my horse had one on for a short time in hot weather which caused his tail to fall out.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I use front brushing boots, that's all. I havnt used a tail bandage in nearly 20 years after my horse had one on for a short time in hot weather which caused his tail to fall out.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I use a soft tail wrap - very easy to cause damage with a tail bandage.
I've got Amigo travel boots which are fairly still but without strike pads. My cob has full feather but don't want him standing on it or cutting himself if he loses balance .

 

[First Frost]

Tail bandage, tail guard and over reach boots on one, he can be a bit fidgety. Nothing on the other unless it is a long journey, then he has a tail bandage and bag - he's grey!

 

[Widgeon]

Surely it depends whether your horse actually needs any of these things? I use a tail bandage with tail guard over the top, because mine leans his bum on the back bar for balance and scratching purposes. If it's a new horse, see what state he's in when he arrives - mine toddled off the trailer with a tail bandage round his hocks and a bog brush tail, so it was apparent that something was needed there....

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

We use stable wraps for our seasoned traveler and tail bag to keep his grey tail clean.
For the youngster we don't travel him with anything on as he was very stampy the one time we tried the stable wraps. He stands still and quietly without so he has chosen his preference
For reference ours is a 3.5ton rear facing and both do not lean on the back at all.

 

[marmalade76]

I use tail bandages but haven't used boots for years. If I felt a horse needed leg protection, I'd use stable bandages instead, they don't tend to slip or fall off and don't get trodden on.

 

[ameeyal]

I’ve never used anything, and had no problems

 

[LegOn]

I use stable wraps boots - the premier equine ones, I only used to travel him with front ones but it seems I've just heard from friends about a host of horsebox injuries so I've gotten a bit cautious and use back ones aswell now. I never used to put back ones on him as younger horse because then he wouldnt move his back legs resulting in more instability but he seems fine with them now I have a trailer camera so am able to keep an eye on him! Oh and yes always a tail guard - he loves a good scratch otherwise

 

[Afon_34]

Tail bandage & travel boots here- first horse I've had that travelled better with them so it all gets put on now! Previous horses however it would just be over reach boots & wraps/ brushing boots on fronts, put a tail bandage & cover on everything though

 

[ycbm]

Nothing on mine.
.

 

[Carlosmum]

Tail bandage and guard. No boots unless long journey, then prefer to bandage for support. Used to travel old pony in brushing boots s he was a pig to load and i worried about him slipping off the ramp while being an idiot.

 

[ponynutz]

Boots always but had a horse who religiously got them off so often went without (or with brushing boots if tacked up) for short journeys and bandaged her for 1hr+ journeys.

Tailguard I do bc it’s the done thing but dont see the point unless you have a plaited tail that they’d rub tbh

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Friend did a lot of Endurance riding in her day and has always said that she's seen more injuries WITH all the gear as she puts it, than without.

Mine travels with nothing!

 

[PSD]

I only use stable wraps if I’m showing. If I’m doing anything else I just leave him or put the boots on that I’ll be using to ride in to save time. He can be an arse to load so I tend to just use brushing boots really. I have to use a tail guard because he sits his backside leaning against the back of the box so we end up with a hedgehog tail

 

[nagblagger]

I'm another with nothing on mine.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Have done plenty of regular long haul, short haul (and currently very short haul), never put anything on except a headcollar with possibly a poll guard if required.

 

[tda]

Nothing on my lot either, i used to use a tail bandage on one who seemed to sit on the back rail, but for others don't bother.
Had one gelding who got his back travel boots off once and upset himself, I didn't like them really before so they went in the bin

 

[Bobthecob15]

Recently changed to nothing...20yrs ago everyone used both bandages and boots bit these days nobody seems to bother!

I think there are pros and cons but depends on your horse really if you think they need them

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Recently changed to nothing...20yrs ago everyone used both bandages and boots bit these days nobody seems to bother!

I think there are pros and cons but depends on your horse really if you think they need them

I disagree, 40 years ago I was transporting in just a headcollar across Europe, travelling groom on flights out with just poll guards on headcollars, plus ferry trips to channel isles etc, removing all the rugs and gumph before loading and travelling.
The only ones wrapped up I saw were the ones doing short trips down the road to pony club or local shows etc.

 

[millitiger]

Overreach boots all round, tail plaited and tail guard.

 

[Jenko109]

Have never used anything.

 

[Pippity]

Overreach booths in front but nothing else. I tried overreach boots behind, but she was so distracted by trying to shake them off that I felt it was safer to go without.