Travel Boot - To use or not to use?

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Tern

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Okay so i have two horses and sometimes they travel together most of the time they don't I'd like some advice of what to use on them and if i should/should not use travel boots etc.

1st horse;
26yrs
shod all 4
very good traveling
*Usually* traveled in front travel boots and back brushing boots with over reaches on back due to having arthritis in a hock and will not walk forward with back travel boots on (Goes back in a panic, never done it before though until he got his arthritis)

2nd horse;
7yrs
shod all 4
Not very good traveling, stamps feet around
*Usually* traveled in nothing, sometimes in OR boots and brushing boots all 4 of just OR boots.

I'd mostly like to know what else i should be putting on - both wear leather headcollars, older horse wears tail bandage - younger will stand on me if i try. Do i put travel boots on youngster or not? :D
 
If younger horse doesnt particularly like the boots I would stick to Brushing boots.

Stick with what keeps your horse happy!
 
I would never travel horses without full protection. Mind you we had a bad experience once which I won't go into.

We have some old Sportabac travel boots which are very close fitting so don't flap about but unfortunately, I don't think they are business any more. If your younger horse doesn't like the boots, what about bandages.
 
Hello!
We ship horses all over the world and we would never travel a horse with any form of protection. Why? Because if they step on the boot or bandage and it doesn't break, it can do real damage. Of course if you are just going down the lane it's different you can put the protection on, but for long journeys it could do more harm than good.
Also they can sweat in them and get blisters and sore skin.
:)
 
I always wear back travel boots where I can! (sold one that wasnt booted behind and was pts due to injury :( ). I usually travel in boots to local shows so if already booted in front I leave it at that. If going far I use front travel boots too or brushing boots. (mine wont tolerate boots in front as a scraper)
 
One has brushing boots on fronts only, she won't tolerate boots on the hinds and fidgets too much to bandage properly. She moves a lot when traveling too, but has thankfully never done herself an injury.

The other has his exercise boots on all 4 legs and then thermatex wraps over the top.

It varies so much between horses, so do what suits them and you are happy with.
 
Okay thanks.. My travel boots are very stiff so i may try her in them and if she doesn't go wacko at them then i'll buy her some of the softer Shires Economy ones.. Andalusitano UK - Yeah may we probably will ever to go compete is 1hr 30mins away.. The longer the journey the less i put on to be honest ;) Thank you for your answer it was interesting :)
 
Mine loses the ability to stand or walk with travel boots on. They're all different obviously, but I only use overreach boots on the fronts. No injuries yet travelling alone and in company. Up to an hour and a half.
 
9tails said:
Mine loses the ability to stand or walk with travel boots on. They're all different obviously, but I only use overreach boots on the fronts. No injuries yet travelling alone and in company. Up to an hour and a half.
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Yeah i never used to bother but then friend's horse nearly had it's leg tendons ripped out by another horse and the lorry so i have become quite paranoid about leather headcollars etc.
 
When my mare was racing she would travel with no protection, no rugs, no boots, no tail bandages...nothing, completely naked. When she got delivered to me she was naked and had just done a 3hr journey. When I did try getting a pair of travel boots on her, she wasn't having it.

I haven't travelled her since but when i do i will probably just go with brushing boots.

Just to add and this wasn't me......i've known people to travel thier horses in full tack when going to a show or outing!!
 
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yaffsimone1 said:
.i've known people to travel thier horses in full tack when going to a show or outing!!
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Yep my hunters go out fully tacked up with a wool sheet thrown over and if I was expecting problems tacking up on the lorry with say a young horse I would not hesitate to tack up before loading.

The hunters wear no boots to travel and to be honest regardless of if it's a show pony or a regular hunt horse, I wouldn't boot up when going to the meet. Can't be doing with the faff of removing them on arrival. The racehorses only had front bandages on but generally the stressage pony and the show horses will all travel fully booted up. Everything ALWAYS wears a leather headcollar to travel and a tail bandage.

It's a personal preference I think, some horses just do not like travel boots full stop. Just go with whatever you and your horses are happiest in.
 
I used to use travel boots all the time until my horse started having problems with my trailer partition and the boots just didn't protect him, they were just shredded and wrecked in the trailer at end of journey. problem sorted by taking out partition and never had any issue.

I have now travelled my two regularly without any boots etc.... but then again they travel backwards with plenty of room. Longest journey been 4 hours without any issues.
 
I like the modern stable boots for travelling, but use nothing as standard unless known issue. Always use a tail guard though :) (never bandage- bad experience with profession transport company doing one on my pony too tight)
 
The wife said:
Yep my hunters go out fully tacked up with a wool sheet thrown over and if I was expecting problems tacking up on the lorry with say a young horse I would not hesitate to tack up before loading.
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Sorry OP slightly off topic.....that's interesting, when i had seen it previously i thought those owners were mad but the more i ask about the more i realise how many people do it
 
yaffsimone1 said:
Sorry OP slightly off topic.....that's interesting, when i had seen it previously i thought those owners were mad but the more i ask about the more i realise how many people do it
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Sorry OP also :) it just means we can pull them off and crack straight on, especially if they are liable to be a bit bright and saves anybody getting hurt in the process. We had a well experienced but cold backed mare who towards the back end of her career would travel in her saddle. She could be very sharp to saddle up on the show grounds so this way she was more comfortable being saddled in her own environment and it allowed her back to 'warm up' while being travelled and she was much happier.
 
Mine won't load with boots on - no idea why. I tend to throw him on in his rug (if necessary) tail guard and headcollar and then whilst he's standing quite happily munching throw his boots on. He doesn't quite understand the whole balancing thing, just makes me feel safer. You seem to have it sussed with your horses what hey do and don't like so stick with it - it's your's and your horses preference at the end of the day.
 
depends on who is travelling, how far and why.

With my riding horse, if she is just going from my place to my friends, it is only 2 miles, so she wears nothing. If we are boxing somewhere local for a hack then she wears her brushing boots (purely to save putting them on when we unload) I have never travelled her tacked up though.

If she is going to a show (usually entails at least 1 hr drive) then she wears travel boots and tail bandage.

Same with the youngster- if moving from one yard to the next she goes naked, going to a show she is booted and bandaged and travel sheet on... partly for protection, but mainly as she is coloured and has white legs...!

If they were travelling a long distance then I would travel naked, as boots can cause overheating, and slip/move and cause damage.

Just stick to what you know works for your horse.
 
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