Travelling a horse whilst tacked up

Law

Law

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I was thinking about this yesterday and just wondered what all your opinions are of travelling a horse whilst it is tacked up. I've seen it done at hunt meets and just wondered whether it is generally frowned upon, accepted or just plain dangerous?
Am genuinely curious to your views!
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I'd travel mine with his saddle on but not his bridle, there are just too many horrid things that could go wrong as he is a bit of a fidget, and his travelling companion is always a-chewing of his headcollar.

ets, I usually untack completely before returning home so he can have his cooler rug on.
 
I think the hunting fraternity do it for the sake of speed and because the horses are too wound up to tack up on arrival!

I sometimes travel Will with his saddle on for short journeys so the saddle gets time to warm on his back if I'm getting straight on but he's very quiet to travel. I'd never do it with the newbie
 
Used to travel tacked up when hunting as it was quicker and, less hassle when you have hyped up horses.

Now, doing dressage, I never do as I always make sure i have time to tack up when i get there and horse is not stressed.
 
I don't know anyone who travels their horse untacked to meets....I can't get my boy tacked up if I take him hunting, he just will not stand still. Much easier to travel tacked up. Sometimes put just the bridle on and throw saddle on when I get there. Always put boots on before I go.
 
i always travel them tacked up (saddle no briddle) if going to a meet as its impossible to tack them up once you get there if they have been hunting before...i also travel tacked up im just going on a short journey, but otherwise no.
 
I used to travel my old hunter fully tacked up and booted - would check the saddle before getting on as never did the girth up 100%. would also have his bridle and martingale on. he was a saint to travel and just slept so never had an issue with that. coming home would be untacked and washed down.

to normal shows and things - usually go untacked and tack up there. no hounds at shows normally!!!

Bx
 
Does he have a rug over his saddle to stop it catching on things when he's coming out the trailer? Or is there plenty of room anyway?


I just wondered how safe it is deemed?
When the clocks go back I'm going to have to load in the dark, get to venue, tack up on the yard in dim lighting/poor weather and then have my lesson. I just wondered if I travelling him with his saddle on was a terrible idea/crime!
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ETS- It's purely an idea to save time on dark evenings
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If i am going to be riding as soon as I arrive ie lesson then i travel with saddle and if applicable the martingale on so i only have to put the bridle on quickly when i arrive.
 
I ofetn travel tacked up if hunting or just going a short way/in a hurry.

I flol the leathers back round and put the ends through so they cant run down and also tuck the reins in the throatlash.

I rug according to weather.

There is nothing in my lorry to catch on.
 
If going hunting we always travel tacked up with a rug thrown over their backs. It means you can jump straight on and also avoids any problems when they see other horses and go loopy when you're trying to tack them up in the lorry which could end in disaster as you get squashed!!

The worst thing that has ever happened to me is a pair of broken reins in the lorry.
 
I often take mine tacked up when hunting or xc schooling. I wind the reins round the throught lash and do the stirrups up in the same way you do for lunging. I also put some form of a rug on so that the stirrups don't get caught on anything.
I have also done this for evening dressage when its dark in the carparks.
If I am doing show or dressage in the evening then I go untacked.
I always travel back untacked.
 
I can't think of anyone that does not travel tacked up for hunting unless they really do have a dobbin!
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We would always tack up, reins over pommel, smart rugs on which would be fastened over the reins and martingale at the front, surcingles on and fastened through martingale belly strap so couldn't slip back and the rug protects saddle from any knocks; headcollar over bridle (fitted ready to go, no adjustments needed) which would hold up the reins into the throat. Never ever had a problem like that unless you count the times people forget to take off the tail bandage! Most people on the trip back home, loosen girths and nosebands then put cooler or rug on which gives the back time to breathe and cool down before saddle is taken off at home else you can get pressure bumps. (It also stops saddle being knocked over, trod on or even forgotten!) Another tip if hunting is to run stirrups up the forward way so if they're muddy, it doesn't go all over the saddle flaps too or just to cross them over the withers - that's if they're thinking of the grooms back home - if you're your own groom then you will already have worked that one out!
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That's what I assumed- that the horses are too wound up to stand still long enough to be tacked up!
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Ours aren't - but always travel to the meet tacked up because it just makes life easier.
 
Thanks all for your really useful replies!
Someone recently gave the tip about having a pre-tied leadrope in the trailer if you are competing on your own etc and I have to say it's one of the most useful things i've picked up from the forum! I'll take note of all the tips in this post and see how it goes.
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Does he have a rug over his saddle to stop it catching on things when he's coming out the trailer? Or is there plenty of room anyway?


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There is plenty of room as he is not a fatty. No, I don't put a rug on him on the outward journey. I only put one on him on the way back if he has sweated up - don't want him catching a chill as he is standing still in the trailer.

See, I generally only transport him if we are going out for a long hack on the moor or the beach, he does get excited especially if it is a new place, and the one time I tried to put his saddle on when we got there, he leaped about like a loony and his saddle ended up being kicked across the car park. It is just easier to have the saddle on already! I don't think it is a crime to travel them in their saddles, as long as girth is not done up murder tight and there is room for horse & saddle between the partitions. The saddle does occasionally get rubbed against the partition when he is backing out of trailer but it is all padded or covered with rubber so luckily there has been no damage to saddle so far.
 
I would travel tacked up on short journeys (no more than say 40 mins)
Generally just with saddle/breastplate on though, rarely with bridle on too, unless the horse is young/likely to be a pain in the backside once we get there!!
Always travel tacked up to meets.
 
Thanks- we are going about 10 miles so 15 to 20 mins
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I'm going to get my OH to assist on the first attempt at the yard- just another pair of hands, albeit in the dark!
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I travel tacked up if it is close, but not if i am planning to get to the show with too much time to spare... i guess i just dont like them stood in their tack for too long wether they are on the lorry or in the trailer, it must get uncomfortable!!
 
I always travel tacked up now, she's run off a couple of times mid-tacking up so it's much safer! Also she kicks out backwards when i'm putting on the saddle so its far easier to do this at home than risk kicking the box or someone walking past.
 
I generally travel mine tacked up, mainly because she won't load unless wearing a bridle. I put the headcollar over the top and lead her up by the headcollar/leadrope - never touch the bridle at all - but if she doesn't feel the bit in her mouth she wont' go up the ramp, just turns round and runs off.
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Usually put a rug over the saddle or just leave saddle's protective cover on, wrap the reins through the throatlash and put brushing boots on all four legs with travel boots over the back legs but not the front. Quick and easy when dealing with an excited horse at an event.

coming back, I usually untack because she loads fine without a bridle on the way home.
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