Travelling a young horse a long way - boots?

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Ahrena

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HOPEFULLY subject to vet on Thurs (fingers crossed please :D) I will be having a 3yo arriving next Monday.
I'm just wondering what the usual thing to do is. He travelled as a foal but not since, and its a 180 mile trip.

Would you use boots ECT? Just bearing in mind he isn't used to them so it might stress him out but then having not traveled, I'm worried he'll hurt himself without.

I won't be there when he is picked up (using transport) so was thinking of asking the owner if she'll throw in a headcollar/rope and tail bandadge, but not sure about travel boots? If she won't I can offer to pay her for them or post her back but as she wouldn't budge on his price, I figure its worth a go :p
 
Congratulations, how exciting :D

If it was me I wouldn't put boots on a youngster tbh, even more so on a long journey as they can get hot and sweaty.
 
Don't put a tail bandage on either, lots of problems with damaged tails.
I would perhaps only put tendon boots on the front, but definitely wouldn't put anything else on for a long trip.
 
No definitely not, won't be used to them, too hot, might slip etc (same for tail bandage) and transporters I've used don't like them on either
 
No boots, no tail banadage. Much safer that way with a young horse that has never had anything on
 
My 3 year old sold to someone a 5 hour drive away, they didn't travel her in travel boots as she wasn't used to them.
If I had bought her I probably would have put brushing boots on as she was used to them and they would have offered some protection.
 
As he is only 3 i would guess he has no shoes on, so should be safe to travel naked. If you are using transporters im sure they will advise you. Also i always thought a headcollar and leadrope was a requirement of selling a horse, but maybe that's an old wives tale??
Enjoy your new boy x
 
I wouldn't boot him.

I might put a tail guard on depending on how big he is and whether he is likely to sit on his bum against the wall.
 
When a certain pony who occasionally features on here had to travel from here (North of Scotland) down to Essex, his new owner sent up the complete kit. The youngster was duly kitted out -- a day before travelling so he could get used to it. The boots kept slipping and I eventually took them off as he was not amused anyway.

Eric Gillies arrived next day to collect him and I apologised for the lack of boots. He said they do not recommend them anyway as they can slip down and cause damage.

So, there you go, a comment direct "from the horse's mouth" so to speak. I'd never bother in the future, at least for youngsters.



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ah thank you very much!
ok just a headcollar it will be :)

Tbf worst that can happen with tail is that it gets rubbed but plenty of time for it to grow back.

Will update with info and pictures if he passes the vet :D
 
Yes no boots or anything and she has to really give you a head collar and lead rope, even the stingiest seller will do that, it might be the mankiest they can find tho!
 
Ahrena said:
ah thank you very much!
ok just a headcollar it will be :)

Tbf worst that can happen with tail is that it gets rubbed but plenty of time for it to grow back.
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You'd be surprised what a mess a horse can make of a tail if it's the sort that sits on the ramp :(
I always put a tail guard on since I travelled one just a few miles and he was raw and bleeding from sitting hard on his tail all the journey.
 
If its a transporter shifting the horse its unlikely to be forward facing / sitting on the ramp. I travel all of mine naked and I haven't ever had one damage their tails. Years ago on old fashioned trailers it was different.
 
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