Travelling...Boots or Bandages?

[Pally]

Just wondering, what is your preference?

I always used to use travelling boots but someone else I spoke to said she always bandages as worries boots would slip off.

 

[cptrayes]

My preference is nothing. I have had too many horses injure themselves trying to get the boots off or accidentally treading on them and getting tangled up.

 

[martlin]

My preference is nothing, sometimes I put overreach boots on the ones shod all round.

 

[GLEEK]

I dont travel my ID mare in anything either she isnt the best to load so putting boots or bandages on give her time to think about travelling and not going on transport!! I used to work in racing and more often than not they never travelled in any boots and if they did they were only like foam with velcro straps that went from knee to fetlock

 

[Toffee44]

I use over reach boots and some brushing boots if shod.

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Used boots with bean, and hope to with Lady.... but when we brought her home it was front brushing boots and o/r boots, and she spent the whole time kicking the lorry... so we'll have to see what happens when we do start travelling her!!

 

[UnaB]

Nothing here too.

 

[RuthnMeg]

Bandages here, always have, so its now complete habit. I use boots on other peoples horses, but thats their preference, not mine.

 

[TinselRider]

Boots for me all round, Both my boys are good travellers *thankfully* and don't fidget therefore the boots don't slip.

 

[JoJo_]

Boots all round. My mare travels well but unfortunately I dont have my own transport!

 

[Serenity087]

Bandages all the way! I got to too many shows to find boots ripped off, full of poo (lovely on a coloured cob and a grey!) and you never ever find a pair that fit your horse right! (No idea what they model them on, a cow probably!)

Bandages fit snugly every time, don't get poo stuck in them and stay on!

I don't see why, when people go to all the effort of having the right tack, grooming, buying all the specialist equipment, they should comprimise their animals safety by putting on shoddy, ill fitting boots which do up by velcro because it's quicker and easier... talk about cutting corners where it counts!

Rently though have been travelling without anything, as Dor has been living wild so is unshod and heavily feathered. Just make sure she has plenty of straw and she's good!

 

[miss_c]

I travel G with boots. She travels well and they never slip. Plus while I know how to bandage I don't trust myself to be good enough at it to bandage safely!

 

[RLD]

I much prefer bandages. I think they stay put better (if put on correctly!) and also look smarter. I don't like boots as they never seem to fit the leg all the way down.

I can understand why people use boots if they have a horse that is fidgety at a show or difficult, but my horses are all good travellers and used to going to shows so it is bandages all the time for me.

 

[ncarter]

I have a set of boots but my latest boy arrived in nothing so I have travelled him in nothing too - didn't want to upset him unnecessarily by trying something that he may not be used to, and he was absolutely perfect.
Glad to see lots of other people travel in nothing too. (It is funny to see them walk with travel boots on though!)

 

[stencilface]

Boots for me, but most of my journeys are less than 2 hours (and the majority of the time, less than 1 hour). I don't suffer the cheapy ones though, has to be good ones with the strike pads at the bottom (I have the HOY ones, which I think are made by N.E.W) they have never slipped or come off, and he always travels fine in them. I wouldn't travel in nothing. Having been in an accident with a trailer, I know how much damage was saved to the horses legs by them having boots on - and not even good boots either (weren't my horses thankfully!)

I would use boots for longer distances, a lady I worked for used to bandage if the journeys for upwards of 4-5 hours

 

[WelshMisfit]

Depends on how long the journey. Tend to use boots for shorter distances and bandages for the longer journeys. Long journeys tend to make mine restless and fidgety so I worry about the boots slipping down. Plus I think the bandages help stop the legs filling when you're on a long trip and they have to stand in one place for so long.

 

[charlie13]

boots in frount and bandages behing or turnout boot my boy is a funnie traveler

 

[Sleepeeze_dad]

We used to use the shire type ones and I agree - they come undone, wrapped around the wrong way, halfway off is a usual occurence. Then we discovered Bucas boots at YHL. Fit my TB like a glove. Really thick and well thought out too - velcro fasteners go both ways with a big long piece in the middle so dead easy to get them off without too much hassle - easier to put them on too. Highly recommended.

Just looked at the website and they don't appear to be the same - ours have velcro top and bottom with the big overlap piece in the middle... much better than the ones shown on there...

 

[Silverspring]

I prefer bandages as they offer more support and are less likely to slip BUT if you have a young horse they are more of a faff (and sometime danger) to put on and off.

 

[Petalpoos]

Nothing. Had to stop the box and unwind boots and bandages before now and they seem to cause more trouble than stop it!

 

[shell1978]

After Connie having a accident in a trailer with boots on and stripped all the flesh from her back legs, i now use bandages, or sometimes I use her Equilibruim neoprene turnout boots!