Travelling horse tacked up?

badgerdog

badgerdog

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 February 2008
Messages
1,188
Location
Northumberland
Visit site
Does anyone do it? I don't normally but I'm taking my horse to his first competition today and when I have travelled him in the past he's been a nightmare when I've got him out at the other end.
I'm trying to weigh up the pro's and cons. Is it better to tack him up when he's calm and travel him for a 30 minute journey or do I travel him without tack and then attempt to put it on him while he's spinning round on the end of a rope. When I tied him to the box the last time he snapped his leather headcollar!
I'm leaning towards tacking him up beforehand because I'm going alone. Is this a terrible thing to do?
confused.gif
 
I would tack before especaily if your on your own. I do this with ones that are too anxious the other end and use whatever boots they need (i.e tendon and fetlock) instead of traveling boots/bandages too. That way it leaves me just studs to do at the other end.
 
Noone is getting back to you but I have seen some badly damaged saddles by travelling tacked. Maybe if its only half an hour but if you put his bridle on make very sure he cant catch it on anything. Maybe remove the reins and put them back on before you unload ?
I am sorry I am not much help I am very lucky to have had 5 horses who were never a problem.
 
Some people at my yard do travel tacked up. Personally my saddle is too expensive to risk, but Im sure the bridle is probably the hardest part of tacking up after so why not just put that on?

How bout this for an idea to help safety? bridle on, then a lycra hood over the top, one that goes down to his chest? That way the straps cant get caught and cause him damage?

Just a thought perhaps that's very stupid...
 
Its a bit risky but I used to do it with my old horse. By the time you got to a show or a ride he was high as a kite and it was all he could do to contain himself while I got on - let alone fannying about with tack. I will say if you do travel the horse in a bridle, don't put a haynet in if the bit has any sort of hooks , shanks or lower rings that could get hooked up on it.
cool.gif
 
Most hunters are travelled tacked up. Just don't use a bridle with a cheeked bit as these can get caught on things. You can always put a summer sheet on top to help protect your saddle.
 
Travel tacked up. I always did to go hunting and am doing to go on fun rides with this mare as she's so excited she won't stand still at the other end.

Just put a saddle cover over your saddle to protect it.
 
We used to travel all the hunters already tacked up with a rug over their back to help protect their saddles. They never damaged anything...... there again....by time they had finished hunting in winter everything was wet, covered in mud and damaged anyway if they'd had a fall so it didn't matter!!!
 
Yes, I used to travel to hunting already tacked up. Just put a thin rug over saddle to protect it. I think most people do, its definitely far easier at the other end!
 
I always used to travel tacked up, just put a summer sheet on over your saddle.

The only probelm I've ever had is when my horse managed to knock the stirrup leather as he was being unloaded, and halfway round a sponsered ride my stirrup fell off!
 
I never travel tacked up, not with a saddle anyway. Ive had horses go down in the trailer and jump over the breast bar getting stuck so I would hate for a saddle to add to that! Also I personally dont think its comfortable for the horse.

I have travelled in a bridle though with youngsters who are a bit "awake" when they arrive. And with all other horses I generally put their bridle on in the trailer as soon as we arrive before taking them out, for safety really.
 
I know alot of people travel tacked up but personally I see all the things that could go wrong . I have seen horses boxes on their sides in traffic accidents etc. You would want a horse tacked up in an accident scenario. What would happen if the tack becomes snagged or stuck, loading or exiting or even worse when you are driving and have no idea that there is a problem. horses are unpredictable creatures.

I am of the mind better safe than sorry, travel safely not cutting corners for convenience. it is usually the riders convenience not the horses. I would try to work on your horses behaviour at the other end at home to settle him down, for example tie him to the trailer at home for very short periods, practice unloading and tacking up at home in an enviroment he knows and trusts. Build his confidence up and teach him with patience and consistencey that being tacked up while tied to the trailer is nothing to worry about.

You could try putting the bridle on as you would normally then lead him and tie to the trailer and put his saddle on there instaed evenually progressing to put the bridle on trhere too.

I would also say that you are probably antisipating a problem when you arrive at the shows. It's only natural. so you may be inadvertently adding to his stress at this time.

I think practice at home on a daily basis. And the reward will come.
 
Hunters often travel tacked up, partly for convenience, partly cos hunting is v exciting for the horsies! But mainly convenience.

But hunters normally travel in wagons with more than one horse, and are used to it.

I would prefer to travel tackless and safe, even if I have to come home again having failed to tack up, than risk a horse by itself in a lorry who isnt used to travelling with tack on.
 
QR
we used to travel our racehorses fully tacked if we were taking them anywhere for exercise i'e to the beach or another trainers gallops.
we did travel them in a horse box and they were all good travellers. never had any probs
smile.gif
 
Travel to hunting with saddle and boots on ready, put a fleece or cooler over the top of saddle and travel boots over his hunting boots. He wears a dutch gag so put bridle on at the meet. He is a very good traveller. He used to be quite lively when we got him off the lorry when he first started going anywhere, I have a small 2 horse lorry so can move the partition accross and tack him up easily in there so that is what I tend to do, even now, he is now really well behaved wherever he goes but I still tend to tack up on the lorry, it just seems easier!
 
Everyone has some really good advice. i too am to worried about my saddle and accident prone nature of my horse to risk it.

I do however put my boots under my travel boots which gives you double protection. Saddle and bridle go on when i get there.

Let us know how you get on

Fiend
x
 
Well Tarquin is a nutter when he goes out at the moment and if I haven't got an able helper I have to take him tacked up. I never put his bridle on though as he is the sort of horse to get caught up, but I put my saddle on with a hunting breastplate and his exercise boots on with no travel boots as he is not shod behind. I had my saddle slip once on my other horse but using a hunting breastplate stopped that. I have no problem travelling horses in tack at all if you are aware of potential problems.
 
[ QUOTE ]
and his exercise boots on with no travel boots as he is not shod behind.

[/ QUOTE ]

No offence, but why does not being shod behind make any difference? Boots are generally to protect them from more than just catching themselves with a hind shoe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top