Travelling horses after hard work

[aran]

Hello.

What do you do with your horse to travel home after hard work?
I'm travelling to go hunting. Usually I just hack so as soon as I get off I hose him off (legs and tummy), warm wash his head etc and then stable bandage and rug him up.
I'm not sure what to do with him for travelling home. I won't really be able to wash him down and plastered in mud I don't really want to bandage him. Also, he'll be sweaty - if in a stable I'd put a fleece on and a thick rug if needed - in the trailer will a fleece on its own be enough? I suppose I will just have to rug him, get him home and then sort everything out!
So how do you deal with a hot, muddy, tired (but wired) horse when you are in the middle of know where and you have an hour to trailer home?

 

[icemaiden113]

After a hard day's hunting it's always difficult, but if you can't wash off at the end of the day then we just rug and box up and hose off at home! Much better that they go to bed clean and wet than dirty and wet!

 

[chestnut cob]

I usually wait til I get home to hose off or bath as my Welshy is usually so worked up back at the trailer that he'd have a fit if I tried to wash him off!

I hunt with boots on all round so I usually leave those on to travel, put travel boots over the top, put his cooler/fleece on and get home asap. Then hose or sponge him off when back, give legs a good scrub and towel dry every where.

 

[aran]

Thank you. I'm just panicing a bit. I haven't been hunting on my own before away from home! I like being able to sort him out I second I get off - unfortunately I have the drive home first! I know most people have to travel them so he will be fine - just like having the reassurance.
Are they usually dry by the time you get back? Can you just brush them down or do you need to bath them? Its just soo cold at the moment - I feel awful hosing him!

 

[chestnut cob]

Is he fully clipped? Personally think it depends what time you get home...I'm not authority on this believe me! If I only stayed out a couple of hours I would wash him off with warm water (lucky at last yard as we had a hot tap), but if it's late I'd brush him off and maybe bath the next day. I just think if it was me I would feel really uncomfy being left all sweaty, even if it was dry.

I used to fully/hunter clip my Welshy so yes he was dry when we got home.