Who DOESN'T use travelling boots?

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Kelly1982

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I don't travel my horses in travelling boots or bandages.

My mare hates anything on her back legs, even brushing boots and spends all her time thrashing about and kicking out with them on. Take them off and she stands like a dream so came to the conclusion it was probably better travelling her with nothing as more harm was being done with them on.

My gelding hasn't gone more than 10mins down the road yet so he has never worn any either.

A few people have looked at my with a disapproving look when I've been loading but surely I can't be the only one that does this?
 
I don't travel in boots. However over here many horses are travelled loose in box stall compartments in large trailers. I travel my horses like this in my trailer, no boots, bandages or anything. We are commercial horse shippers and often haul over long distances, we have never had a horse injure itself travelling like this.
 
Nope - not alone, mine don't wear any either


Trailer partition is rubber at bottom and walls runner lined and both travel very quietly so don't see the point. Just make their legs hot

Sure there will be some that don't approve but I've not had any problems ... touching wood quickly!!
 
I have never travelled my mare in boots or bandages, but then she always travels on her own. I may well use boots next time as her very heavy feather, which afforded excellent protection against scrapes and knocks, has now been clipped off!
 
i think if I had a bad traveller I might think differently but surely they are more comfortable travelling without??

Boots slip, get trodden on etc so would rather my horses find their footing without boots getting in the way
 
No way would I ever consider travelling without protection. I've been in an accident and I've also seen young horses cut themselves on lorries. Personally I think it's irresponsible to travel without but that's my choice. Past experiences mean I would never go without.
 
Racehorses arent travelled with boots, so if their twig legs can take it, surely our [mainly] sturdy legged beasts can. See no point in them[ except for white legs ready for a show class],and in an emergency they arnt going to help that much.
 
I've worked on racing yards and not seen one travelled without boots. Maybe it's the area I live in..... Thousands of pounds worth of horse, least we can do is put boots on to protect them. Like I say that's my opinion based on my experiences.
 
showingmadfilly said:
No way would I ever consider travelling without protection. I've been in an accident and I've also seen young horses cut themselves on lorries. Personally I think it's irresponsible to travel without but that's my choice. Past experiences mean I would never go without.
Click to expand...

Where as I have seen issues caused by having boots on :(

Old mare used to have hock and over-reach boots on as she used to bambi to steady herself, but nothing on the actual legs. However she was barefoot as is my current one.
 
haven't travelled mine with anything - 3 twig legged tb's - the only thing I have ever put on is overreaches on one who has a very exceptional skill in removing shoes :)
 
A few years back I had a huge argument with a women on a family stud. She wouldn't boot the foal as she said not needed, got to the show the foal freaked off the box put its foot through the gap and ripped all its leg open. Another one person travelled youngster again just got a bit upset and next thing it had its leg under the partition and cut all its cannon. Another was travelling to a show and the lorry got hit, horse went flying smashed his legs and luckily no damage as he had boots on. Personally if you buy good boots or do bandages right then no way would I consider without. We put them on those boxes it's our responsibility to see they aren't hurt.
 
I used to until a young horse I had freaked out and nearly smashed through the side of my trailer. He had trodden on his own feet and the boots had slipped, he completely lost the plot.

To me the risk is just not worth it after my experience.
 
My new horse was initially a bit iffy to load and I didn't think the travel boots flapping around were helping so now travel her in sports boots and a tail guard and she seems much happier :-)
 
We don't use boots or bandages either. We mainly hunt, not that it makes a differnece I suppose, but the thought of taking boots of OHs horse he whips in on well :eek:....it is hard enough to get on him sometimes!!!!
 
None of mine do. I did initially but none are shod and none are bad travellers or bad loaders. I think if its a bad loader it might be worth it but once they are in I'd probably take them off again. I trailer mine about 5 days a week currently...
 
Having extensively travelled (and for a dozen years done it as a pro-driving job as well as doing 30odd years on the showing circuits) I'd only ever travel in a headcollar.

Exceptions: a velcro tailguard/wrap for those who sit on their bums for short trips of under an hour.
If hunting, then in full tack usually tho :)
Perhaps brushing or similar boots on if going out to hunt/xc & the horse/pony wears them for that, but otherwise no.
 
Rio was shipped from spain to the uk without boots on... 6 full days of traveling and he had no issues and generally no as i always have issues with them on! and the horses dont like them either :(
 
Usually we do use boots but sometimes travel without. Our lorry is an Oakley and therefore well built and you could argue are boots necessary? Most racehorses travel without boots.
The other problem with boots & bandages is that the legs get hot and that doesn't do the tendons any good.
 
showingmadfilly said:
No way would I ever consider travelling without protection. I've been in an accident and I've also seen young horses cut themselves on lorries. Personally I think it's irresponsible to travel without but that's my choice. Past experiences mean I would never go without.
Click to expand...

I've seen the same happen with them on. I'm not keen on them to be honest, rarely do they stay in the same place. Bandages might be a better option.
 
Never use them on my lad these days. He is really not happy with them on his hind legs and stomps. The last time he had boots on he managed to stomp one half off, pull his shoe off the other hoof and then stand on it resulting in an absess. If just popping to a local clinic/event I will occasionally boot up ready for my class but that's a rarity.

Each to their own though. :D
 
I have had ponies and horses ever since I was 5 and before I got my horse I have now I would never dreamed of traveling a horse without boots or bandages. But my current horse is really bad to load, and it took me a long time to realise that his boots were not helping, as he would rear and pratt around and they would slip.

I lady who was keeping her horse at my yard suggested that I took them off as she had fell ponies and never put boots on because they don't want to damage their feathers. So I tried without and he was a lot better. I now load without and put them on when he is in the lorry, but for short journeys I leave them off as he is really good to travel just not to load!

I think that like everything with horses you just have to use your own judgement and every horse is different.
 
Last time travelled with leg wraps on and 4 over reach boots. Next time will be to our first comp so will no doubt be excited- short journey will be travelling saddled up with brushing boots and over reach boots all round. Horse is bare foot and travelling alone.
So he can literally be got on as soon as out of box.
Old show pony we used to travel in bandages and then warm up in them too.
 
I don't - it stems from my scurry pony days. My boss had a theory that too many boots caused more problems than they solved and a well put together pony would be fine without them. Despite breaking & travelling many ponies and competing at the highest level, we never had one sick nor sorry due to not being booted. I sometimes bandage white legs if I'm showing just to keep them clean but, touch wood, mine are fine being travelled naked.
 
I don't use boots for travelling. Don't really see people using them all at these days, although perhaps showing folk at local shows still seem to like them.
 
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