Would you travel tacked up or not?

Holly Hocks

Holly Hocks

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2010
Messages
5,402
Location
England
Visit site
I am going to a dressage comp tomorrow night. I will be going on my own so no helper with me. The horse is a 16.2hh TB mare who is very stressy when she gets anywhere - she grows in height, won't stand still and is just a bundle of nerves. The forecast is for heavy rain and the parking area isn't floodlit. It's impossible to tack her up in the box because there is no room for me to do it. It's an hours drive to get there. Do you think it would be ok to travel her with her saddle on with the girth done up loosely or not? Just trying to make it less stressful all round, but don't mind if the general consensus is that I shouldn't. I'll just have to tie her up outside the box when I get there and attempt to get the saddle on that way. Thanks
 
I have done when going hunting- horse far to excited to tack up on arrival but- it could wreck your partitions, stirrups banging against them etc, and it might wreck your saddle! A rug over the top might protect it bit.
 
I always travel to hunting tacked up its not fun getting tack on to an excited horse .
I twist the riens together and secure them in the throat lash and cover the saddle with a rug ..
 
The last time I tried it, I took the horse in a friend's trailer. It was probably because he was on the left when he normally travels on the right but he kept falling down around corners (I was driving behind). He then went down and didn't get up. We undid the back ramp and he was sitting on the floor. We were very lucky as he was OK and the saddle survived. However, saying all that I would probably take him tacked up if I ever took him hunting again as we had to give up the last time we boxed him to a meet when he got over excited after seeing the hounds and I couldn't get the tack on, daughter got upset and I thought sod this, it's supposed to be fun and took them both back home again!
 
HI,

On the face of it the answer would be fine, if the partition is wide enough (and the girth not too loose!). I used to travel like this a lot with the stirrups either up, or down with a surcingle through the stirrups and a rug over the saddle. I used to do this for hunting etc, and on my own horses it seemed OK, but we did it infrequently and my horses were not used heavily.
BUT- I travelled a lot like this in a commercial environment, and although it seemed OK over time the saddles all twisted and caused sores. When we stopped the practice and got new saddles this did not recur. These horses were travelling daily and in hard work.
Because of what I observed I do not travel my own horse now with a saddle on. I can't risk a twisted saddle, even if my horse is in moderate work.
 
Have travelled tacked up before to hunts etc.... I wouldn't travel long distances.

Loop the stirrup leathers back through the stirrup to stop stirrup sliding down and make sure reins are twisted in throatlash or take off reins. I never travel with martingale attachment on my breastplate but that shouldn't be an issue for you with dressage.

Rug over the top also protects your saddle a little. Make sure that your girth is not too loose or tight if you know what I mean
 
We have travelled tacked up & do much the same as the same as Goldenstar

However depending on bit being used have sometimes ditched the haynet if on a really short journey - or travelled in a head collar & put bridle on before getting out of trailer
 
So do you think an hour might be too long then? she is very quiet in the box - very rarely make a sound (and it's a 3.5t box so I can hear every move she make). I don't need to put the bridle on her as I can do that over the breast bar when get there - it's mainly the saddle I'm thinking about. If it wasn't for the crappy forecast we have, I wouldn't even be thinking about it, but just trying to weigh up the options at the moment.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Have you got a decent waterproof lamp that you can stand outside on the ground to illuminate her whilst you saddle her? I don't envy you boxing and unboxing in the dark, even with a light in the lorry. Me and the horse fell up the ramp when I did it.
Click to expand...

No - never thought about that! I have one inside the box which is great, but the tie up rings are on the other side of the box from the ramp, so won't get the light....
 
Personally not, but then I haven't been in your situation (horse too excited). I worry about saddle slipping, horse freaking out, and me not being able to get in to sort it out!
 
I've recently been travelling tacked up. Not normally a fan of it but it's been a life saver when going to new places and pony is all fidgety! I also now know he is pretty chilled to travel, always been wary in the past as he hadn't travelled a lot.

I tie reins up with throat lash and cover saddle with travel rug. If journey was longer than 30 mins I'd just keep bridle on.
 
I used to think it was normal to travel a horse tacked up when I was wee. My experience of horses travelling was solely hunt horses off to hunts. I'd not think twice about doing it now to be honest.
 
Ok thanks all. I think I will just leave her untacked as it's an hour's drive. I'll get myself ready first when we get there, get the bridle on over the breast bar and then all I have to do is get the saddle on when I get her out, and leap on (sounds so easy doesn't it!)
 
I have a 3.T lorry, I tack up inside by leaning the ramp up & moving partition over to ramp the give more space (makes a triangle shape). Could u do this in your lorry? I tend to take advantage of the bit extra space & put the saddle on on the offside :)

My horse v stressy too & find this better than tying to side of lorry :)
 
I would never do it. Too risky IMO. I just put my girl's bridle on in the lorry when I arrive, then throw the saddle on quickly when she's out. :-)
 
ElleSkywalkingintheair said:
I have a 3.T lorry, I tack up inside by leaning the ramp up & moving partition over to ramp the give more space (makes a triangle shape). Could u do this in your lorry? I tend to take advantage of the bit extra space & put the saddle on on the offside :)

My horse v stressy too & find this better than tying to side of lorry :)
Click to expand...

Was thinking about trying this too. I actually travel with the partition in a triangle shape as she prefers a bit more room. I did try it last time I took her out a couple of weeks ago, but I started to feel a bit "at risk" when she got het up...I'll try again tomorrow. :)
 
I thought it was totally normal to travel tacked up? It is for my horses!

Just take your stirrups off and chuck a rug over her. All these people worrying that that's too long to be tacked up must have very short rides....!
 
Holly Hocks said:
Pillar reins??? Is that the same as cross-tying? I can do that.
Click to expand...

One and the same :)

Put your bridle on as usual, then headcollar back over the top & cross tie/pillar rein with rope from each side, to sides of headcollar. Open partition as far as it will go safely, still keeping horse contained, while you put saddle on
Really does help prevent an antsy horse from shoulder charging you as much.
Hope you have a good time :)
 
I would never travel tacked up - I know of a horse that broke its jaw whilst travelling with its bridle on - it never really recovered. Also, why would you risk damaging your saddle/ bridle/ horse?
 
I used to do it a lot when my horse was young & fidgety as I competed by myself most of the time,horse is also difficult to bridle due to aural plaques. Twisted reins up into throat lash,rug over saddle , I also used to boot up & put travel boots over. Never had any issues & we were both much less rushed & stressed!
 
DSCC said:
I would never travel tacked up - I know of a horse that broke its jaw whilst travelling with its bridle on - it never really recovered. Also, why would you risk damaging your saddle/ bridle/ horse?
Click to expand...

Well if I do travel tacked up, mine won't be breaking her jaw as she won't be wearing her bridle as I've already said!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top