Travelling tacked up

[princesaysneigh]

Should horses be travelled tacked up? Everyone at my yard does (when they're using the YO's lorry - she insists) but most people that I see at shows don't seem to. My friend said it was more stressful and uncomfortable for the horses - is this right?

[jowyles]

I was told not to do it as incase of an accident it would cause more trouble, i was also told it would be quite easy for the horse to catch its bit in the lorry and tear at its mouth which is unfair on him, also can damage your tack easily agaisnt the sides

[Keket]

I don't know much about transporting horses, but common sense tells me that being saddled up while travelling would be horribly uncomfortable. Isn't that why we have tackboxes? Because we take our tack seperately from the horse?

[princesaysneigh]

Sounds like my friend was right! We'll tack up when we get there then. Though I can see the YO's point - helping 7 nervous kids to tack up their excited ponies in a busy lorry carpark... not good!

[Drummers mum]

Sounds like my friend was right! We'll tack up when we get there then. Though I can see the YO's point - helping 7 nervous kids to tack up their excited ponies in a busy lorry carpark... not good!
Lol! I don't think I envy you that job!! :eek:

I have never been to a show, but if I did I would tack up when I got there, but I have boxed out for a hack (only 10 minute drive) and I takced up then! Mind you Drummer has a bitless bridle and treeless saddle so not as bad as some!

[DITZ]

Depends on the horse. Sometimes if they are not used to strange surroundings or get excited at shows it can be safer and easier to tack up at home. I usually tack up when I arrive except for the bit of hunting I've done.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

i have been to a fair amount of shows and i have NEVER seen a horse come off the trailer tacked up, nor would i ever make my horses travled tacked up.

like someone else said...tack boxes were invented for a reason :p

[LindaAd]

I think hunting people usually do it, and other people usually don't. But I have seen horses arrive tacked up at cross-country competitions and ODEs. I think it depends on the horse and on your journey - probably more of a problem for a long journey than a short one. And on what the conditions are like for tacking up at the other end: parked on a road, horse excited because it's hunting, lots of other horses milling around - it's probably easier to do it at home.

Linda

[iluveventin]

Hi

I would personally never travel tacked up, i was at a show only last week when there was a horse trailer carrying a pony on there tacked up, the pony lept over the breast bar whilst traveling, knocked itself out and ended up under the partitions, it took 10 minutes to get him up and off the trailer and i couldn't believe he was tacked up his poor back ! :(
I own a lorry so always travel my horses untacked and groom / tack up once i arrive, it can't be very comfortable for them with all that leather on stood in their partition, that combined with the stress of the journey, i'd never be able to get on mine once we arrived, i'd advise untacked, i suppose its down to each individual but i love my babies n try to make everything as nice as possible :)

[lynz+ollie]

i only do for hunting as ollie used to be mad by the time i got there so i couldn't do it, but for normal shows i dont.

[No_Angel]

I have never tacked my horses up to travel and I dont think I ever will, I thik its dangerous and could ruin your tack :eek:
I used to see people doing it all the time at pony club.
My horse is very excitable when we go out but I still aways rtack her up when we get there

[Perfect Pony]

i would never ever ever!!!

[Rips]

We do it for hunting, I think the reason most people tack up for hunting is because the meets are usually on the roadside. Always with protective gear on over the tack though.
Don't do it for shows because theres no need, you just end up with a sweaty horse!

[ponylover88]

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[Rips]

Well obviously if they are tacked up, you'd put a headcollar on over the bridle!!! Definately wouldn't lead down from a box in a bridle...

[MeMe]

If Im travelling within a 30mile radius or something like a sponsered ride I always travelled B tacked up it was alot safer than trying to tack him up at the show.

he would have a small rug over the top of the saddle and him and reins securely fastened with headcoller over the top.

On occasion I will travel Zak tacked up it really depends on how far we are going what for and how much time we have, I would never do a long journey tacked up.

Most of the hunt yards I worked on travelled tacked up and they had mega mega expensive horses and I'm sure they wouldent risk them unduely.

But its an each to their own situation and dependent on ones horse.

[ponylover88]

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[lynz+ollie]

i only do for hunting as ollie used to be mad by the time i got there so i couldn't do it, but for normal shows i dont.
we dont have a partition in for ollie though, so it not as if he can chrush it or anything

[Lindsayanne]

Seems like everyone does it here. It's honestly more common to see horses on trailers with tack on than without. Always western though. No one in the tiny english riding clique I ride with does it.

[swerve]

My horse has had a short trip(10-15min) saddled but not bridled, and wearing a saddlecover. We were leaving on a CTR, and we wanted to be able to get there and straight into the saddle because if we had to have the horses standing around in the (torrential!) rain they'd get wet and chilled, as well as us.

[helenc]

My friend ALWAYS travels her horse tacked up - her horse can be a bit of a loony to tack up so safer to do it in the stable at home than when she gets to a show.

I NEVER travel tacked up - my horse isn't the best traveller in the world & it wouldn't help if he was tacked up + he will quite happily stand in the lorry/tied up outside the lorry watching the world go by whilst being tacked up