Do you ever haul your horse saddled?

[beowulf]

I do it for the horses that are respectable in the trailer. Would not do it for one that doesn’t trailer well. Cover the saddle with a saddle cover, and if it is cold enough and the horse is not a trailer-sweater, cover with a fleece cooler. This keeps the saddle cover from coming off and adds an additional ‘protective layer’ to the tack.

If you have a martingale, either tape the ends with electric tape onto the chestpiece of the 'gale or tie it with twine, do not loop it through. Also make sure you secure the stirrups, either PC fashion or by one of the stirrup-clips.

I did it often in my stock with my PC horse – he was great to trailer.

Would not do it with my new gelding, who moves around quite a lot.

[Emily_amp_Jake]

I’ve hauled horses tacked up in a 2H straight load and in a slant-load before as well. Never was too concerned about saddles being dinged up, but they weren’t crazy expensive ones, either. That being said, I still never had any issues with tack being damaged.

It’s nice to pull up to your destination (in my case it was usually trail riding) and pull your horse out, tighten the cinch, put the bridle on and mount up and go.

[neversaynever]

I also have trailered with saddles on, but not with my expensive saddle. I have never had a problem.

[Ibex]

All the time. Good saddle, but on a good loader with a big WB sized straight load trailer. Always have a blanket or saddle cover on. If it’s really hot out I don’t, and I don’t go more than about 15 minutes to the trail head.

I generally untack to come home, especially if pony is sweaty.

[pacific_jumper]

I have done this with both of my horses on trailer rides that take under 30 minutes. They both trailer exceptionally well in my warmblood sized slant load. I’m not sure if I’d do it with a western saddle because of the stirrups, and I wouldn’t do it for a long haul either. I have done so with dressage and jumping saddles and I always throw a blanket on over top.

[CHT]

I hadn’t thought of the stirrups being an issue with possible bruising against the dividers. In theory though, shouldn’t I be able to just undo the belvin buckle and take the stirrup right off? I can then put them in my bag, and reattach in the arena.

I will have to look at my trailer to see how far down the dividers come as compared to where the stirrups will hang.

So far it sounds like a doable plan, I just need to look into some of the details, so thank you for pointing possible issues out!

[Pennywell_Bay]

Isn’t it easier to tack up in the trailer with the potential problems? Just curious. I tack up in the trailer. No snark.

[CHT]

[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;7917365]
Isn’t it easier to tack up in the trailer with the potential problems? Just curious. I tack up in the trailer. No snark.[/QUOTE]

I have a lot of issues with cold temperatures, so the less time I spend in an unheated space the better. Also might be hard for me to step up into the trailer with the (heavy) western saddle. Trying to figure out how to limit my time outside just in case the weather turns by the time the clinic rolls around. If it isn’t too bad, I will just tie her to the side of the trailer that is in the sun and throw the saddle on there. She ties to the trailer just fine.

[normandy_shores]

I’ve seen more folks from the western world and trail riding world do this, vs eventers/hunter jumper/dressage. I event, and I only do this if I have only one horse on the trailer, it’s a short ride, and not my nice saddle. Had a friend do this and the horse in the second stall (slant), reached over and chewed up her nice dressage saddle. EEK!

[vxf111]

I don’t personally like to do it because I like my horses as comfortable/unrestricted on the trailer as possible and I don’t want me tack damages-- but people do this ALL.THE.TIME for trail riding, foxhunting, and hunter pacing with no ill effects.

[Ponyclubrocks]

Twice a week for foxhunting. always with a cooler on. I bridle in the trailer upon arrival. Straight load oversized. Tons of room, never had an issue. Plus my main hunt horse has an outstanding brain. I’d be willing to bet if anything untoward happened, he would just stand still and wait for me to fix it.

[Lady_Eboshi]

I do it for short hops to the trail head ALL the time; that said, my horses both have perfect trailer manners, and my saddles are 20+ years old. With a brand-new CWD or Hermes, maybe not. :winkgrin:

[JeanM]

all the time, in a Brenderup Baron that does not have the stall divider installed (I have a long butt bar that closes in the back of the stall). Western saddle, almost always, and short rides (less than an hour).

What with using a Western saddle and my aging body, I’d MUCH rather let the horse carry that saddle from the barn to wherever! plus, the B-up trailer tack area was clearly designed with English saddles in mind – I have managed to cram a Western saddle in there, but it’s laborious!

[Sandy_M]

I have a two horse slant from which I’ve removed the divider. I used to trailer my old horse SHORT distances saddled, with shipping boots, with either a saddle cover or a sheet covering the saddle/him. Never had saddle damaged. It was usually to trailer less than 10 miles to trail ride with friends. Usually only 2-3 miles. Any longer, I’d wait till I got where I’m going to saddle up. He was, like my present horse, super-good in the trailer - so quiet and steady you’d almost forget he was back there.

[Obiwan]

One time I was behind someone hauling their horse with the saddle on and watched the saddle slip off the side and underneath the horse! Just make sure your girth is a little tighter than theirs was :lol:

[amb]

For a jaunt to the beach/trail with horses who are chill about it, sure. This well-loved Stübben that’s older than I am won’t be the worse for wear. Halter over the bridle, reins twisted up and clipped through the halter. Four-horse slant, full-up.

I guess you can file me in that “terrible things that terrible people do to horses” thread now.

[ThisTooShallPass]

I live in cattle country. It is done in the stock trailers all the time.

[cutter99]

I haul this way all the time in a stock trailer. I do not think I would do it with closed slants.

[gypsymare]

At least weekly while hunting, and bridle, too if it’s a short trip. I just throw a cooler over top.

I can see a western saddle being a bit more problematic if your trailer stalls are narrow.

[Bogie]

When I foxhunt I usually ship fully tacked with a cover over the saddle. I don’t do it with my draft x mare because she’s so big, but with my TB it’s much easier to tack him up at home.

If the trip is much longer than a half hour I will tack there unless there’s no good place to do it. And I always untack for the ride home.