I’ve always hauled my horses with as little clothing as possible, since I figured dressing them up is for me, not them. . . .but my crew is barefoot, too. If I’m having shoes put on, should I get shipping boots too in case Dingbat steps on himself? It’s a couple hours each way.
I find that if my horses have adequate room to balance in the trainer they don’t step on themselves. Since buying and hauling in a stock trailer I ditched the shipping boots with no issues and we have had quite a few 14+ hour hauls.
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I’m always more worried about MY dingbats freaking out if boots or bandages start coming loose, so I ship naked…
You could always just put some good bell boots on for a little added protection.
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Even if barefoot or with shoes, I ship in bell boots. If I have a horse that will stock up, then I will use some BOT quick wraps or wrap with standing wraps. Other than that they are naked except for the bell boots.
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I always ship in bell boots and for longer rides, I will use tendon boots. Less likely to come off than shipping boots or wraps, but still offers some protection.
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I like the idea of bell boots. That satisfies my “need to do something” without overheating his legs or falling off and freaking him out.
My horse is BF and I haul her naked. IF she had shoes, I would do bell boots only. No shipping boots or wraps.
Susan
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I always use shipping boots. I don’t do long distance at all and in that case I would ship naked.
I’ve seen two eventers who had their careers cut short due to serious injury while traveling. Lots of blood and rehab and vet bills. When I was working at the equine vet hospital we had a horse ship in for something routine - non-emergency. We opened the back doors of the trailer to unload him and found a lot of blood. That became an emergency. These three were all shipped naked.
Back many years ago when I was still a kid we were at a show and went to unload my sister’s TB. Well he stepped off wrong and ripped his pastern open. Vet on the grounds had to clean it and stitch him up. Ugly scene and he was out of commision for awhile. Boots would have prevented that though back then full shipping boots were unheard of.
A few years ago I moved my mare about five miles - she had four shipping boots on. Of course I always make sure the horse is comfortable in full shipping boots and that they fit correctly. I’m not willing to take a chance.
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I worry a LOT less about my horses, and a LOT more about other drivers. It’s SO common for ignorant drivers to cause me to slam on the brakes or swerve, and make horses scramble. I won’t ship naked unless a horse will not tolerate things on his legs.
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I haul mine 4-5 days a week to ride - 18 minutes each way. He goes naked. I haul him alone in a 2 horse slant.
The only incident I’ve ever had was another gelding in an ancient 2 horse straight load. He cut himself on the frame of the emergency door when I had to stop suddenly.
That’s exactly why all legs get protection 
I use shipping boots for those quick trips, and longer trips if the weather is cool enough
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If I still had that crappy old trailer I’d agree with you. But I don’t, and I haul almost daily some seasons.
I have a stock trailer so essentially horses are in box stalls. Short or long hauls, I ship naked. Mare won’t tolerate wraps and a nice bedded box stall works quite well.
Hauled in bell boots. Always. Standing wrap if longer then a few hours, but not a real thick one. If showing out of a trailer with a white legged horse, I wrapped. If it’s really hot, like pavement surface well over 100, Nekkid except the bells. Had a white legged horse going about 9 hours across Southwest Texas in 110f . Just a light standing wrap over thin cotton quilts, drove straight thru, 2 10 min potty and fuel stops. Sucker blistered on both fronts. No idea if there was fly spray residue or something But was rinsed about dawn and completely dried before wrapping. Go figure…
Do have to go by individual needs and sometimes type/ temperament of the horse. 17 year old QH with 50k hauling miles on it is not going to ride the same as a 3yo TB on its maiden voyage. I used a 2 horse BP back then with tricked out hitch to level it, Center divider swung over and secured to kne side of the rear frame creating a triangle shaped “stall” with lots of room shift around and pee.
YMMV.
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If your horse has a problem shipping “naked” then don’t. If it doesn’t have a problem then do because wraps, boots, and other devices can, in and of themselves, become a problem.
The KISS Principle is your friend!!!
What if you don’t know? On which side do you err? I don’t know, nor does anyone else. You’ll have to figure that one out on your own!
G.
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When hauling my barefoot guy an hour +/- (such as to trail ride or to my trainer’s for a lesson) I will throw on his exercise boots (Woof boots, Equlibrium Boots, Splint boots, DSBs. Whatever you want to call them).
It is half convenience, half protection.
Mine haul with bell boots to prevent them from stepping on their heels and injuring themselves. One Standardbred mare, who shall remain nameless, is a known klutz and I wouldn’t put it past her to hurt herself in a trailer.
Haul my horse with no wraps no bell boots. Doesn’t matter how long or short trailer ride is, nothing put on legs. Doing a 17 hour trailer ride in may to go riding for 2 weeks. Will not wrap legs horse will be shod all four for that trip.
Boots saved my horse’s life in a trailer wreck. He walked away with only a few stitches from shrapnel on his leg. If he hadn’t had the boots on the shrapnel would have severed his DDFT and SDFT. I now only leave naked if it’s going to be a very long distance trip (10+ hours).
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I ship in just bell boots all around for short trips (less than an hour) and I wrap and bell boot all around for longer trips. If I’m hauling into a day show or a hunter pace where I’m going to get on right away I ship in bell boots and whatever boots I’m planning to ride in.
