Trailering with tack?

[Heinz_57]

I hear the foxhunters do it, but I’m not in hound country so I’d love to hear some real opinions.

Riding this winter will require me to haul out - a 15-20 minute drive each way. Trailer parking at the arena is, of course, not covered, and it rains nonstop here. In the interest of sparing myself and my horse time standing in the rain, I’m considering tacking him up at home and just throwing a cooler on top for the ride over so the only thing I have to do upon arrival is throw on the bridle.

Thoughts? He’s a veteran traveler, loads easy and stands quietly and will be the only horse in my 2H (straight load, but the divider is out so effectively a box stall). I don’t see any potential problems but I just want to make sure I’m not missing something.

[LadyB]

A lot of people with many horses to ride will have them tacked up (boots and saddles) ready to go before putting them on the trailer, without their bridles.

I personally don’t like it, in case of accident, it just worries me. My horse is a saint, but I still wouldn’t like to do it. I know of many who do it for 30 minute rides though.

[Blugal]

I used to do it in England for hunting. But their horseboxes are quite different than ours. It always seemed to me there was much less for the horse (and saddle and blanket) to get caught on in those horseboxes than in our standard trailers.

[SouthernYankee]

I foxhunt so my opinion is skewed…

I have no problem hauling with tack if there is adequate room in the trailer for the horse (box stall) and the horse is a quiet hauler (so they don’t get hung up or scratch tack). If at all possible I’ll put a sheet on to help protect my saddle.

I have a stock trailer so my horses haul in a box stall, I would not haul with tack in a slant load. I have one horse that is fine hauling while tacked, although he can be a little nervous when hauled alone. I have another horse that I cannot haul tacked because she comes off the trailer too excited, it winds her up and she does not need that at all.

[173north]

I wouldn’t have a problem with it if the trailer has a box stall. I was in Ireland a few months ago hunting and they just toss a halter on over the bridle and trailer them to the meet. Then, when you’re done, everyone goes back on the trailer and is expected to stand quietly while you have a drink or three in the pub, and THEN you trailer home!

But yes, their trailers are big and open. No dividers or stalls.

[EventerAJ]

Under 30 minutes, I would do it so long as the horse ships well. I have to haul out to gallop each week, short trip between 10-15 minutes and I tack up before I leave home. It’s so much easier to unload, bridle, and go.

In western circles, very common to haul multiple saddled horses together in a stock trailer. It all depends what you’re comfortable with.

[Auburn]

I worked with polo ponies at Wildwood Farms in Germantown, TN. They would load 21 horses (enough for 3 guys to ride 7 horses each) head to tail. They wore polo wraps and saddles, with polo breastplates. They were packed in like sardines, so they did not get into any trouble. The first time that I saw them do this, I was a bit freaked out.

I had a youngster, who was very difficult to tack up. I would have him tacked up, before the trailer ride, too.

[KyrieNZ]

I’ve done it when going to the vet clinic in a hurry.

I know many people that have done it to local lessons that have limited parking space.

I have an awning on my trailer for days when the weather isn’t great.

[Foxtrot_s]

I’ve done it with MY horse in MY trailer. I asked a friend not to with her horse in my trailer not knowing his temperament, etc. I have put the bridle on under the halter, too. Better than starting the Hunt soaking wet while tacking up at the meet. I stand behind and guide him.

I did once have an Irish knit on my hunter, arrived home in the dark, and his knit got caught on the ‘S’ of the bum strap. He continued to back up, ripping the thing, then galloped up the darkened road with sparks flying fro his shoes. Not a good idea.

[lucegoose]

For some reason I think I’d be more worried about hauling tacked on a box stall than with a straight load…more potential to move around and get stuck…I dunno. If I do have a box stall setup I’ll usually just tack while he’s inside before unloading. Just easier with less distractions. My horse have always just generally been happier on the trailer vs. tied to the side.

I always do short hauls tacked up. Some of the places just don’t have good parking where you can tie and tack safely. I always put a saddle cover and a sheet if it’s cool to reduce hang ups. I usually bridle in the trailer before unloading.

EDIT: the plus side too is that I can be sure o haven’t forgotten something essential if most of it’s already on my horse (I have forgotten my saddle XC schooling before…) :o

[judybigredpony]

I haul to hunt tacked up…usually have my XC school horses standing in rig in bell boots and tendon boots to quicken tack up process…and I don t find any reason not to tack up and ship if under an hour…Why is it an issue as long as girth isn t super tight…I do prefer to keep bridle off so they can eat hay though…

[normandy_shores]

I haul my trusty guy tacked if we’re going to the trails that are less than 10 mins away. Leave a cover on the saddle naturally, and he’s a very good hauler, and it’s my horse in my trailer.

I do have a friend who’s horse in the second stall reached over and chewed the saddle of the horse in the front stall. I wouldn’t do it with more than one horse, and not if I was hauling any distance. I also don’t do it with my nicer saddle, just my beat up old close contact.

[IFG]

When I was fox-hunting I did it. Usually, I threw a blanket over the saddle to protect it and keep it from getting hung up on something.

[gotpaints]

I used to do it hauling to the local fairgrounds every week for high school equestrian practice. It was a 5-10 minute trip so not far at all. It was easier to tack up in the light in the barn than the light on my trailer and it was western Washington in the winter so the longer you spent outside, the wetter you got.

My trailer is a slant load with each slant stall being about horse and a half sized so there was enough room for my horse to wear the (western) saddle comfortably without it potentially getting caught on the divider. I wouldn’t haul extremely long distances while tacked up but going down the road or across town I’d have no problem with.

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

I haul six in a stock trailer, tacked up with halters over the bridles (and reins twisted up under and held by the throatlatch). No issues.

In my two horse, I’ll haul with a saddle on, but wait til I arrive to bridle to keep mouths from getting hurt if they rub their head on the door handle, etc.

Either way, saddles are always protected with a fleece-lined cover, and girths are done up one hole short of where I want them to ride.

Broke to death horses, all. I don’t think I’d do it with a squirrely youngster.

[retreadeventer]

I also tack up and load - not just for hunting, also.
I use a good sheet that is a half size too big for the horse, and it fits perfectly over the added lumpiness of the saddle. It has the single under belly surcingle - that rests very close to the elbows - so there isn’t a criss cross surcingle to get caught on something backing out of the trailer.
I am cautious that the bridle is carefully loose and the halter is secure over it. I make sure the girth is not snug but not loose. The stirrups must be safely up on the leathers and anchored if you have enough leather to do it. I double wrap mine because they are too short to anchor. The blanket over is a must because it prevents hangups and keeps dust and hay from the tack.
I have had difficulties when I didn’t get the girth tight enough or wad up the reins correctly and had one chew on a rein on the way there.

[Gestalt]

I’ve done it, but I don’t leave the horse loose. Even in the stock trailer he was tied to keep him from moving around and scraping the saddle or getting it hung up. And I did also throw a cover over him so the saddle had some protection. Remember to keep the girth down a notch. (I don’t leave the bridle on)

[The_Centaurian]

[QUOTE=Auburn;8966554]
I worked with polo ponies at Wildwood Farms in Germantown, TN. They would load 21 horses (enough for 3 guys to ride 7 horses each) head to tail. They wore polo wraps and saddles, with polo breastplates. They were packed in like sardines, so they did not get into any trouble. The first time that I saw them do this, I was a bit freaked out.

I had a youngster, who was very difficult to tack up. I would have him tacked up, before the trailer ride, too.[/QUOTE]

Polo ponies are incredible! They can be such individuals under saddle, but they are always handled as a one-size-fits-all group.

FWIW, I throw a saddle on before loading up with the girth loose and then bridle when I get there. Part of the reason I do is to make sure the girth fits, since I’m not always riding the same horse.

[Luseride]

I do it sometimes, not on a regular basis. I would only do it with a horse that trailers well. Sometimes it is just practical and makes sense.

[cutter99]

I haul in our stock trailer tacked up, but would not do it in our LQ trailer, which is a slant load. Our stock trailer has two 8’ sections and the horses can travel safely without hanging up tack on anything. The slant load offers too many opportunities for the horse to get hung up on something and cause issues.