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| Author |
Message |
    
Heidi Hocker
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 8:33 pm: |   |
Hi all,
It looks like my move will finally be happening. I am moving from Arizona to the Chicago area. My question today is; Should I use shipping boots on my horses for the trip? Should wrap legs with standing wraps? or Should I just leave their legs alone?
My move will be taken in 8 hour stages, with an overnight stay (where they can get out of the trailer) at the end of each day.
What are some opinions?
Heidi |
Nancy Herbert
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 8:44 pm: | |
Dear Heidi,
For long trips like that, we always wrap all four legs in polo wraps and then put shipping wraps with bells (or separate bell boots if the shipping wraps have no bells boots attached, but be sure they're anti-chaffing) on top of the polos. The polo wraps seem to help with leg weariness while the shipping wraps are for protection.
I'll be interested to see what other people do. Always looking for new ideas!
Good luck on your trip!
Nancy |
Charlotte Lester
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2000 - 9:51 am: | |
I always wrap my horses with standing wraps and bell boots on all 4 feet. I like to use the standing wraps, because after all the horses are standing. There is little to no risk of injuring their legs by an improperly wrapped leg because of the extra padding between the wrap and their leg. I would only use polo wraps when the horse was exercising. The probability that the polo wrap would cause injury is too high to leave them on for that much time. I would also make sure I unwrapped their legs every night and rubbed them down. Use clean wraps every day to avoid putting damps wraps on their legs which may dry out and become too tight. |
Heidi Hocker
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 8, 2000 - 5:31 pm: | |
Thanks for the advice. I am curious about how much extra support the horses need. I'm hauling a 16 year old mare, who is extremely quiet in the trailer, and a yearling filly who hasn't been trailered much. I think the yearling will need more protection, because she's a little more unstable. I'm not sure how much extra protection my older mare will need. I want to do this right, and have my horses arrive as healthy as possible.
Thanks for any advice.
Heidi |
Nancy Herbert
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 8, 2000 - 7:16 pm: | |
Dear Heidi,
Sometimes I try to put myself in the horses' place. How tired would I be standing up in the back of a pickup after 8 hours ... especially by the 3rd day? Now granted, I'm an old and perhaps not very svelte girl (grin), but my legs would still get mighty tired. When you think about it, unless you wrap the horses incorrectly, you can't harm them by wrapping them, but you are bettering your chances that everyone will arrive safely if you do wrap them. Also, God forbid, you have an accident, the better protected the horses are, the better chances they have to come out of it unharmed.
Good luck on your trip!
Nancy |
S. T. Bruce
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 8, 2000 - 7:46 pm: | |
Can't add anything to the advise already given except to suggest that you put extra bedding down on the trailer floor to soften the ride and keep the heat down. Trailer floors can get awfully hot over a 8 hour period. |
Heidi Hocker
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 11:52 am: | |
Thanks for the advice,
I had planned to put pine shavings in the trailer to make it more comfortable for the horses. I will also wrap their legs, to make the trip easier. Hopefully everything will go fine. |
JUDY McDONALD
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 14, 2000 - 1:43 am: | |
Just make sure your horse is not allergic to pine shavings. Mine is and broke out in hives on his belly. |
Joni Pasko (Paskoj)
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2000 - 4:29 pm: | |
Any thought on shipping boots (I ordered the Rambo boots from Horseware) -vs- standing wraps and polo wraps? One, the other, both?
Thanks,
Joni |
Gay M. Walker (Gmwalker)
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2000 - 5:31 pm: | |
Hi, Joni!
I've never seen shipping boots that provide the support that you can get with standing wraps, with the exception of the Lende boots but they are harder than !@#$ to put on, and only one of my 10 horses will tolerate them. I have several sets, but find it has been nearly a year since I've used them.
I prefer standing wraps put on lower than usual (so the fetlock is protected), and then bell boots to protect the heels and coronary band. I (knock on wood) have not had an injury when protecting my horses in this way, and it is inexpensive and easy. The wraps also help prevent stocking up on longer trips.
I've never used polo wraps--I don't think they'd give enough support.
--Gay |
Christine C. Mills (Chrism)
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2000 - 7:02 pm: | |
For short hauls I use shipping boots for protection.
If I were planning a long haul (>6 hours), I'd probably use leg quilts with standing bandages.
Polos are some protection/support when riding. I prefer brush boots, which provide protection and little to no support.
If I was sending my horse with a professional hauler cross country - I'd ask what they prefer/suggest for leg wraps. |
Bonita (Bonita)
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 13, 2000 - 8:50 pm: | |
Hi Joni - Have to agree with Chris & Gay - any reputable brand of shipping boots that fit your horse are fine for short-distance shipping.
Beyond that, standing wraps (quilteds + flannel bandages) are best for long runs, but all professional shipping companies have their own rules. The one I used to ship my horse from NY to VA requested no wraps, and the professional setup they had did not present that request as a problem to me.
Bonnie |
Holly Z.
Member
Username: Cowgrl
Post Number: 42
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 11:40 am: | |
Hi, Although this is late, I want to address something you mentioned that no one else has yet. You mention taking them out of the trailer at the end of the day after 8 hours of riding. For their sake, you should unload them every time you stop for a potty break for yourself. They need to move around a little to alleviate any stiffness and some horses absolutely will not urinate in a trailer so making them hold it for 8 hours is a little too much to ask especially for a youngster. If I'm trailering a long distance (>4 hours) and I stop for a meal, I always find a safe place and unload them while I eat. They are all well used to being tied to the trailer so it's never been a problem. However for you, a little walk around and then back in will show them you care. 
Holly |
Cynthia Ramsey
New Member
Username: Ramsey
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 29, 2005 - 3:44 pm: | |
Ok, Now I am really confused. I am new to the board and am looking at moving from Western Montana to Green Bay, Wisconsin 1600 miles. I was told not to unload every time you stop, but you need to stop every couple of hours and let them rest, offer them water and some food. The reason I was told not to unload is the risk of unloading and loading on pavement and around a lot of traffic in new areas. Horses being horses you are risking problems unloading everytime you stop.
those of you that use wraps, do you also use pads Under the wraps? I also worry about the wraps coming undone and causing problems in transit. One of my trainers doesn't recommend anything for the same reason shippers usually don't allow them. Too much of a hazard. |
Heidi Hocker
Member
Username: Heidih
Post Number: 179
Registered: 9-1999
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 29, 2005 - 4:56 pm: | |
Hi Cynthia, welcome to the site.
I can see your confusion. When I moved to WI from AZ, I did stop and let the horses rest every 3 - 4 hours, however I didn't unload at every stop. I simply stopped driving for about 15 mins and let them rest in the trailer, offering water at each stop. I let them have free choice hay as I was driving. I also used the stops for me to stretch my legs and use the facilities or eat lunch or dinner. At the end of each day, I stopped at places where I could stable the horses overnight. Part of that was for me, I couldn't handle driving much more than about 10 to 12 hours a day.
I ended up wrapping the legs of 1 horse and not wrapping the other. The one I wrapped, was a filly who started stocking up pretty quickly the first day. I used cotton pads under standing wraps with velcro. She didn't get them undone. I didn't have any shipping boots at the time that were small enough for her. I also made sure she had time to walk around at the end of each day. The other mare I put shipping boots on the first day, and never again. She got those shipping boots off before the first rest stop. Didn't cause her any problems but boy did it ruin my shipping boots.
I guess the bottom line is let your horses tell you what they need.
Good luck in your move.
Heidi |
Liliana Velasco Ariza
Member
Username: Liliana
Post Number: 218
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 29, 2005 - 6:07 pm: | |
A new place that! that sounds like fun.
Welcome to HA Cynthia!!
When ever I took the horses more than an hour away I always always bandage their legs or made them wear traveling boots, for several reasons.
1.- Even if you are a careful driver, the hose has to balance in the box every time you change your speed, or turn round a corner or any change whatsoever which causes stress to the horses legs.
2.- If they loose their footing, they can over reach the opposite leg or front leg causing damage to themselves
3.- "Prevention is better than cure", if you get a puncture in your tire, or an idiot pulling too close and you have to slam the breaks or...
Sooo I highly recommend padding and bandage on legs and bandage on tail. If you put electrician's tape around the bandages they will not fall off, pluss it comes in pretty colours and it is easy to take off.
All the best
Liliana |
Cynthia Ramsey
Member
Username: Ramsey
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 30, 2005 - 1:32 pm: | |
Thanks for the Advice,
Have another question regarding traveling. I have one that is very finicky about water. Because I think it will take 3 days to get there from here, I'm worried he won't drink enough. In the past for shows I have used electrolytes in his grain to encourage drinking. Helps some but not perfect. i also have a tank for water but won't hold enough for 3 days. Any of you have any tips?
Cindy |
Gay M. Walker
Member
Username: Gmwalker
Post Number: 124
Registered: 11-1999
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 30, 2005 - 2:24 pm: | |
We never unload our horses while in transit...here in California, that is just too dangerous, and there isn't anyplace safe to do it. However, we do offer them water at every stop. There are 2 ways to get a finicky drinker to take water...one is to giver them Gatorade, either straight or mixed with the water. Most horses will stand on their heads (relatively speaking) for Gatorade, and it is as good for them as it is for you--providing them with a teeny bit of sugar, and some electrolytes along with the water. There isn't anything that will get you into trouble for competing, either. You can always add a bottle (I add the large 32 oz size) to a bucket of their water at the new place if I have a finicky drinker, and then keep topping off the bucket as they drink which acclimates them to the taste of the water at the new place...though some expect me to keep adding more Gatorade. That's not too expensive, so I don't really mind, as long as it keeps them drinking. :D
The other think you can do is make watermelon slop...take the inside of a watermelon, minus the seeds, and squish it down to make mostly juice and add that to the water. It will also flavor the water and make it quite attractive to most horses and encourage them to drink along the road. Wetting their hay also cuts down on the dust and provides another source of fluids for them.
As to the shipping boots, I wouldn't dream of shipping without bell boots...have seen too many heel bulb injuries without them. I also ship in standing wraps because I've seen injuries getting on and off the trailer, and en route if a horse scrabbles in the trailer. The only exception is in shipping a mare and foal...if the foal decides to chew and pull on Mama's wraps, then you could be in trouble and are better off without. I've never had a problem with the wraps on, but we're also very experienced in applying the wraps, too. I don't believe in shipping boots...they're too loose to provide support against stocking up, and too easy to get off with kicking (plus I think they encourage the horses to kick because they are more of a strange sensation)--not to mention the expense.
My two cents... |
