What Do Wednesday: Trailering

The update on B is depressing AF and consists of possible weeks on stall rest, packing with magic cushion and lameness. Literally what the fuck. I have NEVER in 18 years had a horse go this lame or be this problematic all of a sudden, with shoes. Farrier came out yesterday and said he was too sore and had no foot to attach a shoe to...which I suspected. And now I am le sad.

Moving on from that bullshit, my question this week was spurred by a conversation with a barn mate regarding trailering protection. Meaning, the discussion of "to wrap or not to wrap" when trailering.

I have the tendency to do more than less, which is not the norm around here. Most toss their horses in with just a halter and thats that, regardless of the length of trip.

However, I am paranoid, and have been in 2 trailering accidents (thankfully not horrible BUT could have been) so therefore I stress when trailering. Bacardi also is a special snowflake. While he flails less than he used to, he still occasionally kicks and or behaves badly. Therefore, I don't care if we are going 5 minutes down the road, they are essentially bubble wrapped.

If you've been with me long enough, you know that B's favorite thing is NOT trailering. He's made huge steps in getting over his fears and now will go in after about 5 minutes staring and thinking. The hardest part is getting him out when he's in my trailer. In Supertrainer's he can spin around and walk out, but mine is a straight load. Always something with him.

Bringing him home, be fore I knew he hated trailers and wraps 

Regardless, I take several precautions now when trailering, especially with B. You never know what could happen in the trailer or, in an accident. I try to keep them as safe as possible, while also taking in to account comfort (weather, length of trip, etc) and safety.

For any short trailer ride, they get boots. I don't care what anyone else thinks, all it take sis one misstep, one kick or even an accident to shred some leg. I've seen it happen. They get boots. Always.

I prefer shipping boots, but summer can be a bit hot so on days that are 85+ they get bells and regular SMB boots all around.

If its a long distance, they get shipping wraps. When I brought Yankee home from MO, I used the equiflex sleeves under stable wraps and it worked beautifully. I recommend that set-up for horses whose legs swell up.

B DOES NOT tolerate wraps on his hind legs, ever, so he always gets just boots. I hate it, especially since he will kick on occasion, but he kicks more with wraps. Whomp whomp.

B also gets a super special shipping halter and shipping cap. I like to call it the dunce cap. I don't have a picture of it, but its a thick wool and leather cap that attaches to their halter and protects the poll.

Without special hat. This was before I knew he needed it.

This bitch WORKS. I swear it saved his life once.

Last spring? Remember when he ripped his face open to the bone? Yeah. He was halfway in the trailer and decided he didn't want to be in there anymore and reared (IN THE GODDAMN TRAILER) and fell out backwards, bashing his face on the way out. terrifying to say the least, but without the dance cap, I am sure he would've been dead.

Stitches out!

So he gets that special halter every time.

I didn't pay $200 for a custom halter either. Took an old leather halter and added sheepskin tubes to it ($60/set on ETT) and BAM, shipping halter.

In addition, I ONLY ship in leather halters and lead ropes stay ON in transit. This has been handy in so.many.situations. I ship with two halters usually; one attached to the tie in the trailer, and the other with the lead line, untied. This way if the tied halter breaks, there is still one on the horse. Ask me how I learned this trick.

A lot of people scream "UNSAFE", but as long as the lead line is out of the way and looped/tied in a loose release knot, I see no issue with it.

I think of fires too, and in that situation, the lead  line is RIGHT there, no need to freak out and try and get one, attach it and get the horses out. SO many instances where this is handy, and has been handy for me.

Additionally, Yankee rubs his tail in the trailer. He sits back on the butt bar and cruises right along, effectively rubbing all the hair off. So he gets a tail wrap too.

See tailwrap

So to recap:
1. Boots/shipping boots & bell boots always. Wraps if long distance.
2. Two leather halters, one with fleeces.
3. Lead line attached
4. Special hat for B
5. Tail wrap for Yankee

I am always fascinated by everyone's answers, and I would really love to know what ya'll do when trailering! How do you wrap your horse? Do you? Do they wear a special hat like B? Tell me dear readers, what do??