Travelling - Protective Equipment
Posted: 19 Nov 2011, 2:36 pm
Travelling - Protective Equipment
Further Protective Equipment For Travelling
Make sure your horse is familiar with new equipment before the travelling day. For example, hock boots take time to get used to. Use a minimum of equipment for long journeys, to avoid sores and discomfort. Choose rugs that are suitable for the weather conditions
Poll Guard
If there is not much head room in your box or trailer, and if the horse is tall or inclined to resist while being loaded, this is a useful item
Some guards cover only the poll, while others extend to protect the eyes and forehead
The poll guard attaches to the head collar. When fitting it, check that it will not rub around the ears and that the head collar will not slip back. If a browband is fitted to the head collar, this will prevent it from slipping back
Tail Guard
This can be put over a tail bandage for short journeys but should be used on its own for long journeys
This guard protects the very top of the tail. Horses often lean against the trailer ramp for support while travelling, causing this area of the tail to be rubbed raw
Tail guards can be made from wool, cotton, leather or synthetic material, and may fasten with buckles, tapes, zips or Velcro. Attach it to the roller at one end, then position the top of the guard just above the top of the tail, wrap it around and fasten
Many modern rugs which do not require rollers to keep them in place are fitted with a small loop of material to which the tail guard can be attached
Knee and Hock boots
The knees and hocks are vulnerable when travelling as the horse may lose its balance and stumble or knock its joints against the partitions etc
These boots must be fitted firmly above the knee or hock to prevent them from slipping down. For this reason they must be well padded around the top strap, for comfort
The lower strap needs to be quite loose to allow the joint to flex
Knee boots are also made for exercise purposes, to protect the knees if the horse stumbles on the road. These are called exercise or skeleton knee boots. They consist of a simple knee cap, often with no lower strap and without the extra material found on the travelling type
Travelling Boots
These come in many different shapes and sizes and are made from a variety of materials. They are a quick and simple alternative to bandages but do not give the same degree of support to tired legs. Most have Velcro fastenings. Some incorporate knee and hock protection
Overreach boots
Also called bell boots, these are designed to protect the bulbs of the heels from being trodden on from behind, therefore they are used on the front feet only
They are usually made of rubber. Some fasten with buckles, rubber straps or Velcro and others are made to pull on
They are mainly used for exercise but when used for travelling they help to protect the coronet band as well as the heels
The pull on variety can be difficult to get on. Soaking them in warm water for a few minutes will help
Further Protective Equipment For Travelling
Make sure your horse is familiar with new equipment before the travelling day. For example, hock boots take time to get used to. Use a minimum of equipment for long journeys, to avoid sores and discomfort. Choose rugs that are suitable for the weather conditions
Poll Guard
If there is not much head room in your box or trailer, and if the horse is tall or inclined to resist while being loaded, this is a useful item
Some guards cover only the poll, while others extend to protect the eyes and forehead
The poll guard attaches to the head collar. When fitting it, check that it will not rub around the ears and that the head collar will not slip back. If a browband is fitted to the head collar, this will prevent it from slipping back
Tail Guard
This can be put over a tail bandage for short journeys but should be used on its own for long journeys
This guard protects the very top of the tail. Horses often lean against the trailer ramp for support while travelling, causing this area of the tail to be rubbed raw
Tail guards can be made from wool, cotton, leather or synthetic material, and may fasten with buckles, tapes, zips or Velcro. Attach it to the roller at one end, then position the top of the guard just above the top of the tail, wrap it around and fasten
Many modern rugs which do not require rollers to keep them in place are fitted with a small loop of material to which the tail guard can be attached
Knee and Hock boots
The knees and hocks are vulnerable when travelling as the horse may lose its balance and stumble or knock its joints against the partitions etc
These boots must be fitted firmly above the knee or hock to prevent them from slipping down. For this reason they must be well padded around the top strap, for comfort
The lower strap needs to be quite loose to allow the joint to flex
Knee boots are also made for exercise purposes, to protect the knees if the horse stumbles on the road. These are called exercise or skeleton knee boots. They consist of a simple knee cap, often with no lower strap and without the extra material found on the travelling type
Travelling Boots
These come in many different shapes and sizes and are made from a variety of materials. They are a quick and simple alternative to bandages but do not give the same degree of support to tired legs. Most have Velcro fastenings. Some incorporate knee and hock protection
Overreach boots
Also called bell boots, these are designed to protect the bulbs of the heels from being trodden on from behind, therefore they are used on the front feet only
They are usually made of rubber. Some fasten with buckles, rubber straps or Velcro and others are made to pull on
They are mainly used for exercise but when used for travelling they help to protect the coronet band as well as the heels
The pull on variety can be difficult to get on. Soaking them in warm water for a few minutes will help