Thought I'd ask the Foxhunters.... hauling tacked?

[fourh mom]

Would you haul your horse tacked? sylvia

[Hunter's Rest]

Always do. Always have. Always will. (unless its too far, etc.)

[SteeleRdr]

We've always hauled tacked. We haven't on very few occasions where we were hunting far away, but we have a large 4 horse head-to-head that we tack in. At hunt meets, I've seen far too many people take their horses off the trailer (trailers not big enough to tack in) and then have problems tacking (horse is rank, horse gets anxious, etc), and have seen many a horse get loose!

Our horses trailer in saddle, breastplate, boots (if needed) and we put on bridles once we get to the meet and before we unload. Makes for a much more pleasant arrival at the meet.

And we've never had a problem doing this.

Often, I will also trailer to shows tacked. Especially for young horses that are going to their first shows.

[AilleXWest]

I will not tack up at a meet. There is just too much going on and my hunters all know what is up as soon as they hear the hounds there is no way they would stand to get tacked. I just get them all set up at home but I put the bridle on in the trailer before the meet.

I also will not take the bridle off till the horse in on the trailer and the back is done up. I had someone take all the tack off my pony hounds were still running and she got away. She was never fully sound after that.

[SLW]

It all depends. If my tack is still in the trailer on a hunting day then I tack up at the fixture. If it is my barn on a day I'm hunting I haul tacked up.

[Painted Wings]

I haul two horses to most hunts. One goes tacked the other untacked. Sometimes both tacked. The lady that I haul is 82 yrs young so gets to the barn very early to get her horse tacked. He's usually tacked before I get there to hitch the trailer. I go untacked to most fixtures, her horse is tacked. That way she doesn't feel rushed when she gets there.

Mine's a slant load, never had a problem.

[Beverley]

Been hauling tacked up since 1971, everything from Imperatore Vans to my two horse straight load bumper pull. So far, so good! Have hauled as far as three hours tacked, for a joint meet.

[SidesaddleRider]

As others have said, we always haul tacked up. Bridles get put on when we get there.

[MapleMeadows]

We always tack our horses in the piece and quiet of our home aisle.:) We ship them tacked up to two hours and put bridles on in the trailer before unloading. It saves us much anxiety and allows us extra time for our staff meeting with the huntsman. Staff meetings are 1/2 hour prior to hunt time and we drive a long way to many of our fixtures. When the meeting lets out we can just unload and warm up. I have watched to many new members or quests struggle to tack up at the meet. It's never been an issue to trailer our horses tacked in our two horse straight load. My husband's horse is a big boy but has never so much as caught a stirrup loading/unloading or hauling. Our trailer is extra high and wide and we wrap our stirrups prior to loading.

[J Swan]

I always haul tacked up.

[J Swan]

It all depends. If my tack is still in the trailer on a hunting day then I tack up at the fixture. If it is my barn on a day I'm hunting I haul tacked up.

:DAre you saying that you don't religiously and methodically clean all your tack after hunting - and that's why it's still in the trailer? :D

[bird4416]

She probably is one of those perfect types that cleans their tack as soon as they take it off the horse. :D Of course, I on the other hand, am quickly scrubbing it down about 10pm the night before a hunt. I just can't seem to learn.
Back to the original topic, I used to ship tacked up but now my 2 horses are very quiet and easy to deal with at the meet so I just wait until I get there. I took one of our horses once for his first hunt and made the mistake of not tacking up at home. I barely could get the saddle on him as he was dancing around on the end of the lead rope tied to the trailer. Then when I went to put the bridle on, he tried to take off and I felt like I was bulldogging a steer. I had his head cocked to the side with my finger in his mouth trying to get the bit in and the headstall over his poll. He drug me about 50-60 feet before I got him under control. I learned my lesson. I've never taken him back to the hunt field as he was a total shite the whole time and if I take another greenie, he will arrive tacked up and the bridle will go on in the trailer.

[Delphia]

To hunt I haul at least 1 hour 50 minutes with horses untacked. Have done so for 20 years.

Horses usually come straight from the field to a poorly lighted trailer. I brush, comb, and spot bath; but I find it more effective to brush last of crud off
horses in daylight, early at the meet, rather than before dawn at home where crud hides in shadow.

Never had any problem with my horses' behavior tacking up at the meet. I have seen as many tacked loose horses as untacked. And, yes, I have had loose horse... mare would break a halter, seemingly possessed to prove a point, and then just stand there as if to say "See! I'm in control!" She would do this tacked up or naked. I now tie using a loop of bailing twine snugged on to the lead; just as effective but no longer have halters broken.

[SimpsoMatt]

I haul untacked. I tack up in the trailer at the meet, so there's no problem with horse getting away while tacking.

Lots of people I know haul the horses tacked up. I don't think I know of any problems that have occurred because of it. But it just seems like an unnecessary risk of hurting horse or tack.

I don't see how hauling the horses tacked saves any time. You're just shifting when/where you spend that time. While you're tacking up at home, I'm already loaded and on the road and at the meet ahead of you. Then as I finish tacking up at the meet and get ready to unload, you pull in with your already-tacked horses and unload and we mount up at the same time.

[tangledweb]

I have never really seen the point. I don't think it is a significant danger to the horse, but I don't see "I have personally seen a saddle scraped or a flask broken when hauling tacked" as an option in the poll.

[xeroxchick]

It does save time if you tack up at home if it is because your horse is so hopped up at the meet he can't stand still or stand tied! For years my horse just would not be tacked up at the meets. He's fine now, but it never seemed to bother him back in the day when I hauled him already tacked up.

[SteeleRdr]

Tacking up at home, also saves you from getting dirty. I like to be dressed and ready when I get to the meet because tying stocks at the meet is just a bit harder with a small truck mirror. Much prefer the big mirror at home. Plus I like to keep everything else clean.

And regarding flasks being broken...well if it does get broken, that't the person's fault for having it on the horse for trailering. If the gentlemen are carrying a flask, or I have mine in my sandwich case, they DO NOT go in cases until we get to the meet and are about to tack up.

All of our horses are extremely well behaved, and would surely be able to tack at the meet's, but why get there and have to worry about making sure you have all your tack and worry about tyring to tack. I've seen a few people who didn't tack, get to a fixture and didn't have a brestplate or girth...or even worse I know someone who forgot their saddle thinking it was still in the trailer from the previous hunt.

I understand the arguments against hauling tacked, but there are also very good reasons for hauling tacked.

[Bogie]

I prefer to ship tacked because then I have a fighting chance of staying clean for five minutes. When I get into my truck, I am dressed and ready to go.

I really like to know that I have everything, too. The meet is not the place to discover that you left something important on the way to the trailer.

If the fixture is more than 60 minutes away, I usually wait and tack up there. If I've got two horses in the trailer, I only ship tacked up for 30 minutes or less.

So far -- knock on wood -- I've had no problems. But my horse is an easy shipper. Yes, I can tack him up at the meet but there's always a flurry of activity and it just keeps everything calmer if I can pull him off the trailer more or less ready to go.

[LookinSouth]

Interesting thread. It would seem much easier to haul tacked but I'd be really concerned about the soft calfskin leather of my saddle getting scraped or scratched in the trailer???

In addition my boarders horse who we take hunting with us occasionally scrambles and I can't imagine having him tacked would be a good idea in a older, kinda narrow straight load:eek:

. My friend always hauls tacked but I've never been inclined to do so with my trailer. Usually my horse is very well behaved since we truck out very often. As long as I have hay in front of his face he is very happy:D I tend to think he would not runaway or attempt to escape cause he tends to be more concerned about where I am or his pasture buddy than other horses he doesn't know.

[AilleXWest]

I have never really seen the point. I don't think it is a significant danger to the horse, but I don't see "I have personally seen a saddle scraped or a flask broken when hauling tacked" as an option in the poll.
I have my flask and wire cutter cases set up so they snap on and off. So they go one at the meet right before I jump on.

[strawberry roan]

I like to haul tacked up as I am less likely to forget something--like the girth!! :lol::lol::lol:

[J Swan]

LookingSouth - I think if you have a scrambler or a really narrow trailer or one with things jutting out - that would be a good reason to haul untacked.

I guess it depends on the horse and the trailer. I carry a small flask in my pocket, so I don't worry about crystal breaking.

I've got a nice roomy trailer, and the horse is quiet as a mouse. As the weather gets colder, I'll haul with an anti-sweat sheet on the horse over the saddle.

If you were concerned about the leather on your saddle, you could put a saddle cover on it.

I guess if folks are really worried - they'd be better off hauling untacked and asking for help at the meet if they need it.



Strawberry Roan - the other day I was driving down the road and realized I forgot my BOOTS! I wear my dairy boots in the barn since I have to feed and turn out and I don't want to get my boots muddy so I change into my dress boots just before leaving the barn.

Well - la la la la I just throw the horse on the trailer and drive off la la la la I know I'm forgetting something la la la la oh shit! My boots!

[MapleMeadows]

[QUOTE=LookinSouth;2818865]Interesting thread. It would seem much easier to haul tacked but I'd be really concerned about the soft calfskin leather of my saddle getting scraped or scratched in the trailer???

I often put a cooler on over my saddle if it's cooler weather or just a saddle cover in warm temperatures to help keep hay off saddle and pad and I suspect it will help protect leather as well.

In addition my boarders horse who we take hunting with us occasionally scrambles and I can't imagine having him tacked would be a good idea in a older, kinda narrow straight load:eek:

I had a scrambler too. Monty Roberts told me to switch the side of the trailer I usually trailered her on and it would stop because most horses only scrabble on one side of the trailer. She did it on the left wall (drivers side) so I simply moved her to the right side (passenger side) every time I shipped and she never scrabbled again! I know it sounds a little crazy;) but it might work for your boarders horse too. Especially if your center divider doesn't go down all the way to the floor because the horse won't have anything to scabble against if your divider is only half way to floor.

[Beverley]

Strawberry Roan - the other day I was driving down the road and realized I forgot my BOOTS! I wear my dairy boots in the barn since I have to feed and turn out and I don't want to get my boots muddy so I change into my dress boots just before leaving the barn.

Well - la la la la I just throw the horse on the trailer and drive off la la la la I know I'm forgetting something la la la la oh shit! My boots!

I forgot my boots once, when I lived in McLean and kept the horse near Poolesville MD and hunted w/Bull Run back in VA. Had not even missed them when I arrived at the barn to be told hubby had called, noticed boots, and would meet us at Gilbert's Corner (we were going via White's Ferry that day). What a guy. He used to give my boots a military spit shine too, before the honeymoon wore off...:cool: Actually, he quit the boot polishing after less than a season of seeing really dirty/muddy/couldn't tell what color they were boots coming back at the end of the day. And asked himself, why bother to clean and polish, and why am I contributing to this madness? He did not see the military correlation, you know, spit shine on those boots before heading out into the jungle on patrol...

[J Swan]

Well, I hope you kept him anyway - what a nice hubby to drive out to Gilbert's Corner to give you your boots!

Mr. JSwan just shakes his head and says we're all plain crazy. But he often makes me a cup of tea when I come home so I'll keep him too.



I wasn't going to post this - but it's just too good.

I know someone who forgot the horse.

No - it wasn't me.

I'm also not going to tell anyone who it was - wild horses couldn't drag it out of me.

[Bogie]

Strawberry Roan - the other day I was driving down the road and realized I forgot my BOOTS! I wear my dairy boots in the barn since I have to feed and turn out and I don't want to get my boots muddy so I change into my dress boots just before leaving the barn.

Well - la la la la I just throw the horse on the trailer and drive off la la la la I know I'm forgetting something la la la la oh shit! My boots!

I arrived at a hunter pace this fall with two left boots :yes:. Luckily, I found a pair of half chaps in my dressing room!

[scavenger]

Wen I was a working student in England (many mnay years ago) My employer's husband left without the horse. The trailer was at the kitchen door. I went in one way to see if he was ready for me to load.He went out the other got in the car without looking in the trailer and left!

[SpoiledHorse]

I almost always haul to hunt meets tacked. Last weekend I was taking a friend to his first paper chase, and we hauled tacked up to that, as well. When we were about halfway there, he suddenly panicked and said, "$hit! I forgot my saddle!" :eek:

Imagine his relief when I reminded him that his horse was already wearing it. We were chuckling about that for the rest of the drive. :lol:

[Acertainsmile]

I also haul with my horse tacked... my trailer is safe, and I do have room to tack him up in the trailer if I needed to... but he does get a little jacked up when we get to the meet... so for my sanity and his, and also my cleanliness I prefer to tack him up at home!

I also bridle him and put the halter over the bridle... no problem as long as he is tied up using both safety ties on the halter while in the trailer.

[Painted Wings]

It seems like if you are worried about the calfskin of your saddle getting scratched you would also be more worried about your horse getting scratched. There shouldn't be any sharp objects in your trailer anyway.

We have one fixture where we all meet near the entrance with trailers and then follow the huntsman to where she wants to start. Once we are there, there is not much time to get ready. Hence everyone hauls tacked to that fixture. I'd say we run 50/50 on tacked/untacked in our hunt. The older people being more likely to haul untacked. Remember in the olden days people did not have dressing rooms in their trailers so it was the best way to transport the tack.

[fourh mom]

OK, JS... you might not have to tell 'who'... but you DO have to give some details.

I mean, how does one forget the horse? sylvia

[J Swan]

:D Nothing too weird - someone needed to borrow a horse and the person who was providing the horse forgot to load it - they were running late and just rushed through getting their horse tacked up and on the trailer and zoomed away. They met at the meet and there the rider was - saddle, pad, and bridle in hand..... and the trailer pulls up with only one horse in it.

Oops!

[Oscar&Beanie]

I like to go tacked up if I am riding a really green beastie. When my hubby and I used to hunt hounds we mostly went tacked up - too many things to worry about once we got to the meet. When I hunted in Ireland last winter pretty much all the horses were tacked up before they went in the truck/lorry.. very few people tacking up at the meet.
We always put a sheet on top of the saddle/tack to (hopefully) protect the tack from scratches or getting hung up on anything in the trailer. Personally I have never had a problem, but there's always a first time.

[LookinSouth]

It seems like if you are worried about the calfskin of your saddle getting scratched you would also be more worried about your horse getting scratched. There shouldn't be any sharp objects in your trailer anyway.



There are no sharp objects in my trailer. However the calfskin is extremely soft and can get rubbed very easily. If my horse rubbed up against the wall of the trailer (which he does do sometimes) I am sure it would scratch the flap saddle.

If I had a stock it would make sense for me to ship tacked. In addition, most of the fixtures we go to are at least 40 minutes away, my horse stands to tack just fine at the meets so to me it is wiser to tack when I arrive.

[LookinSouth]

[QUOTE]


I had a scrambler too. Monty Roberts told me to switch the side of the trailer I usually trailered her on and it would stop because most horses only scrabble on one side of the trailer. She did it on the left wall (drivers side) so I simply moved her to the right side (passenger side) every time I shipped and she never scrabbled again! I know it sounds a little crazy;) but it might work for your boarders horse too. Especially if your center divider doesn't go down all the way to the floor because the horse won't have anything to scabble against if your divider is only half way to floor.

Thanks for the info. We actually tried switching sides. He ships on the passenger side now, we tried shipping on the drivers side. He was much worse on the drivers side! He only scrambles if you have to take a sharp turn. He usually is okay as long as we take them veerrryyyyy slow....like 5mph slow (not kidding). Unfortunately he managed to really scratch/rip up his very nice shipping boots (and knicked his leg a bit) on the way home from a fixture 1.5 hours away when we had to a very sharp turn onto a busy main road with on coming traffic. I just can't always safely pull out and turn at 5mph and that's when we have a problem.:sigh: It's frustrating for sure.

[promlightshine]

I wonder if you tied with a bungie chord if the need to suddenly rebalance wouldn't be met with resistance at the head?

I had a mare that scrambled big time in a straight load-did best in a slant and ok in a brenderup (tighter quarters). I find scrambling to be much less of an issue in the slants.

I don't haul tacked as my horses do stand well for tacking up. I have a DR so i tack them and then get changed. I had a close friend who got in an accident. The trailer was lying on it's side with 2 horses in it. They got the ramp open and the horses essentially "scooted" out on their sides. I don't think they could do it tacked.

I know the majority of folks in our hunt do travel tacked . It's a nice idea and you arrive ready to roll.

I wanted to hunt this weekend but will be in Maine for a few days to find my son a place to live next year (aka college :). To all of you who do, enjoy!!

[CC]

I always haul tacked. And my trailer is not super-duper wide and horse is a bit of a big boy.

Now, I will say my saddle does have a few marks on the kneeroll but who knows if it is from being rubbed in the trailer or from branches or stickers while hunting!