Wrapped for Travel

By MaryKay Ruble

Scan any catalog, on-line vendor or real-life tack shop and you will find a plethora of equine leg wraps and protective boots for almost every use in the horse-world.

For a horse’s trailer ride, consider the length of the trip, and the necessary support for all the structures in the lower leg.

For a short trailer-ride of less than 20 miles, shipping boots and bell boots may be all that is needed for most horses. These two items used in conjunction, offer simple protection of the lower leg and hoof; primarily, protection of the horse from his or her own movement inside the trailer. A bell boot will protect a hoof from being stepped on by the other hooves, and shipping boots will protect against any hoof-leg contact should the horse lift a leg higher than hoof level. Both the bell boot and shipping boot will offer lower-leg protection while loading and unloading.

For a longer ride in the trailer, we should look beyond simple protection, and add in a degree of support. Proper support for the situation will help to prevent the pooling of blood in the lower legs of the horse, and aid in limiting leg fatigue. While polo wraps offer support to the horse that is in motion, standing wraps have been designed to support the lower legs of horses that are under little physical exertion. Standing wraps themselves offer little in the way of protection so pairing them with a leg quilt, or over-wrapping with a sufficiently sized shipping boot, is a good idea. Bell boots are also used in this situation, for necessary hoof and coronet-band protection.

At every stop, visually check that the wraps are secure, in place, and are not causing any swelling above or below the edges of the wrap. If any have become loosened and pose the threat of creating a hazard, without unloading the horse, safely try to remove the wrap and reapply it the next time that you can unload at a stop.

Learning to wrap correctly and applying leg wraps consistently for trailer travel will protect your horse, and your riding or performance future.