[cowgurly02]

We have a big stock trailer and we haul our horses saddled sometimes. I think it's safe in those, lots of people do it. However, in an angle haul it's def NOT safe, for the horse or the tack! A good way to hurt a horse and ruin tack. For example, yesterday at the end of the clinic it started to downpoor rain. Luckily our horses were already cooled out, but we just unbridled and halter, threw them in the stock trailer and went home to unsaddle them inside. It's not always because of laziness.

Also, lots of team ropers, etc...do it because they have more than one rodeo in a day. I've done it for multiple rodeos in a day too.

As for tying with the bridle, VERY dangerous!! Talk about a good way to wreck a horse's mouth.

We leave our horses in the trailer while we stop to eat at restaurants quite often. After a rodeo we usually meet up with a few families and stop and eat. Unless it's super hot or cold, it's fine. Doesn't hurt the horses at all.

[spyro1]

Holy Cow BW, what a day!!! what amazes me sometimes is some people's lack of comon sense. That is what it all boils down to, stop and think before you act
What really bugs me aside from the obvious that is already mentioned, is when you see trailers going 75mph down the highway with head doors open and horses heads sticking out....grrr. I wrote an article on this subject a few years ago, I will find it for you guys to read.

[MiniHorseGrl]

whoa!! thats jsut...wow! i cant imagine even thinking it was safe, but ignorance i guess...
we leave our minis in the trailer (there are three on each side, its a stock, they are untied) so they wander around adn munch hay while we get lunch on a three hour trip to a show..but they arent tied or anything.
one good thing, im sure they will never trailer with saddles/bridles on again!

[Super_Trooper]

OMG, I only read the first couple of posts but YIKES, trailering with tack on?? I have never even heard of people doing that, let alone know it happens...wow....I would never think of doing that.

[Jumpers]

I was in the "western" world for awhile and saw all kinds of horrible stuff. We had a show every weekend at the local saddle club and I swear every speed racer from here to Texas trailered his horse in fully saddled and bridled. I felt out of place because I didn't do it! I thought, "Are Dressage people the only ones who know not to trailer fully tacked?"

But..that's not it. KNOWLEDGEABLE people know better, no matter their discipline. But IDIOTS are just that...idiots

How horrible for those horses..ugh

[Jumpers]

Originally Posted by Dawn

Well, now that I think about it, I realize how dumb it is. It's just that I've seen it my entire life, so never thought about it before. I've never done it, and I don't believe anyone I know's ever done it. Never seen one tied with the reins in a trailer though.

Dawn - I think it's because me and you are from Tennessee. Since I moved out of the armpit of the world (western tennessee) I've opened my eyes ALOT. I've been to rodeos up here and NEVER saw a horse in the trailer with tack.

[CJ]

I just caught up. I've never heard such a horrible trailering story, yikes! I've seen saddle horses on rare occasion, both Eng & western- always thought more lazy than dangerous, but never realized How dangerous (shudder). I hope those poor 'ponies' heal up okay- but I bet they have some trailering issues now! Poor critters!
FYI Dawn, you've probably seen horses in those pickup pens used to transport steers? Ever seen one come off the truck after the horse? Come to think of it- horse was saddled, something got bumped or snagged. Horse looked like it near-missed getting a broken leg. Yikes.

[Dawn]

You know, you're probably right Vickey. I asked some friends of mine from up north, and they'd never seen, heard, nor thought of trailering a horse saddled. Probably half the trailers you see around here have saddled horses in them. All western, but then again, most everyone around here rides western.

[QHGirl]

I have never seen any WP show people saddle their horse and trailer them. I have thrown my horse in the trailer with saddle and all if it is pouring down rain.... but my 2 horse is like a box stall when I haul him because I kick the slant all the way over. NEVER drive with it, I always untack and then haul him home or let him stand in there until the rain is over. Nothing to get caught on, nothing to get hurt on... of course his bridle is off and he is tied with halter.

BUT I have never shown up to an open show and seen any horses already saddled... WP or english... but yes when it is time for contesting - some haul in ready to go!!!!

[Blistering Winds]

Well, owners called me today to ask some questions. Pony's face is a balloon. Poor thing. Vet had taken X-rays of it and sure enough, busted his skull.

Other horse is fine, kickin and jumping in the pasture. They don't have "stalls" for the horse, so the pony ended up staying at the horse center over night.

I'm meeting them up at lowes to get stuff to section off an area with some wire.

Funny, it is the HUSBAND that is asking the questions, not the wife!! Go figure!!

Anyways, everyone made it through the night without dying, so that is good. Pony scares me though. Can just see it foundering after this. Fat little thing. Can't blame them, they just bought the horses not long ago.