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Why do some western people leave their horses tacked up in the trailer2007-11-24 21:23:22

We never trailered them with their saddles on again. That was way too scary of an experience.

It seems like a smart thing to do since it saves time tacking up when you get where you need to go (especially for horses who get nervous when they're in unfamiliar places and don't like to stand still) but it's not as smart once you realize the ramifications it might have.

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I ride Western and NEVER drive with my horses saddled in the trailer. I had a family member that left his QH saddled and one day when he went to take him out of the trailer the stirrup got caught on something and the horse slipped, freaked out and fell backwards out of the trailer. At least the horse was ok, just spooked but I was happy to find out that the horse crushed one of his stirrups. =) And I honestly think some of the trailering while saddled is due to ranch work, the cowboys here take them from site to site saddled otherwise they would have saddle and unsaddle 6 or 7 times a day.

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i have only seen it when ppl go up the montain and go ride b/c around here there is a lot of animals that you dont want to site there in the woods and saddle your horse b/c somehting in the woods might get you. but yeah i do think that it is a accedent waiting to happen!!

i do ride western though i have not traveled with my horses yet!!!

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Hello. Ever lifted a western saddle? They're darn heavy so I really can't blame folks for tacking up and going with their saddles in place. It saves time and room but I certainly do nor condone what they're doing. You're right. Anything could happen. Maybe they haven't thought of the consequences or maybe they don't have enough room to store the saddles while they're taking their horses all over the country. I wish them luck.

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I personally do not haul saddled horses, but I know that in ranching areas it is a necessity to have your horse ready to ride at a moment's notice. These are working animals and for the most part bombpoof. They know their job, and most remain saddled for several hours a day. It is much like the Amish horses that travel down the road side by side with cars. What most people consider unkind/unsafe horse treatment is all in a day's work for an Amish buggy horse or a cowboy's horse. These people depend on their horses as tools of the trade, and I guarantee you they get better care than the average backyard horse. That does not make it safe to haul horses saddled, but I have never heard of any real wrecks because of it, and I have A LOT of rancher/cowboy friends who do this daily, year round. As far as the trailers go, some may look like real junkers, but most are safe and have good floors. They have to haul a lot of weight in cattle in these same trailers, every day, so they keep them up. The one horse I knew that went through a trailer floor was a fancy show trailer - the owner did not know they needed to check the floor under the mats.

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I know what you mean. They seem like yahoos to me.