Bucas Rugs know how to ensure that your horse is suitably dressed for life on the road with their collection of rugs and travel boots.

In this feature, Bucas Rugs give readers their top tips to keep your horse in tip top condition where ever your competitions may take you this season.

Planning Ahead
This really is the key to successful traveling! Check and double check everything, there’s no popping back home for that brow band or spurs when you are miles away, so keep a check list handy to cross reference.

Keeping the lorry tidy is also essential if you are to have hope of finding anything in a rush! So pack those essentials that you need, in an easy to reach place and any small bits that could get lost and dropped, make sure that you put into a box with a secure lid.

There May Be Trouble Ahead
One of the biggest nightmares you can have is a horse that won’t load and again preparation done at home will hopefully overcome the problem. You need to establish whether the problem is with fear or just being plain naughty and deal with either in a calm manner! Practice loading young or in-experienced horses at home before you even attempt a journey by feeding them on the lorry/trailer and getting them used to a confined space. If you do however, have severe problems with your horse where traveling is concerned, always seek professional help and advice.

On The Road
Always allow plenty of time and it makes sense to avoid the rush hour. I try and map out routes that avoid towns and when map reading check out for any low bridge warnings or weight restrictions.

Horses can lose an average of 6 litres of water every hour just traveling – this is without even sweating, so it’s important on long journeys to offer your horse water every hour during a long journey. If the lorry has windows, always undo them to allow plenty of ventilation, obviously you don’t want a gale blowing through – but you need to have good air circulation.

Comfort & Safety
Make sure that your horse is suitably dressed, our collection of cooler rugs help maintain a consistent temperature to ensure that your horse doesn’t over-heat or get too cold in the lorry. They are smart for show day, but practical enough to be worn as stable rugs or post exercise.

Also, never leave a tail bandage on for longer than an hour at any one time and invest in a tail guard that stays up without the need for a surcingle –as they can sometimes slip back during traveling. Invest in a good set of travel boots -the new Bucas 2000 Travel Boots have been created to protect your horse’s legs whilst in transits and are anatomically designed for total comfort.

It’s always advisable to carry an equine and human first aid kit on board, just in case – and if something does get used up, make a note to replace it before your next journey.

Sweet Dreams
Make sure you take spare rugs for every eventuality – Fortunately the Bucas Rug Collection is so technical that you don’t need to take along mountains of rugs to cater for all weathers and our stable rug collection even allows you to put your horse away wet after washing down, as the anti-bacterial lining also wicks away moisture rapidly –which is great news when time is everything!

If you are away for a longer period, contact your feed merchant to find out where the nearest stockist is to the location you will be staying at and arrange for the feed to be reserved for you.

If your horse won’t drink strange water, then try adding some natural apple juice and even grapes and chopped apple to encourage him to take a good drink. A touch of molasses often does the trick as well.

Happy travelling!!!