Horse Travel Boots & Accessories

Choosing the Right Travel Boots

The right boot depends on how much protection your horse needs and how they tend to travel. Most horses do well in a standard set of four travel boots, which cover from knee or hock down to the fetlock. Horses that scramble or are prone to striking into themselves may need wrap-style boots or travel bandages that extend to the coronet. If your horse already wears exercise boots or bandages that you’ll leave on for the journey, a short travel boot to protect the lower leg may be sufficient. Always consider your horse’s behaviour in transit. A calm traveller has different needs to one that fidgets or leaps when the ramp comes up.

Travel Boot Types at a Glance

How to Fit Travel Boots Correctly

A poorly fitted travel boot can cause rubs, restrict circulation or slip down and create a hazard. Before travelling, check each boot for the following:

- Position: the boot should sit squarely over the cannon bone, covering from just below the knee or hock to just below the fetlock. It should not be so low that it covers the coronet band.
- Fastenings: straps should be snug but not tight, you should be able to slide a finger underneath comfortably. Over-tightening can restrict circulation; too loose and the boot will move.
- Leg cleanliness: always apply travel boots to clean, dry legs. Grit or mud trapped beneath the boot can cause pressure sores on a long journey.
- Check during travel: on longer journeys, stop and check boots if possible. Boots can shift on horses that move around in transit.

Completing Your Travel Kit

Travel boots are just one part of a safe transit setup. Consider adding a poll guard to protect the top of the head (particularly useful for horses that throw their heads up in the horsebox), a tail guard to prevent rubbing against the ramp or partition, and a travel rug appropriate for the temperature. For horses with a history of scrambling, travel bandages over stable bandages give maximum lower-leg support. Browse our related ranges for horse boots and bandages including over-reach boots and leg bandages to complete your kit.

Expert View

“It’s easy to focus all your preparation on the competition itself and forget about the journey. But how your horse arrives; relaxed, uninjured and clean, can make a real difference to performance. A properly fitted set of travel boots is one of the simplest investments you can make for your horse’s welfare on the road.”
Alice, Head of Design at Harry Hall

Why Buy from Harry Hall

- A curated range of travel boots and accessories from trusted brands including Supreme Products, covering ponies and full-sized horses
- Sets and individual boots available, so you can replace a single boot without buying a full set
- Shop the full horse boots range including over-reach boots and leg bandages, alongside travel accessories all in one place
- Trusted by horse owners across the UK since 1891

FAQs

Do horses actually need travel boots?
Most horses benefit from them. In a moving horsebox or trailer, horses shift their weight to balance, and legs can knock against partitions, ramps or other horses. Travel boots protect against these knocks and give peace of mind, particularly on longer journeys or when travelling a young or nervous horse.

How do I know what size travel boots to buy?
Most travel boots come in Pony, Cob and Full sizes. Measure around the widest part of the cannon bone and check the manufacturer’s size guide on each product listing. When in doubt, size up rather than down, a slightly generous fit is safer than one that’s too snug.

Can I use brushing boots or exercise boots for travelling instead?
You can, but they don’t offer the same coverage. Exercise boots are designed for the stresses of ridden work, not the prolonged pressure and movement of transit. Travel boots are shaped and padded specifically for the job and offer better protection over longer periods.

My horse scrambles in the trailer, what’s the best protection?
For a horse that scrambles or is difficult to settle in transit, consider travel bandages over stable bandages for maximum lower-leg coverage, and pair with a tail guard and poll guard. It’s also worth seeking advice from an equine behaviour specialist if scrambling is severe, as it can indicate anxiety or a physical issue.

How often should I replace travel boots?
Inspect boots before every journey. Replace them if fastenings are no longer secure, padding has flattened significantly, or there are tears or worn-through areas. A boot that won’t stay in place is worse than no boot at all.