Ace Bandage, cloth, black electrical tape, shrink wrap, rag, etc. Cleanliness to prevent infection was primarily important although washing the stud was not universally recommended. Protection, Infection, and Cover were the prime concerns of breeding by live cover. This wouldn't be happening if it weren't profitable. There is a significant collection training process which varies with the individual stallion.
Some operations train the stallion to collect just on the apparatus.
Opinion that local AI has less variables than shipping out. Opinion that AI is cleaner and safer on horses, compared to live cover. Opinion that AI is safer on humans. Opinion that AI offers less stress, injury, and infection for the horses than live cover. The general conversations in the interviews about shipping out semen naturally devolved to reciept of shipped semen.