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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:41 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Right.... in a slant, I'd tie too, and I'd untie the back horse before opening the door, because they are usually so close to the edge.
I'm having a little trouble following yall. I guess it's one of those I have to be there situations. The main thing I'm picking up is to not have them tied with the door open and untie them before you open it, right?
Right... unless there is a barrier between the horse and the door, I don't like them tied when you open it, unless they are far forward and can't step back out still tied. When you get someplace, the horse is often excited and expecting to get out.... so accidents can happen if they pull back right then.
I really gotta go.... gonna be late if I don't!
Me too, except I'm already late. By.
If a horse is tied at the back of a trailer and tends to come out as soon as the door is open (which they shouldn't do, they should stand till someone gets their rope and asks them to back out), is what will happen is they will be able to get their back legs out and then when they know their still tied they will get to thrashing around and with their back legs out the opening they will bang them up bad on the edge. Can cause leg damage. I always untie the back horse too before opening the door. The front horse in my slant I leave tied because I don't want him putting his head down and under the divider before I get it open. That horse I open the divider with my hand on his butt to keep him from backing saying Whoa as I walk up his side. Even if he goes back and throws a fit about the worst damage he will do is skin himself up, as long as they are not tied to long. when I get to the head of the horse I unsnap them then ask them to back out.
Becky
Ditto! See you later!
I guess my confusion is why and when you tie to begin with? They don't travel tied do they?
Mine do. But alot of people don't tie. I may be wrong, but I think a horse in a big open trailer with nothing to lean on is more likely to slip. I like my horses in the trailer to be tight. Dividers closed so they have something to lean on. I've ridden in the back of trailers. Just standing in the open with nothing to hold too is hard. standing against a divider or wall makes it easier.
Personally I don't understand the aversion people have about tieing horses up period. The lady that is working with Harley was shocked that I had tied him to a post all weekend at my trail ride. She said her horses wouldn't do that....I don't get it. But then alot of people probably think I'm mean:) But I have well behaved horses that adjust to my wants rather then me adjusting to their wants.
Becky
Huh. Tieing isn't a problem. I just thought you didn't do it riding. The posts making more sense to me now.
I wasn't talking about you:) Just rambling. Just something I've noticed with people in general. Like at my trail ride this past weekend. All the people who set up those hot wire pens for a 2 day ride. I don't get it. It doesn't hurt to tie them up.
What would be the reasons for not tieing in a trailer? I really don't know?
Becky
Rusty's all saddled and ready to go. BBL:)
Becky
I think many people don't tie up horses because they have or have had horses that don't stand tied. And, the real kicker, for one reason or another haven't addressed this as a training issue. My own horse didn't stand tied when I bought him, but would crosstie beautifully. Because of safety issues, equipment/environment concerns and lack of experience (esp in the face of numerous contradictory opinions and training manuals), I simply turned a mostly blind eye to it for a few years until I had a safe environment to train and an experience person around with more commonsense advice. In the mean time, I taught him the command 'stand', which regardless of tying manners has been the single most useful command in his repertoire. It's so handy to be able to stop with no safe place to tie in sight, or just to run into the tack room for 5 sec, and know that he'll be waiting stock still patiently outside.
With him at least, it's also had the side effect that he doesn't leave my side when I come off. The one serious wreck I've had, (was out for 10-15 min after he slipped in some hidden mud; broke my safety helmet, not my head) he not only wouldn't leave my side, but 'protected' me from the scary ambulance crew and flashing lights with ears back and teeth bared until someone familiar came and got him. I made my parents stop by the stable on the way back from the hospital (nothing wrong), he was *so* relieved to see me. Just stood there with his nose buried in my shirt taking huge deep breaths.
Ok, now I'm horsesick. Must go look at pics. :)
Now, if only we can get past his other major training hole, the scariest horsefly on earth; clippers. As they say, training is a journey, not a destination. Always something else to learn and to teach.
When I got back, he kept hanging his head and just acting funny, kind of like he was in trouble or something. I get on in the round pen and still have a header but he freezes. After I'm on he still "stands". You never know what's in a horses head but he acts like it shook him up too. He resists going near the area where I fell.
I would never get complacent but since then he just seems to stick close. He really never seemed affectionate and didn't really seem to like being messed with. Now he drops his head and wants to be petted and will follow my husband and I around.
Oh Bay stands tied just fine.... as Empress said, many don't. For camping, I prefer highlines, with a significant amount of time under supervision where they can get their head down. Necks get stiff if they have to hold the same position and can't move around. If I could put Bay in a pen where he could lay down or roll, even for an overnight, I would!
I don't have a real objection to tying in the trailer either, I always tie in a slant load trailer... I just don't with my Bay in my friend's stock trailer because I don't need to. The only considerations are that I have seen horses get hurt because if they do a panic pull back till something breaks, they are either going to whack their head, face or fall down. And I think it is significant that Bay does not choose to ride facing forward if he has a choice. He'd rather face backwards, and loose, he can find his balance and spread or change angles for the most comfortable ride or to brace as needed. For a long trip, again, it's just more comfortable for them to be able to move. They don't move more going down the road, but they can stretch turn and put their head down as they need.
What's a highline?
Well, I'm about done for the day. Going riding if I can find some space an introduce Senor caballo to his new wheels :')
Oh, I knew your horse stood tied. I just wondered what the reasons were for not tieing one. JMO, but I think it seems safer for them to be tied. If they throw a fit, other then with their back legs out, about all they can do is bang themselves up some, and that would teach them not to do that again:).
If they're taught to stand tied out of a trailer tho, I don't think they'd do it enough in the trailer to even skin themselves up.
As far as the comfort I think your probably right. Horses loose will ride backwards. But, and this is JMO:), what horses do naturally may not always be the safest thing for them especially in man made enviroments
Becky
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