Accidents waiting to happen!

[mossy]

Yesterday i took one of my liveries to an unaffiliated one day event, once she had finished we went back to the lorry to find someone had parked quite tightly to the side of my lorry. Not a big problem in itself, if the owner hadn't decided to tie both her horses to the side so that there bums were actually touching my lorry,so now can't get in to the living without having to squeeze past and move horses that i didn't know. Go to find owner to ask if she could move them to the other side where there was loads of space, or tie them shorter as they were on very long ropes, couldn't find anyone!!

After sorting ourselves out we load my liveries horse and go to get a cup of tea, go back to lorry, ready to leave, 2 horses are now in a bit of a pickle, one has gone under the front of the other and got leg over rope!! Carefully unravel horses that had been playing Twister and about to tie them back up when owner appears, she is not happy that i've untied her horses, explained why, still not happy! Tell her that perhaps she shouldn't leave them tied up (on such long ropes) unsupervised and then this wouldn't happen, now really not happy, apparently they would of been fine!!

I personally only tie to the lorry briefly to tack up or untack, otherwise they go back on the lorry. What do you guys do? Would you leave your horse unsupervised?

Don't get me wrong i'm not miss health and safety 2008, but i do often see things that make me think 'Thats an accident waiting to happen!!'

 

[stencilface]

Wouldn't any more no. Used to do it with the ponies but wouldn't with the two we have now, they are just so likely to play twister like those ones!!

Also (quite a few years ago now) we left a pony tied to the side of our wagon, and when we got back he was tied to someone elses. Turned out he had broken off, got loose and they didn't know where from so tied him to theirs

They are only tied there if we are in/around the wagon. So if its nice we will leave them out side while we eat our lunch with them etc, but otherwise they get put back on.

 

[AmyMay]

I am happy for my horse to be tied to the side of the lorry - supervised - and on a short rope.

It's a particular bug bear of mine to see ponies with lead ropes long enough to allow them go graze. It would be useful for the owners to see the damage done to their horse's head having got stuck under the lorry.

Not a pretty site.

 

[scotsmare]

I don't leave mine tied up outside anymore - I did it once and went to watch a class - horse broke free and decided to hack itself round the xc course (whilst the ODE was in full flow!). Came back to find horse literally laughing to itself in a stable and a not very amused YO! *hung head in shame for the rest of that show*

 

[Booboos]

I would never tie a horse outside and leave it unsupervised, but if I did and someone else saved my horse from an accident I would be a right cow to complain!!!! Makes you feel sad to have helped the stupid woman out!

 

[mossy]

When she told me she didn't need my help i told her i didn't do it for her i did it for her horses, she did shut up then!!!

 

[Midymahem]

I do believe there is now guidance from BHS Welfare report that says horses should not be left unattended.

If I leave mine briefly, he is always in the trailer with ramps up etc. Never left tied up!

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
When she told me she didn't need my help i told her i didn't do it for her i did it for her horses, she did shut up then!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
Classic!

 

[Baileyhoss]

both our horses stand very well outside our trailer, and we have had rings fitted on opposite sides of the trailer, so that we don't need to tie them near each other or to the ramps etc, always park sensibly and always tied up short with a haynet etc.

Now my friend loaded her horse to stand in the trailer one day as it was raining and she went to pay her classes and came back to find her squished up in the front, half way over the chest bar!!!

Now no one realised there was a problem as the mare was inside out of sight, so it wasn't until my friend shouted for help that anyone came running.

So..... what is the best option (given that your horse can not be watched every second, particularly if you haven't got anyone helping you)

Tied inside, where no one can see them if they do something stupid, but unlikely to run away and cause trouble.

Tied sensibly outside where they are in full view, someone could help if they are in trouble, but an escape would be easier to plan & execute.

At our local shows I can normally see b tied to the trailer, happily munching his net, from the burger van, secretary caravan and sj arena. there is normally have a loose horse at some stage through the day. the gates are closed and help is given to catch the horse (normally because it has been tied too long).

 

[Booboos]

I completely agree with Baileyhoss that horses can get themselves into trouble in trailers/horseboxes, but then again horses can get themselves into trouble everywhere so it's a matter of what is safest, not what is perfect. I do have a horse that prefers to be out and frets in the horsebox, but I only take him out when I have a friend to help so that someone can be with him all the times when he is tied outside. A loose horse can cause quite a lot of problems, affecting other riders, pedestrians, etc. so I think that is a greater risk than a horse injuring itself in a horsebox.

 

[Flicker]

On the subject of horses tied up and left, am I the only one that gets annoyed when that happens on the yard? Used to happen all the time in winter: you'd have braved the elements to go out and get your horse/s and get to the barn to find the doors shut. On prising open the doors, there are two horses tied up, eating hay and not an owner in sight. The only way to get past them being the very tiny gap between their bums and the stable of the horse that likes to snake its head out and take a chunk out of either you or your horse. Horses tied up see you coming and put their ears back and turn bums threateningly towards you. Wait / call for some minutes before teenage owner comes sauntering back with her mates: 'oh, sorry, were you waiting to come in?'. No, just enjoying the fine weather out here in the yard, thanks...

 

[Chestnuttymare]

girl at a show had left her horse tied up and it had pulled away, i saw him and re-tied him. it tried to break away again. i caught him again and held him until someone went to find her. she came back and took the horse without even saying thanks. i had hurt a finger in the process which added injury to insult. some people are so rude. so to answer the question, no, i would keep the horse with me or leave on the horsebox/trailer.

 

[Flame_]

If you have to leave horses unattended at a show then it should definitely be loaded. If your horse won't remain vaguely sensible on the trailer someone should remain within earshot in case there's a problem.

Horses left outside are a disaster waiting to happen. I won't even leave my horse tied on the outdoor yard un-watched, I had one pony who used to imagine monsters and pull back ever thirty seconds or so and ever since I think its just not worth it.

It really annoys me when you have to rescue random strangers horses 'cause you're in the car park watching yours, while they're sat in the cafe!