Cross Tying Two Ponies in a Trailer

M

Mystified

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 February 2011
Messages
100
Location
Somerset
Visit site
Hi can anyone give me some advice on how you cross tie two ponies in a trailer please.

I am collecting two rescue dartmoor ponies on Friday that are between 10.2hh and 13 hh.

I haven't travelled anything this small before and they have advised me to travel them with the partition in but cross tied.

So where do I put the 2nd rope for each and will the breast bar be low enough for the smaller one on the lowest setting?

Also should I tie the haynets on the side rather than the front of the trailer as I don't think they would be able to reach them?
 
Have they been handled? If not, don't even think about haynets - in fact, if it's a short journey it won't kill them to travel without food. If they aren't halter broken, travel them loose, no partition with the top doors closed and the floor bedded well and unload in a secure area.

I've travelled a shetland, tied normally with a 2 bales of hay strapped in the front part of the trailer to stop him ducking under the partition and hanging himself - he had a fair go at eating it all in under an hour though! I've also travelled a single horse crosstied in a double trailer but the partition was removed. Mares and foals were also travelled without a partition but loose even though I would prefer to use a lorry in those situations.
 
The rescuse centre orginally advised travelling them loose without the partition but have since advised with the partition and cross tying them. Apparently, although they are good together in a field and a big barn / yard area they do not like being in a small enclosed area ie: stable. So on the safe side thought it would be better to travel them tied.

We have to travel about 2.1/2 hours!! Do I need to put something infront of them to stop the small one going under the breast bar?
 
You should be able to tie some string to the centre partition which will allow you to cross tie, that may be the best place for a haynet as well so they can reach it easily, they will not be able to move to either side very far, just make sure it is a small holed one for safety. If they are cross tied you should not need something in front as it should prevent the pony being able to move forward and under but knowing ponies it may be a good idea anyway;)
I would if it is cold still be tempted to shut the back doors to stop them trying to look behind, it is a very long journey for them and hopefully once you are underway they will settle and munch the hay, it may help if you ask for them to be kept hungry for an hour or two so they concentrate on the hay.
 
I too would travel them loose and with no hay, but plenty of straw down - they will be too busy keeping their balance to get nasty with each other. Make sure you lock the grooms door - just in case someone rubs their bum on it and opens it.

be positive - not a good idea to let them get hungry in case they try to stuff themselves furiously with the hay and choke.

If you do decide to cross tie - use the opposite tie ring, fix a long loop of baling twine so that you can tie the second rope to it. Be aware that if they are not used to being tied they can pull back very easily as there will be considerable space behind them as they are so small.
 
When I travelled a little dinky 9.2hh in a trailer meant for a 17hh Horse I had to improvise, the breach bars are way too high! I filled the front with straw bales and secured them, threw a rug over the top to stop him eating it, cross tied him via the breach bar hook spaces and once loaded put another bale of straw behind him, luckily he is so well behaved that he didnt move at all x
 
Goodness, I have no expertise but good luck travelling such dinky ponies! Are they feral or semi-feral then? Worth phoning Redwings - they transport small feral and semi-feral ponies a LOT with rescue cases, and I know are considered somewhat the experts in the industry for travelling this type of equine. 01508 481008
 
I really wouldn't do it. I would take out the partition and travel them loose on straw base and put hay on the floor. Shut all top doors, too.
 
Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to say thank you for all you replies and let you know how I got on.

Decided to leave the partition in and put loads of straw on the floor.

Tied some bailer twine through the bracket of the breast bars and tied them to this
with just one rope. Hung haynets from the higher tie ring. Put the breast bars on lowest setting (still to high for little one). But the rescue guys said they would be fine.

They both loaded tentatively, but travelled home perfectly we didn't know we had them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top