Do you ever leave your horse unattended when tied to lorry/trailer?

Yes- all the time!

Our even sleep tied to the lorry, under cover.

They stand all day at the lorry at one day event, with us bustling about, with various ponies. At 3 day events they get walked in hand to stop them getting stiff but ultimately are unattented for alot of the day.

All ours just stand quitely by the box, when they didn't we didnt leave them.
 
No never, there's so much potential for a dangerous situation. When we go out in the trailer there's me, my friend and my friend's parents, so there's always at least one person who can stay with them.

I hate it when I see horses tied up and left, it happens all the time
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No, I've seen too many accidents. But then I do appreciate its easy for me to say that because I always have somebody with me.
 
No never have and never would. If I need to go away, then I put the horses away, so that I know that they are safe.
 
There is a new code of practice, which was in this week's Horse and Hound, and leaving tied up and unattended will not be allowed, and a good thing too.

I used to have a horse that would kick, so I got in the habit of putting her on the trailer whenever I went off to the secretary, etc. in case she kicked someone or a horse!

Present horse is very quiet and I HAVE left him tied up with a haynet, but generally only if I can see him. At a very busy show I think it is madness to go away and leave them.
 
If you are on your own you sometimes have no choice but to leave them unattended for a short while - I'm lucky that mine will stand quietly on the trailer with a haynet rather than tied outside the trailer though I know some horses get upset if left on the box so probably better outside.
 
I used to do it all the time as a very novice teenager. No one EVER bothered to tell me otherwise. I only learnt when new horse got loose one day when she spooked and broke her rope. People tend to assume that people know these things. Don't ever be afraid to point it out to someone. It's funny how often people assume these little things are known.

Since then that horse is tied up to the trailer for grooming/tacking and even just waiting, but is never left unattended when she is. she's just too spooky. I do however often leave her unattended in the trailer. She has a haynet and the front ramp down. The reason for this being that she's actually less spooky when she has a good view. Never had a problem with her in the trailer.

Other pony however, I would leave tied up for maybe 5 or 10 minutes. She's an angel who's never untied herself in the 8 years I've known her. Only once has she broken the bailing twine and that was when another horse came carering into the yard and she was just getting out the way. That done she stood and waited for me to fetch her. So yeah, would leave her, but like TB I tend just to keep her in the trailer. It's simply easier and safer.
 
Yes I quite happily leave mine tied up to my box unattended at every ride I do - it's usual practice for endurance riders. Both my horses will tie up quietly with a long lead rope so they can graze whilst I go and collect bibs from the secretary and return bibs, ride cards after the end of the ride. No way would I dream of doing a 4/5 hour ride and then throwing my horse back on the box straightaway. He needs to be outside to wander about (within the limits of his lead rope whilst I'm sorting out admin stuff) rather than standing on the box in a small space where he can't even turn round getting stiff. I'm never away for long but can't see any problem as long as your horse understands that being tied up means behaving itself.
 
Showground rules are changing. If you leave your horse tied to your lorry or trailer unattended you run a very strong chance of being asked to leave!! The reason for this is first and foremost the safety of your horse, other peoples horses and members of the public. A loose horse in a public space is a hazard. Even the quietest horse can be upset by an incident or sudden noise. It isn't worth the risk. Also leave your front ramp up when you leave your horse unattended on a trailer. This will discourage him from climbing over the stall bar to make a hasty exit. A few new trailers now have external safety release systems for stall bars. If you have one make sure you can undo it in an emergency. Have a safe journey!!
 
Showground rules are changing. If you leave your horse tied to your lorry or trailer unattended you run a very strong chance of being asked to leave!! The reason for this is first and foremost the safety of your horse, other peoples horses and members of the public. A loose horse in a public space is a hazard. Even the quietest horse can be upset by an incident or sudden noise. It isn't worth the risk. Also leave your front ramp up when you leave your horse unattended on a trailer. This will discourage him from climbing over the stall bar to make a hasty exit. A few new trailers now have external safety release systems for stall bars. If you have one make sure you can undo it in an emergency. Have a safe journey!!
 
no i wouldnt ever do it, he is the most important thing in my life, but, lots and lots of people do and if youre somewhere on your own (as another post was talking about) you maybe have little choice in some circumstances?
 
Completely agree. It is the most stupid and irresponsible thing to do.
I do tie up at the box if we are with the box but would never leave them at the lorry tied up and leave them.
At pretty much every show event I go to I see a horse abandoned at a trailer or lorry get in a pickle, or put at risk while the owners are wandering off arounf the showground unawares. Then they get back and think their pony is such a good boy, does my head in!!
 
yep, leave them all the time and not ashamed to say so!

Depends mostly on who it is staying unattended, whats tied nearby and where were are.

If it was loan horse, then not a chance in hell!! - new boy yes, just eats and sleeps, minis also fine....oldie fine too.

I am never usually very long or far away, and if its chilly they stay on board the lorry but its just never been an issue....all mine are knot untiers but I just poke end through.
 
Guilty over here.... well they are usually within eyesight so we can keep an eye on them.
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Have to say we don't tend to leave them unattended very much now since one was kicked about 2 months ago and is still suffering!
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Took Blue around with me Fri like an oversized dog
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Yes I quite happily leave mine tied up to my box unattended at every ride I do - it's usual practice for endurance riders. Both my horses will tie up quietly with a long lead rope so they can graze whilst I go and collect bibs from the secretary and return bibs, ride cards after the end of the ride. No way would I dream of doing a 4/5 hour ride and then throwing my horse back on the box straightaway. He needs to be outside to wander about (within the limits of his lead rope whilst I'm sorting out admin stuff) rather than standing on the box in a small space where he can't even turn round getting stiff. I'm never away for long but can't see any problem as long as your horse understands that being tied up means behaving itself.

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Totally agree with that. I've been doing endurance for 11 years and have only very occasionally seen horses break free - nearly all will be unattended at some point during the event as the rider goes to attend to admin/get results etc. Mine know that once off the trailer and tied up with a haynet, that's where they stay and no messing. If the weather's awful I'll leave them loaded, but prefer them to be out and able to move around a little if they want to.
 
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Totally agree with that. I've been doing endurance for 11 years and have only very occasionally seen horses break free - nearly all will be unattended at some point during the event as the rider goes to attend to admin/get results etc. Mine know that once off the trailer and tied up with a haynet, that's where they stay and no messing. If the weather's awful I'll leave them loaded, but prefer them to be out and able to move around a little if they want to.

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Thanks Hussar - glad there is someone else with a bit of common sense agreeing with me. I haven't been doing endurance as long as you but haven't yet seen a single horse break loose at any event I've attended. Perhaps endurance horses are better trained
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I wonder what these horses that break free are like to lead and handle? When leading mine if they spook badly they will spook as far as the end of the leadrope but as soon as they feel pressure they stop, so never break free from me. Most horses I handle for other people will spook to the end of the leadrope and keep going, using their strength against you. If horses are properly halter trained then the moment they feel pressure they stop pulling back and stand still. That's why mine are perfectly safe left tied up unattended.

I do wonder where all these health and safety rules will end up. Next it'll be eventing that gets stung. I haven't been to an eventing comp yet where at least one horse hasn't get loose on course after a fall. Said horse then usually goes careering off up the course - surely a hazard to spectators and fellow competitors alike, just as much as a horse getting loose anywhere on a show ground. The rule here will have to be the whole course is fenced off with barriers a horse can't run through to protect the spectators. I can't see any events bar the big ones being able to afford the cost of substantial barriers round an entire xc course. The other option will be to ban spectators from xc courses altogether.
 
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Thanks Hussar - glad there is someone else with a bit of common sense agreeing with me. I haven't been doing endurance as long as you but haven't yet seen a single horse break loose at any event I've attended. Perhaps endurance horses are better trained
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I do wonder where all these health and safety rules will end up. I can't see any events bar the big ones being able to afford the cost of substantial barriers round an entire xc course. The other option will be to ban spectators from xc courses altogether.

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Maybe the fact that endurance isn't a spectator sport is something we should be grateful for! 99% of the people at an endurance event are horsey - so if a horse does break loose or something untoward happens, there are squads of people around who can deal with it.

If endurance had to implement a rule that no horses were ever to be left unattended, the sport would die overnight ... We also, of course, frequently corral our horses overnight at an event - and they're all left unattended for hours (although the owners will be asleep not very far away)!
 
If im getting lunch/numbers etc i just pop her on the lorry or get someone to supervise her...
Have seen so many badly behaved horses left tied to lorries or trailers, pulling back till they snap the string or bouncing up and down - madness IMO.

At the end of the day you tend to get some right idiots out and about some days, so i wouldnt leave my horse unattended incase someone walked too close and their horse kicked her etc. Atleast if im there i know where she is and what shes doing or safe on the lorry.
 
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