Horse being tied up and left alone - getting head stuck.

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ginginandtonic

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What would you do if someone at your yard was tying their horse up and leaving it unattended for longish periods of time?

I had to untangle said horse 3 times in 20 minutes and when I told the woman to keep an eye on her horse was told "Oh, he's fine, he does it all the time".

The horse was getting it's head under the rope then pratting about.... he could easily freak out and break his neck.. but the owner basically said thanks for mentioning it, but he's fine and won't come to any harm.

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Well leave it then for her to sort out.

I do leave mine tied up for 30 mins plus on occasion and they stand there - providing there is nothing for young teeth and hooves to get at to play with. I don't give nets and expect them to stand and wait for me to finish what I am doing.

If she wants to leave it tied up, providing it is not harming anyone else, then it is her business. If it gets tangled, again her horse, let her sort it as you have advised her that it does this and now her problem.

There are far more things in life to be wound up about about then a tied horse.
 
Someone at my yard tied her horse up the other day by a leadrope to it's bridle, then tied it in a normal knot and ran off saying he'll be fine! I was mortified! Luckily the lad just stood and waited for her, but imagine if he'd got a fright and pulled back where he was tied, no quick release knot, yanking straight on his bit, it sent shivers down my spine.

I was mounted at the time and about to get off when she came back, otherwise I would have immediately changed it to a quick release knot at least.

If I found anyone doing this to my horse they'd get a whipping! Or am I overreacting?
 
.. yes there are more things in life to get wound up about.. but then I would imagine being pretty upset if something dreadful happened to her horse (any horse) and I had just done nothing and 'let her sort it out'.. but maybe that's just me.

Thanks for the advice though.
 
OP I hate that too...once came across a horse tied up whilst in a Chifney which had one of its front legs over the rope...idiot owner.

Perhaps we could round up all these individuals that cause others such grief on yards and put them all on a yard together somewhere...
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All you can do is politely mention it once which you have, so you've done your bit, its not your job to be looking out for her horse all the time.

I know its hard to stand and watch a horse get into difficulty when you can see obvious dangers though but at the end of the day, people just sometimes have to learn from their mistakes, its the only way with them if there too blind to see whats common sense and pure stupidity, unfortunately it will no doubt be at her horses expense.

Its your YO's duty to ensure the health and safety of people and their horses around the yard, maybe the should keep a close eye on them.
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Well you have pointed out to her that the horse tangles itself, and now up to her to tie it so it does not. Unfortunately you have to take a deep breath, think muppet and leave folks to it unless what they doing are really causing suffering.

I would like someone to untangle mine if they did this, and if they kept doing it, would review why they did it. I prefer to tie up short as I know mine are young and do like to play with ropes given the chance.

My occasional problem is that my young cob is a master of undoing his safety release knot and going off for a walk - luckily not far and is only investigating things. Hence I have to do a double kno and also have them within hearing and viewing distance, unless they have to tie up outside for any reason.

What winds me up is people who tie up with a net and then leave hay and crap behind and don't clear up after them.

As said, life is short - enjoy it and try not to get wound up over things you can't control.
 
I can see the theory behind this and yes maybe it is annoying but, from reading the posts I do think sometimes I am glad i am not on a livery yard - seems there is a lot of nit-picking that goes on. Don't think I could bear it!

I tie my horse up and he is a prat if he doesn't get attention and feels he's missing out - no matter how tight i tie him he will insist on geting his leg oever the rope and standing there with it damgling until someone 'saves' him! It's his way of getting attention. He does not panic, never has. I know his behaviour and know he has always done this.

It may be a little irritating but in my opinion it's not your problem, let her get on with it. I woud hope whatever the horse was tied to would break before the horse's neck did and maybe the horse just needs to learn to be tied up and behave itself!
 
Am with Theresa F on this one. If horse in no real danger leave well alone. Maybe she is teaching horse to tie up. My boys you can tie up in yard and they will stand there all day, even with no net. There is nothing worse than a horse that won't tie. The earlier they learn to do this the better.......for them and us.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What would you do if someone at your yard was tying their horse up and leaving it unattended for longish periods of time?

I had to untangle said horse 3 times in 20 minutes and when I told the woman to keep an eye on her horse was told "Oh, he's fine, he does it all the time".

The horse was getting it's head under the rope then pratting about.... he could easily freak out and break his neck.. but the owner basically said thanks for mentioning it, but he's fine and won't come to any harm.

confused.gif




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After reading (on here) about the awful accidents some horses have had whilst being tied up I too would be over cautious if someone was leaving a horse tied up for a long period of time and it wasnt standing nicely. I would make sure its got baler twine that will snap easily (weakened) or if you have a spare empty stable on your yard can you not suggest it goes in there? As for the comment about stables-I agree as I muck out around my horse most of the time so very rarely tie him on the yard (we only have one tie ring for the whole yard anyway!)
 
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After reading (on here) about the awful accidents some horses have had whilst being tied up I too would be over cautious if someone was leaving a horse tied up for a long period of time and it wasnt standing nicely.

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Well.. quite... I believe someone's pony died not so long ago from a tying up incident.. I also remember that person getting some slating.

So, it would appear that no-one has any constructive advice on how to approach this women about it, suffice to say though if in a weeks time I came on here and said there had been a terrible incident and the horse is dead as a result, people would have plenty to say.

ahh well
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I agree that a horse which gets in knots shouldn't be allowed to do this repeatedly, but think it should educated rather than just never being tied up. All horses and ponies I have ever had have started their education coming in during the day into stalls, tied up, for long perids of time. They dont get tangled as they are clipped to a chain, through a ring, with a block on the end. They may not like it at first and can occasionally get a leg over the rope, which is something that happens, and they can usually sort themselves out. This means they learn to stand tied, and to move over in the stall to be fed/groomed/mucked out. It means I can leave them unattended on the yard (obv within reason) in the box, trailer or simply tie them to a fence at a comp or out hacking in an emergency. My pet hate is horses that cant be tied up, or pull back knowing they can snap a rope. I appreciate there are some horses this cannot be done with but for all of mine its been great.
 
As I own a horse that can, on occassion be a complete cockerel when tied up, I can see it from both sides. I think I would suggest she asks if it is possible to have a tie ring put approc 6, 7 foot up the wall (presuming it's situated on a stable wall. with the tied end of the rope that high, no legs can get tangled, and it does help - Ive had to do this to my stable (last yard) after various incidents. If you've pointed it out numerous times, why not suggest the YO have a new rule that horses who don't tie up well and are able to be left for brief time are to be returned to their stable when their owner is out of sight?
 
my horses party trick is to get the leadrope over the top of her head, when tied up and being silly, and seeing how many people come running to sort it out
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i figured this out and left her to it and saw her expertly untangle herself quite a few times when she realised that i dont care and not running over to her to sort it out.

some people cant understand it and give me odd looks when they tell me that the leadrope is over her head and i just say 'thanks she'll sort herself out' but now shes learning that noone takes any notice and doesnt do it so much now.

sounds mean but she was just doing it for attention and when she didnt get attention out of it she doesnt do it. my ponys not daft!
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I don't like mucking my horses out with them in the stable. I don't think its good for them to be in when I'm fluffing up straw etc due to dust and so on. I always tie up. Sometimes they undo themselve and they can on occasion get tangled but then I've seen horses get injured climbing over wheel barrows or with mucking out tools while the owner is mucking out with them in the stable. Accidents happen.
We have one horse on the yard that always tangles itself up - it is doing it specifically to get attention. He untangles himself if no one saves him.
I think it is important for horses to learn to be tied up.
 
To those who tie up because they are mucking out/putting down beds, do you not have turn out? I never see the point of tying a horse up for extended periods while the rider does yard work. My mare will tie up with no problem, but if I want to muck out I turn her out, if I am getting ready she is in the stable, just don't see why people on yards particularly tie up outside, getting in other peoples way, horses being within kicking distance of each other, in the way of wheel barrows etc. I am in the fortunate position of this not being an issue for me as my horses are at home, but I still wonder
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To those who tie up because they are mucking out/putting down beds, do you not have turn out? I never see the point of tying a horse up for extended periods while the rider does yard work. My mare will tie up with no problem, but if I want to muck out I turn her out, if I am getting ready she is in the stable, just don't see why people on yards particularly tie up outside, getting in other peoples way, horses being within kicking distance of each other, in the way of wheel barrows etc. I am in the fortunate position of this not being an issue for me as my horses are at home, but I still wonder
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I muck out while waiting for it to get light enough to turn out, and Im sure some people will probably fetch in before dark then tie up to muck out...I generally muck out around my horse though (helps having huge stables) but if hes particularly dirty will tie him on the yard.
 
I very rarely tie a horse up. If I need to do something with it then it stands loose in the stable or the field. I would never, ever tie a horse to anything and walk away from it - I accept that may be unusual but it is my choice.
 
I tie up and do yard duties while it gets light enough to hack, or if I'm getting them both ready to turn out, or getting them both ready for bed. It's much easier doing them while out of their stables - fetching rugs etc. I suppose it depends on your set up and where your storage is etc. Mine is in a room at the back of my stable so it's far easier if they are not in their stables.
 
Sorry but the horse is not your problem. If the woman is stupid enough to leave a horse to self strangle so be it.If that happened perhaps the woman would go out of horses permanemtly.
 
[ QUOTE ]
To those who tie up because they are mucking out/putting down beds, do you not have turn out? I never see the point of tying a horse up for extended periods while the rider does yard work. My mare will tie up with no problem, but if I want to muck out I turn her out, if I am getting ready she is in the stable, just don't see why people on yards particularly tie up outside, getting in other peoples way, horses being within kicking distance of each other, in the way of wheel barrows etc. I am in the fortunate position of this not being an issue for me as my horses are at home, but I still wonder
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Interesting post - and it's got me thinking about what I do with my horse.

I very, very rarely tie up. And never outside his stable. I'm of the same thoughts as YorksG. I skip out whilst he's having his hay prior to turning him out. Then finish mucking out after he's in the field.

It's very easy for people to think that the OP should just ignore what's going on. But having seen first hand the devastating injury to a horse in the same circumstances - I too would find it very difficult to ignore.......

Always tricky when you're on livery. But it's a massive bug bear of mine when people leave horses tied up and un superivsied.........
 
myn has 1 fault and its that i cant leave him for a second hes a pain in the arse with it iv stood and watched him also pull back and snap the bailing rope
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i tie his nose as close to the wall n hel still try n get his head under it
 
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