How to Cross Tie in a trailer

[Joyous70]

OK might be a stupid question, but I have removed the partition and bought full length bars as my mare loads better for me without a partition, I did cross tie her, but im not convinced I tied her tight enough, as she felt as though she tried to turn around whilst I was waiting for some traffic lights to change, i felt the trailer pull back on my car and i heard her stomping around, she is incredibly nosey, so it is a possibility.

So how do I ensure she is tied tight enough she cannot turn around, but also not too tightly she feels confined, also where do I put her haynet??

Sorry if this seems like a really stupid question, but its taken me years and years to get her loading in less than an hour, and i want to get out more, but don't want the travelling to now become an issue, so any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[Tarragon]

I did the same as you, and I fully appreciate the issue about where to hang the hay net! It is especially hard for me as I have a short necked pony, so tying the haynet at the nose of the trailer means that he cannot reach it. So, I tie the haynet to the right hand side of the trailer, and cross tie but unevenly, so that the right hand rope is much shorter than the left. I think he prefers to travel slightly on the diagonal and I want him to be standing drivers side to kerb side if you know what I mean.

 

[Joyous70]

I did the same as you, and I fully appreciate the issue about where to hang the hay net! It is especially hard for me as I have a sort necked pony, so tying the haynet at the nose of the trailer means that he cannot reach it. So, I tie the haynet to the right hand side of the trailer, and cross tie but unevenly, so that the right hand rope is much shorter than the left. I think he prefers to travel slightly on the diagonal and I want him to be standing drivers side to kerb side if you know what I mean.

My girl wouldn't be able to reach a net in the nose of the trailer either. I have got my cross ties left side longer than the other, but i think i might need to move the net, i will have to have a bit of a play with it.

 

[Widgeon]

I have a single trailer but have the same issue, just less pronounced because the trailer is narrower. I've been hanging the haynet on the left hand side (away from the front ramp) and then cross tie unevenly so the right hand tie is longer than the left. I'm not so concerned as Tarragon about the horse standing on a diagonal because a) it's a narrower trailer and b) I think my horse just leans his bum on the back bar and snoozes (this is based on the poo that I find smeared up the middle of the ramp and bar when we arrive!)

 

[rabatsa]

I have had a bar fitted to the nose of my trailer so that I can tie the haynet at breast bar height making it easier to reach.

 

[Widgeon]

I have had a bar fitted to the nose of my trailer so that I can tie the haynet at breast bar height making it easier to reach.

Ooh that's very clever. I like that. I have found, I go to the effort of hanging a haynet but horse (nomally v v greedy) doesn't eat much while travelling, I assume it's because it's in an awkward position for him to get to. Your solution sounds much better.

 

[AFB]

I did the same as you, and I fully appreciate the issue about where to hang the hay net! It is especially hard for me as I have a short necked pony, so tying the haynet at the nose of the trailer means that he cannot reach it. So, I tie the haynet to the right hand side of the trailer, and cross tie but unevenly, so that the right hand rope is much shorter than the left. I think he prefers to travel slightly on the diagonal and I want him to be standing drivers side to kerb side if you know what I mean.

I do this too - works fine for us

 

[Birker2020]

OK might be a stupid question, but I have removed the partition and bought full length bars as my mare loads better for me without a partition, I did cross tie her, but im not convinced I tied her tight enough, as she felt as though she tried to turn around whilst I was waiting for some traffic lights to change, i felt the trailer pull back on my car and i heard her stomping around, she is incredibly nosey, so it is a possibility.

So how do I ensure she is tied tight enough she cannot turn around, but also not too tightly she feels confined, also where do I put her haynet??

Sorry if this seems like a really stupid question, but its taken me years and years to get her loading in less than an hour, and i want to get out more, but don't want the travelling to now become an issue, so any advice would be most appreciated.

I don't cross tie as I see no need for it but if I did I'd have enough slack in each rope that the horse can use its head and neck and move it comfortably to balance.

My set up is a Rice Richardson double horse trailer and my horse is obviously stood on the trailer on the off side (all horses when travelling on their own will find the journey more comfortable on the offside of the trailer due to the camber of the road).

When tied up she can reach her net which is in front of her with the top of the net at eye level. She can also (if she chooses to) touch the top door over the ramp on the nearside with her nose and she can bend her neck to look behind her probably 180 degrees to the left. There are no projections for her to get caught up in and I NEVER have her tied up anywhere in anything other than leather headcollar, I can't abide nylon headcollars. This has a quick release clip pictured. I load with a dually which I switch for the leather headcollar immediately the back ramp is up.
Hope that helps some.

 

[holeymoley]

Haynet goes at the front of the trailer, in the apex part. You have to have them fairly short. I don’t have a guide on how to measure the correct length but you need them quite short. I’d rather they were too short than long enough to be able to turn and unbalance theirselves/the trailer.

 

[Tarragon]

Haynet goes at the front of the trailer, in the apex part. You have to have them fairly short. I don’t have a guide on how to measure the correct length but you need them quite short. I’d rather they were too short than long enough to be able to turn and unbalance theirselves/the trailer.

When you think about it, most farm livestock is travelled loose in stock trailers. I wonder how that works?

 

[Green Bean]

Although I don't use a single bar for my IW511 trailer, I would think what others have suggested are options. For the hay net issue, I have installed my own version of a hay net holder ring above the part where the front ramp opens (mine opens on the 'road' side) This takes the hay net away from my horse's shoulder/neck and puts it in the right place. I also use a hook and clip to secure it a bit to the front of the trailer and use this same clip to hook it out the way when the front ramp is down and my horse comes out.