No haynets in lorry park, how do you cope?

How I wish I could leave mine in the lorry but she gets upset, tried to turn round and ends up nearly collapsing at her back end even if I'm stood with her... so I have to tie her up outside, but she is never left unattended and we always clear up any mess.

I wouldn't go somewhere we there was a rule preventing us from tying her up outside.
 
i can't believe that anyone would leave their horse unsupervised. totally understand that some are not happy on the box...but you MUST stay with them if they are going to be tied outside...have seen far too many accidents where "well behaved" horses have escaped or been spooked by something happening near them and then hurt themselves in the process of running away (worst case was escaping onto a main road and getting run over and nearly killing person driving the car that hit him as well)
i think that it is really irresponsible. i often go to shows on my own- but i wouldn't dream of using this as an excuse to leave my horse out unsupervised where he could harm himself or someone else/damage someone else's property. i think its quite selfish actually :mad:

i know that horses are quite capable of doing stupid things whilst on a box/trailer- but at least then they just hurt themselves and nobody else.
 
I've seen a lot of accidents with horses in lorries at competitions when they have been left to their own devices. You usually know there's a problem when you hear a crashing noise and can see a lorry rocking from side to side and everyone rushes over. My O/H works at a busy show centre and he has seen lots of accidents but they nearly all involve horses in lorrys getting stuck under/over partitions, never as a result of anything tied up outside a lorry or trailer. Once he was asked to go into someone's lorry and try to get a horse out that was on its back stuck under the partition, thank god he had enough sense to wait for the vet to come and administer a sedative so it could be safely removed. Its not worth killing yourself trying to rescue a horse, I wouldn't try and rescue my own horse, a panicking horse could easily kill or maim you. The poor thing had blood coming out of its ears, nose and eyes but I think he went on to make a full recovery although he was very shocked. No I'd much rather have my horse tied up outside my trailer happily munching away on a net where I can see him and keep an eye on him.
 
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only_me said:
In eventing ireland, it is actually a rule that no horse may be left tied outside the trailer!
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How do they define "left"? I assume they can be tied outside so long as under supervision?

brighteyes said:
Bucket feed is how - fibre chop and speedibeet, regularly in roughly 'measured' doses. Keep them nice and sloppy and the water goes in, too.
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Unfortunatelly, my mare will eat haylage at an event but not any form of bucket feed. She's exactly the same at home if tense or wound up for some reason.
 
applecart14 said:
I've seen a lot of accidents with horses in lorries at competitions when they have been left to their own devices. You usually know there's a problem when you hear a crashing noise and can see a lorry rocking from side to side and everyone rushes over. My O/H works at a busy show centre and he has seen lots of accidents but they nearly all involve horses in lorrys getting stuck under/over partitions, never as a result of anything tied up outside a lorry or trailer. Once he was asked to go into someone's lorry and try to get a horse out that was on its back stuck under the partition, thank god he had enough sense to wait for the vet to come and administer a sedative so it could be safely removed. Its not worth killing yourself trying to rescue a horse, I wouldn't try and rescue my own horse, a panicking horse could easily kill or maim you. The poor thing had blood coming out of its ears, nose and eyes but I think he went on to make a full recovery although he was very shocked. No I'd much rather have my horse tied up outside my trailer happily munching away on a net where I can see him and keep an eye on him.
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as i said in my previous post i agree that accidents can happen whilst horses are on the box (a good reason for leaving them for as little time as possible- especially if you know they are prone to fidgeting) but generally at least this sort of accident will just involve the horse and not somebody else/somebody else's horse or property.
i have no problem with leaving horses outside the box if you are there to watch them- but popping back every 30 minutes is not what i would call 'supervising'. sorry but this is something which really winds me up...people saying "oh i go competing on my own" and make that an excuse for behaving in a totally selfish manner.... :mad:
 
Anyone who has ever cleaned up after an event can see why organisers have got to this point. I'm sure they have asked people to clean up after themselves and they simply haven't. A "clean up or stay away" rule sounds like a good idea but how would that be enforced? Most places can't get enough volunteers to do the essential jobs!

Out of curiosity, is it no NETS or no HAY outside? For those who really cannot put their horses back on, could you rig up an option where the hay wasn't scattered to the four winds?

Mine always went back on the trailer if I was alone, especially since I sometimes had 2 and no help so if one had got loose I would have been in trouble.
 
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My trainer (sorry, hate that word but can't think of a viable alternative!) has had to put up a similar sign at her yard where people unbox for lessons. Given that people only travel fairly short distances for lessons and don't need to do much more than tack up and get on I can't believe that they'd consider tying up outside with a haynet :confused:.

I do think that there is a very small percentage of horses who can only be left tied up outside the trailer/box at shows. However I think that the rest of the people just either a) resent being told what to do or b)have got used to doing things the way that suits them and don't want to change it. Sorry! :eek:
 
It'd be a pain but I'd cope. I've only got an ifor trailer and 90% of the time we take two, so it is impossible to do anything with them inside. They have to come out and be tied to the trailer. I usually give them a haynet as, particularly with the youngster, it helps to keep them quiet whilst I reclean white socks etc. I take it away when I go to tack up, however, so they don't mess up their bits.

I could cope without the haynets, though I'd rather have them. If a centre had an absoloutly no tieing to lorry/trailer at any time policy I couldn't go.

ETA: Just to clarify, I never leave them unattended whilst tied up. I'm always around the car. If I'm leaving the area they either go back into the trailer or into a day box.
 
Baggybreeches said:
In 30yrs of keeping horses I can honestly say I have only had one horse get colic, and she is a windsucker. On account of my horses rarely being sick or sorry I think I am quite satified with my routine, it works for me, but hey not saying it would suit everyone.
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It works for you, but I dont see how it works for a horse who is naturally built to be a grazer. They aren't designed physically or mentally to not eat for that long. Why dont you give hay out of interest??

With regard to tying up outside and leaving - I wish I could say I could do that, but unfortunately we dont all have the luxury of a groom with us at every event. If I'm on my own, I have to go and pay for entries etc. so yes my horse is left on its own with a haynet. I go to events pretty much every weekend and have done this with a variety of horses (all tied up outside) and I think in about 19 years I can remember only 3 times my horse has broken off. Whereas I tried leaving one horse in the trailer on the odd occasion and it destroyed it... It totally depends on the horse and what they are used to. I hate seeing horses tied up in lorries ALL day long and only brought out to be ridden - they must get so stiff! Imagine being made to sit in a car all day for example and then taken out for a quick run once or twice.

Anyway, back to the point - I really cannot see how anyone can have an issue with some bits of hay left lying on the ground which will blow away. Poo being left I totally understand.
 
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we have a local centre with the no tying up outside of a trailer. I don't like competing enough to give my pony a rubbish day inside his trailer so I don't go. I think Lorries are somewhat different, generally more roomy, better ventilated and certainly take up more sideways space for tieing up.

If mum is on her own her mare stays in the trailer while mum faffs, mare inclined to pull back and be nervy around lorries. Frank gets very frustrated and is much more likely to do himself damage in the trailer (he wants to see where he is what he is doing). If I absolutely have to leave him (I pee in the trailer ;)) I ask a couple of my neighbours to keep an eye on him for me for 5 minutes. I would not leave him with noone watching, everyone is happy to do this and I am very happy to reciprocate.

when we have both horses there I think it is rather claustrophobic in a 505, we have opening windows on both sides but they are small, it might be different if they could both stick their heads out over the front unload ramp.

Basically I think it just comes down to we take ours out so that they can enjoy themselves. They are happier outside of the box, easier to deal with and it is a pleasanter day allround.

I think I would see it as part and parcel of running a competition center really to maybe have to clear up some hay afterwards. A bit like poo picking the arena.
 
It's sad isn't it that we have to have all these hard and fast rules and are no longer given credit for having any common sense or knowing what's best for our horses.
Some are risky if left on , some are risky if taken off. The owners generally know which option is best for their horse.
I think a clean up after yourself rule is better but it's impossible to police effectively.
I think show centers should expect some degree of cleaning up post show but there are limits.
 
Does anyone know if these "no haynets" venues will allow the haybags, or another way of feeding hay i.e. from a bucket ? I cant imagine them coming up and making you take away the horses hay if it isnt making a mess?
We have just discovered one of our nearest BS venues has put in the no haynets rule and my boy will be very unhappy if he cant nibble between classes as he is so used to doing so !
 
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