Single trailer

fidleyspromise

fidleyspromise

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Ifor williams 401 Single Trailer

I assume it's best to cross tie in this trailer?
I've never tied like this before so what length should the ties be?

Does anyone use a single and have any advice? Do you just store everything in vehicle or is there a tack pack that fits it?

This is my first trailer and my Highland is a saint to load and youngster loads in under 5 mins - just need to work on him relaxing in it.
 
Mine isn't a single but I remove the central partition so essentially is!
Yes to cross tie, I tie so they can turn there heads to look behind but with enough tension that they feel it so there is no thoughts of turning around.

I use a tack pack in the front, my saddle doesn't fit but I stay away a lot so it's useful for everything else, I also back the horses out instead of using the front ramp so it makes storage easier and I feel personally this is a safer option after one of mine jumped off the ramp onto my leg!

Congrats on trailer ownership! The world is now your oyster!!!
 
We have a single, and don’t cross tie.

He’s tied up to one of those short bungee cords, so he can reach his hay net but can’t turn round. Helps that he’s also a fairly wide 15.1, so it would be pretty difficult for him to turn around anyway
 
Please dont use elasticated or bungees to tie, ever! I have seen them break/unhook and ping and hit horse in the face, leading to the loss of an eye in one case (and then heard of a few more eye losses from the vets that did the surgery for the same reason!)

Thanks for asking the question though OP, having just removed my partition I have been wondering on the best way to tie
 
Shorter than I did, which allowed the horse to get wedged UNDER the breast bar!!! I left them longer as he was new to travelling and heard they use their head and neck to balance…… mine read the memo as balance on your head and neck!

As others have said, enough that they can turn their head but not their neck
 
Shoei said:
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Yes to cross tie, I tie so they can turn there heads to look behind but with enough tension that they feel it so there is no thoughts of turning around.

........

Congrats on trailer ownership! The world is now your oyster!!!
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Thank you. I'm excited to get out - got a small jumping lesson this Sat, planning riding club camp, a few jumping comps and a few pleasure rides.
Hopefully get the baby out to dressage once or twice once hes backed too.

sarcasm_queen said:
We have a single, and don’t cross tie.

He’s tied up to one of those short bungee cords, so he can reach his hay net but can’t turn round. Helps that he’s also a fairly wide 15.1, so it would be pretty difficult for him to turn around anyway
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Is it these types of bungee you use?

Screenshot_20250210_115954_Chrome.jpg

AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
Please dont use elasticated or bungees to tie, ever! I have seen them break/unhook and ping and hit horse in the face, leading to the loss of an eye in one case (and then heard of a few more eye losses from the vets that did the surgery for the same reason!)

Thanks for asking the question though OP, having just removed my partition I have been wondering on the best way to tie
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Have you seen issues with the above type?

It's a minefield trying to figure out the best way but I appreciate everyone's thoughts and ideas.

For tax here is the 23 yr Highland wanting to know where she's going.

I had her in hand as I opened it up, got the back ramp down and she was in without promoting. She's not tied in this photo but instead her rope is loose around the breast bar and dangling - she's a superstar who doesn't panic, I groom her while her 16ft rope drags behind her in the field.

Sweet trouble maker Tal was not left by himself as I want him relaxed and comfortable. (He did trailer training at his breeders, never went anywhere and came a 4 hour journey to me in a 3.5t van). - less than 5 mins and he walked through calmly.


Screenshot_20250210_114311_Photos.jpg

Screenshot_20250210_120840_Photos.jpg
 
fidleyspromise said:
Have you seen issues with the above type?
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Anything that's elasticated as if they pull their head hard to one side, or turn around or panic and part of it breaks or it becomes unclipped then the elastic pulls the metal end straight into the side of their face.
I know Arma and Kentucky do unelasticated ones which are worth looking at, but I just don't know what length to buy!
 
Thanks. I have bought a couple of the ones in pic above but I use them for securing gates / prevent feed buckets flying away.

I was thinking of maybe using two of these for cross ties. I've got new lead ropes in the trailer just now.
 
I have the 403 single. I cross tie in mine, too easy for them if they panic or get unsettled to attempt to turn around. I have bailer twine hanging from each top loop at the sides and then just a lead rope. Always tie shorter than you think, my haynet is hung at the nose of the trailer so normally enough for them to reach that but not to be able to flex neck round. I picked up youngster and he was so small that we had to hang the haynet with the lead rope too, not sure how easy that was for him to get but he stood stock still the whole way home!
 
I have a 401 and I do cross tie, but my 15hh horse would have to work fairly hard to turn around in there, I think. I cross tie using non-elasticated, adjustable snap clips, pretty much the same as these ones. I put the snap part onto the headcollar and the clip onto a bit of baler twine. The regular leadrope travels on the passenger seat in the car with me, so it's quick to grab in an emergency.


FWIW I would never tie up in a rope halter, mine does wear a rope halter but he has a leather headcollar on over the top for travelling, and the cross ties clip on to the leather one. That way he can't ever get hung up because I know (from experience, haha) that an old leather headcollar will break! Apologies if you weren't intending to do that anyway.

ETA I have no idea why that link is appearing so strangely, it's just a link to a regular eBay listing
 
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I'm another who 100% would never use an elasticated tie having had them snap when the horse panicked in the trailer! My friends horse also snapped rearing in the lorry and caused a nasty gash! They terrify me!!

I just have 2 leadropes perm tied in the trailer so they are the correct length and no faff
 
I also have a single trailer and cross tie with lead ropes left in the trailer, enough they can turn their head a bit, that's all. Having had a horse get caught on a stable door bolt and panic (I hadn't shot it across properly as I was just dropping another horse into their stable having brought the 2 in together) I will only use leather headcollars. Thankfully it broke before any damage was done to the horse.
 
Widgeon said:
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FWIW I would never tie up in a rope halter, mine does wear a rope halter but he has a leather headcollar on over the top for travelling, and the cross ties clip on to the leather one. That way he can't ever get hung up because I know (from experience, haha) that an old leather headcollar will break! Apologies if you weren't intending to do that anyway.

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I use halters everyday but the horses have leather headcollars for travelling.
When I got my first halter I didn't know you shouldn't use them for tying. The ones I use now do have a leather tab for doing it up so they snap if needed.

I think I'll stick to cross ties and leadropes for travelling and as Shoei does, they'll get tied up and left permanently in trailer. The main lead rope close to hand for unloading. It's great to hear everyone's experiences although I hope the panicking horses were all OK.
 
We had a 403 trailer for a chunky 16hh ISH - we didn’t cross tie as he wouldn’t have been able to turn round but tied him fairly short. He travelled very well in it - he appreciated the extra width.
 
I also just leave my leadropes pre tied in the horsebox. Just so easy and convenient to clip on and off without having to think about it each time. Each leadrope is also attached to thinned out baler twine on a quick release tie ring…… i’ve learnt my lesson the hard way!
 
fidleyspromise said:
I use halters everyday but the horses have leather headcollars for travelling.
When I got my first halter I didn't know you shouldn't use them for tying. The ones I use now do have a leather tab for doing it up so they snap if needed.

I think I'll stick to cross ties and leadropes for travelling and as Shoei does, they'll get tied up and left permanently in trailer. The main lead rope close to hand for unloading. It's great to hear everyone's experiences although I hope the panicking horses were all OK.
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Sounds your best bet! Certainly what I’d do in your circumstances, happy travelling!
 
fidleyspromise said:
I use halters everyday but the horses have leather headcollars for travelling.
When I got my first halter I didn't know you shouldn't use them for tying. The ones I use now do have a leather tab for doing it up so they snap if needed.

I think I'll stick to cross ties and leadropes for travelling and as Shoei does, they'll get tied up and left permanently in trailer. The main lead rope close to hand for unloading. It's great to hear everyone's experiences although I hope the panicking horses were all OK.
Click to expand...
I would use idolo ties, and leave them set up in trailer. That way in a true emergency would give but wont cause injury.
 
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