What do you think about leaving horses tied up to lorries / trailers?

In the real world people go to shows by themselves and need to tie their horse to the side of the lorry. There is no way if I go to a show I could not tie the horse up. I think it is vital for a competion horse to stand politely on the side of the lorry and tied up inside - and they must be able to do it by themselves and not care whether their friends are with them or not, it is basic manners.

When I get to a show, I unload the horse, tie it up, do it's studs (how would you do that without it tied up?), tack it up, I then get changed and as long as it isn't raining she can stand outside. I wouldn't leave her for long periods of time by herself on the side of the lorry or if I parked on grass as they try to eat it constantly. I tend to put them back on the lorry between classes as it is safer.

I've never heard the about the BSJA rule, and there is nothing in the rule book about it.
 
Never ever. Quite apart from the fact its way too easy for them to get loose and one of mine knows how to untie herself:) - what about the risk of another loose horse coming up to yours?! I'll leave a quiet one in the lorry alone, but anything not 100% will always have someone with them.
 
I see the bit about Ireland, never tying up even when tacking-up etc. But how does that work? I couldn't get the tack on with the horse in the trailer, and I certainly couldn't get to his feet easily.

I don't have anyone to take, so I have to go to most competitions by myself, so it would be impossible for me. I'm not going jumping, when I do think it is wise to take someone, just in case.
 
It doesn't work!!! Unless you've got a groom to hold your horse! If I'm by myself I usually take the partition out of the trailer and only bring one horse and tack up and do studs etc in the box, but this isn't any safer as there's a greater risk of getting kicked or squashed! When they first brought the rule in (I know IPS, PC and RC definitely did not too sure about SJAI, DI or EI) they were really strict and I was told off a number of times for tying by the safety steward so I handed then the reins and said here you hold him then while I put the studs in! They're not as strict now and don't enforce it as strongly but I think it affects their insurance if they're not seen to be following the rules.
 

I have done this with my mare in the past because I have no choice. She is not the greatest loader (usually ok but sometimes stubborn as a mule) also in the summer I notice it gets very warm in the lorry when it is stationary, even with the ramp down and there's a fair chance she could try and crash through the gate.
She has never broken away when tied but that said, I am sure it is not safe - Am seriously thinking about taking some fencing to the shows (on grass) and putting up a small area she could graze in. Not sure if this works as they could still take off with the fence posts stuck to them!!

IMO horses shouldn't be left unattended, in lorry or tied to it, however, sometimes this is just not practical, especially for those of us who often compete alone.
 
We always leave ours tied up outside the lorry and regularly wander off and leave them, they are sensible generally though and will just stand and happily eat hay or doze... if Blue has got loose he will just wander to the nearest haystack or patch of grass and stand there!
 
I would never leave April tied up outside unattended.

I obviously tie her up outside to tack up etc though. Can't imagine not being able to do that!
I occasionally stick her in the box whilst I go off and do things but I just end up being all worried and checking every 5 mins. I would never go out of sight of it either but then I don't go to really big shows so I'm always nearby lol.

I tend to just lead her around with me and luckily I normally have lots of people with me to help.
It would be different I imagine if I was completely on my own.
 
I'm with conniegirl on this - I have seen far, far worse things happen to horses left in lorries & trailers on their own.

I would much rather my horse broke away and ate grass than got itself stuck somehow in the trailer / lorry and panicked - potentially a far worse situation. Horses are horses and who really minds re-tying a horse up that has come loose? I certainly don't.

Surely, it's far easier to catch and tie up a loose horse than it to have to get into a lorry with a horse who's got itself into a pickle and is panicky - far, far more dangerous in my opinion.

I guess it also comes down to knowing your horse though.
 
I never tie up either at a comp, even if i'm there, you never know what will suddenly come along and spook them, I've seen even the quietest horse be scared, pull back and then the rest everyone can fill in as to what will happen! when they're in the trailer to stand then there's someone watching over them, even if non horsey, just someone to shout for help if its needed!
But i suppose its what ever works for everones own horse!
 
My boy has a habit of breaking loose when he's attended by all and sundry, let alone when left by himself. He has been known to take the bumper of the lorry with him....

I will leave him if he's very relaxed, and there's someone to keep an eye on him, but don't like to leave him on his own as I just don't want to take the risk.

He's not a great loader either, I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of getting him on and off the lorry between classes.

There does seem to be a loose horse at most events, I'm sure!
 
It depends on the horse etc.

The worst accident I have ever seen was a horse left in a trailer. It went so crazy it booted a hole right through the side and ooooh it was messy.

However, horses that have got loose has also caused mayhem and I have seen a woman mown to the ground and didn't get up. I never did find out what happened to her. I would imagine she was in a bad way.

I no longer leave mine tied up. I am generally on my own and my horse is quiet in the trailer with his mirror. When I am there, he is out enjoying the sunshine and eating grass. If I need to go off, I put him away.
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I have no opinion either way.
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I go to shows on my own in a trailer so if I lived in Ireland there's no way I'd cope with not being able to tie my own horse up to my own trailer while I tacked and studded her up. I can just about get her tack on in the trailer but not her studs.

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard - unless I've read it wrong? That you're not allowed to tie your horse up to the trailer while you tack it up??

My girl kicks, so I never leave her alone by the trailer. In days gone by when she wasn't so easy to load I used to put an electric fence corale round her as even with a red ribbon in her tail, people would try to squeeze their horses past her while she had her ears pinned back against her head and was taking aim.
Several shows I went to around that period stated that you weren't allowed to put up a corale around your horse/wagon.
I wasn't doing it for grazing my horse, just for safety. Don't seem to see many show centres that state that now, just that you're not allowed to leave your horse unattended.

Now she loads well, she goes in the trailer if I have time to put her there. If I don't, she comes with me.
 
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