Trailer Ties

Val · 08-17-2008, 01:23 PM

I have a question about trailer ties.......Most trailer ties have a quick release on one end and a bull snap on the other. Which end do you fasten to the horse? Please advise, Thanks

Carri · 08-17-2008, 01:27 PM

This is how I do it, but it doesn't make it the correct way!

I tie the quick release to a loop of baling twine attached to the trailer, and attach the snap end to the halter on the horse. Then, if the horse panics, I can undo the quick release without having to get into the trailer and get close to the horse.

BarnBum · 08-17-2008, 02:46 PM

Don't use the bungee trailer ties, you are looking for a horse to get smacked in the noggin !!

Val · 08-17-2008, 03:25 PM

I don't use the bungy ones....I thought about getting a set of them, but you have a point there Barnbum. So I will stick with the ones I have. Anyway I have been connecting the quick release to the trailer and the bull snap to the horse. I figure that if I ever had to use the quick release, it would be better to disconnect away from a panicking horse then have to get right up next to it. That was my way of thinking...I was just curious what other people were doing

reiningfan · 08-17-2008, 03:48 PM

I too put the bull snap on my horse's halter. Some people figure that a swinging rope on a loose horse may spook them more, but I like to have a bit of space between me and the horse if I ever do need to realease one (hasn't happened yet, knock on wood). I also like the idea of having a bit of a "handle" to grab onto.

Mav2007 · 08-17-2008, 05:55 PM

I attach the bull snap to the halter. My halter has a panic snap at the throat latch. I figure if something bad happens one of the two panic snaps will be accessible or will open on their own.

fishing_trex · 08-18-2008, 12:45 PM

I put the snap on the halter and the quick release on the trailer. My ties are in two pieces that are velcroed together. The horse end has velcro on both sides and it is sandwiched in between two pieces on the trailer part that each have velcro.

If the horse panics, it will split into two pieces, and I will have a short piece I can use to grab the horse. I was worried about the velcro at first, but it takes a little bit of force to pull them apart and so far it has worked great.

trinabug · 08-18-2008, 03:16 PM

I was told to always put the quick release on the trailer..this is so you can trip it safely from outside the trailer...if you have several horses on your trailer and need to quickly release the one in the front.....but I also agree that this might spook them.....I myself use the aussie tie ring.....my vet told me once that if a horse falls in a loaded trailer and his head is held up in the air it is extremely hard for the to get up...they need to put their head down to regain their footing...if you watch them get up in the pasture this does make sense...he also told me that he had to put one down once that had gotten down in the trailer because the horse in the next shoot stomped him til he broke three of his legs....this happened in just min. ...the owners felt a comotion and pulled over but it was too late...I have only once ever had one get loose in transit an he got out of his halter and went under two horses to join his brother two slots forward...not a mark on him..we are still trying to figure that one out

**taelesean** · 08-18-2008, 03:31 PM

It's something of a catch 22, really...if you put the bull snap on the horse and the panic snap on the trailer, if the horse pannics and you undo the panic snap that big heavy snap is clonking your horse. If you do it the other way, you have to get too close to your panicing horse to undo the snap.

But, there IS as way to do it properly, but it takes some forethought. You will need a bull snap with a short loop of cotton lead on it large enough for the panic snap to pass through it easily (or a rope halter with a large tie loop), and a double lengthe trailer tie (or a regular length lead rope with a panic snap) Tie or clip the bull snap to the trailer, and pass the emergency snap through the loop and bring it back to the tie ring in the trailer.

Now if the horse panics, you can undo the panic snap and let it free, and theres no big heavy trailer tie with a panic snap clonking him and making him more scared - and he has a safely short handle dangleing from his chin

Lopin · 08-19-2008, 06:16 PM

Guess I'm the odd duck here.

I hook the bull snap to the trailer, the quick release snap to the horse. Have you ever tried to release the quick release snaps on a panicky horse? I have and sometimes they release, sometimes the horse is pulling so hard that they just won't give. That's why I always use leather halters, they are going to break before nylon and if you can't get to the snaps, the halter is going to break.

All of my crossties have double end snap ends. I've found these to be MUCH safer/easier and I have two options of unhooking them!

I don't think there really is a "correct" way, just whatever works!

foreveryours · 08-19-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lopin

Guess I'm the odd duck here.

I hook the bull snap to the trailer, the quick release snap to the horse. Have you ever tried to release the quick release snaps on a panicky horse? I have and sometimes they release, sometimes the horse is pulling so hard that they just won't give. That's why I always use leather halters, they are going to break before nylon and if you can't get to the snaps, the halter is going to break.

All of my crossties have double end snap ends. I've found these to be MUCH safer/easier and I have two options of unhooking them!

I don't think there really is a "correct" way, just whatever works!

finally... lol

i was starting to think i was the only one that hooked the quick release to the horse.

Lopin · 08-19-2008, 07:19 PM

Val · 08-20-2008, 12:52 PM

I think the Trailer Safe ties (fishing trex recommended) and leather halters are the way to go....Thanks everybody for your input

Silvercreekcrossings · 08-20-2008, 01:22 PM

This would be why my horses are loose in the trailer....almost every response on this post is talking about the best way to tie to make tying safer or to make the halters safer.......If we have to try so hard to make them safe, why use them at all?

My horses are loose between the dividers that keep them from picking on their neighbors. They can use their head and neck to balance, they can drop their heads to clear their nostrils, they can't get wrapped or hung in halters or ties that they are not wearing.

I will never criticize anyone who ties, I did so myself for years, out of habit and out of a "this is how everyone does it so it must be right" attitude.

sli92 · 08-20-2008, 01:45 PM

SCC- I thought for a bit that I was a loner in having them loose. If it is a short while, and a straight haul, i keep them loose.
I dont trust the current one loose in anything angle though, he is just too curious.

personally i typically just tie with the lead rope, quick release so its easy to undo outside the trailer, and you can still catch them!

fishing_trex · 08-22-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvercreekcrossings

This would be why my horses are loose in the trailer....almost every response on this post is talking about the best way to tie to make tying safer or to make the halters safer.......If we have to try so hard to make them safe, why use them at all?
...

I think this depends a lot on the trailer and the horse. I have a slant load and in the front stall the horse could be loose, no problem. The back stall is large enough that a smaller horse could get halfway turned around and get stuck -- and we have had exactly that happen. Even tied (I keep them tied longer to they can lower their heads), our big gelding can get his head over the divider and pick on my mare. A woman I ride with has a 2H straight load and her horse got his head around into the divider and got stuck; she had to call someone out with a cutting torch to get him out. I still can't figure out how he did that, but he did -- scared her half to death!

Slim Pikkens · 08-22-2008, 08:14 PM

Some horse just have a knack for getting into trouble. Since my horses aren't tied in (two horse trailer) they are also not necessarily unloaded when the lead is snapped onto the halter. They may have a snack instead. This eliminates the anticipation and pushing against the butt bar.

Thunderz Gurlz · 08-22-2008, 10:13 PM

Pogo is always loose in our 2 horse trailer,

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Standing in the cross ties	Dusty's girl	Training	7	11-20-2007 09:56 PM
Ground Ties?	TBxQH	Training	5	05-07-2007 05:54 AM
Dancin' in the cross-ties	Frankie	Training	7	02-11-2007 11:05 PM
Fidgety in the cross ties	Martha89	Training	7	02-10-2007 11:47 AM
Trailer Ties	Lady_MCSE	Tack, Apparel and Equipment	24	07-29-2006 12:32 AM

08-17-2008, 01:23 PM
Val Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Las Vegas Posts: 277	Trailer Ties I have a question about trailer ties.......Most trailer ties have a quick release on one end and a bull snap on the other. Which end do you fasten to the horse? Please advise, Thanks

08-17-2008, 01:27 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	This is how I do it, but it doesn't make it the correct way! I tie the quick release to a loop of baling twine attached to the trailer, and attach the snap end to the halter on the horse. Then, if the horse panics, I can undo the quick release without having to get into the trailer and get close to the horse. __________________

08-17-2008, 02:46 PM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,611	Don't use the bungee trailer ties, you are looking for a horse to get smacked in the noggin !! __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !!

08-17-2008, 03:25 PM
Val Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Las Vegas Posts: 277	I don't use the bungy ones....I thought about getting a set of them, but you have a point there Barnbum. So I will stick with the ones I have. Anyway I have been connecting the quick release to the trailer and the bull snap to the horse. I figure that if I ever had to use the quick release, it would be better to disconnect away from a panicking horse then have to get right up next to it. That was my way of thinking...I was just curious what other people were doing

08-17-2008, 03:48 PM
reiningfan Yearling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western Manitoba, Canada Posts: 516	I too put the bull snap on my horse's halter. Some people figure that a swinging rope on a loose horse may spook them more, but I like to have a bit of space between me and the horse if I ever do need to realease one (hasn't happened yet, knock on wood). I also like the idea of having a bit of a "handle" to grab onto.

08-17-2008, 05:55 PM
Mav2007 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,489	I attach the bull snap to the halter. My halter has a panic snap at the throat latch. I figure if something bad happens one of the two panic snaps will be accessible or will open on their own.

08-18-2008, 12:45 PM
fishing_trex Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,435	I put the snap on the halter and the quick release on the trailer. My ties are in two pieces that are velcroed together. The horse end has velcro on both sides and it is sandwiched in between two pieces on the trailer part that each have velcro. If the horse panics, it will split into two pieces, and I will have a short piece I can use to grab the horse. I was worried about the velcro at first, but it takes a little bit of force to pull them apart and so far it has worked great. __________________ -- There are two ways to slide easily through life -- to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways will save you from thinking.

08-18-2008, 03:16 PM
trinabug Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 237	I was told to always put the quick release on the trailer..this is so you can trip it safely from outside the trailer...if you have several horses on your trailer and need to quickly release the one in the front.....but I also agree that this might spook them.....I myself use the aussie tie ring.....my vet told me once that if a horse falls in a loaded trailer and his head is held up in the air it is extremely hard for the to get up...they need to put their head down to regain their footing...if you watch them get up in the pasture this does make sense...he also told me that he had to put one down once that had gotten down in the trailer because the horse in the next shoot stomped him til he broke three of his legs....this happened in just min. ...the owners felt a comotion and pulled over but it was too late...I have only once ever had one get loose in transit an he got out of his halter and went under two horses to join his brother two slots forward...not a mark on him..we are still trying to figure that one out

08-18-2008, 03:31 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,675	It's something of a catch 22, really...if you put the bull snap on the horse and the panic snap on the trailer, if the horse pannics and you undo the panic snap that big heavy snap is clonking your horse. If you do it the other way, you have to get too close to your panicing horse to undo the snap. But, there IS as way to do it properly, but it takes some forethought. You will need a bull snap with a short loop of cotton lead on it large enough for the panic snap to pass through it easily (or a rope halter with a large tie loop), and a double lengthe trailer tie (or a regular length lead rope with a panic snap) Tie or clip the bull snap to the trailer, and pass the emergency snap through the loop and bring it back to the tie ring in the trailer. Now if the horse panics, you can undo the panic snap and let it free, and theres no big heavy trailer tie with a panic snap clonking him and making him more scared - and he has a safely short handle dangleing from his chin __________________

08-19-2008, 06:16 PM
Lopin Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Home of Brett Favre Posts: 1,695	Guess I'm the odd duck here. I hook the bull snap to the trailer, the quick release snap to the horse. Have you ever tried to release the quick release snaps on a panicky horse? I have and sometimes they release, sometimes the horse is pulling so hard that they just won't give. That's why I always use leather halters, they are going to break before nylon and if you can't get to the snaps, the halter is going to break. All of my crossties have double end snap ends. I've found these to be MUCH safer/easier and I have two options of unhooking them! I don't think there really is a "correct" way, just whatever works! __________________ Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

08-22-2008, 10:13 PM
Thunderz Gurlz Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South West Michigan Posts: 3,746	Pogo is always loose in our 2 horse trailer, __________________ Proud Owner To Pogo 15 yr old Quarter Pony Mare Thunder 30 yr old Hackney/Quarter Pony Gelding

08-19-2008, 07:19 PM
Lopin Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Home of Brett Favre Posts: 1,695	__________________ Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

08-20-2008, 12:52 PM
Val Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Las Vegas Posts: 277	I think the Trailer Safe ties (fishing trex recommended) and leather halters are the way to go....Thanks everybody for your input

08-20-2008, 01:22 PM
Silvercreekcrossings Halter broke Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 175	This would be why my horses are loose in the trailer....almost every response on this post is talking about the best way to tie to make tying safer or to make the halters safer.......If we have to try so hard to make them safe, why use them at all? My horses are loose between the dividers that keep them from picking on their neighbors. They can use their head and neck to balance, they can drop their heads to clear their nostrils, they can't get wrapped or hung in halters or ties that they are not wearing. I will never criticize anyone who ties, I did so myself for years, out of habit and out of a "this is how everyone does it so it must be right" attitude. __________________ Silver Creek Crossings Standing Scotch on the Rocks, FHANA Friesian Specializing in Friesian/Arab Cross

08-20-2008, 01:45 PM
sli92 Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 596	SCC- I thought for a bit that I was a loner in having them loose. If it is a short while, and a straight haul, i keep them loose. I dont trust the current one loose in anything angle though, he is just too curious. personally i typically just tie with the lead rope, quick release so its easy to undo outside the trailer, and you can still catch them! __________________ ~Sarah * PA Sebastion(Oh CanadaxCrystal Vision)

08-22-2008, 08:14 PM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,948	Some horse just have a knack for getting into trouble. Since my horses aren't tied in (two horse trailer) they are also not necessarily unloaded when the lead is snapped onto the halter. They may have a snack instead. This eliminates the anticipation and pushing against the butt bar.