| By Heidi
Potter, PATH Int'l Equine Welfare
Committee
Things happen…… Unexpected
stimulus, bee stings or other unforeseen
incidents can happen while your horse
is hitched up. Horses, being prey
animals, are naturally claustrophobic.
If they feel trapped while being threatened
or scared, to the point of flight,
they can seriously injure themselves
or anyone nearby. Here are a few thoughts
on how to help prevent this from happening.
Not unlike duct tape, baling twine
has many different uses. Here is one
idea on how to “recycle”
the twine that seems to collect around
most barns. Once your horse has been
trained to give to pressure you can
avoid serious injury by adding a piece
of baling twine to your stationary
hitching areas. The baling twine remains
attached to your cross tie rings or
hitching rail. You simply then attach
your cross ties, or lead rope, directly
to the twine. The twine will break
if the horse pulls back in a panic,
thus reducing the chance of serious
injury to you both.
If you are using cross ties with
panic release snaps on one end they
should be attached to the twine, not
the horses head. This leaves more
room to safely release him if he is
in a panic.
There are a few items on the market
that also help to make tying your
horse more safe. One of these items
is known as the “Blocker”
ring. This neat little device offers
a few different tying options. Some
of the options allow the leadline
to release as the horse pulls back,
but in a much slower manner. Therefore,
if he pulls back in a panic he experiences
a slow release and not firm resistance.
I also recommend avoiding cross ties
made of stretchy, bungy-type materials.
If stretched beyond their capacity
they can break. The result can be
a dangerous, fast moving, whipping
piece of rope and metal, ricocheting
around the horse and human.
Lastly, use a safety release knot
whenever tying up your horse. That
way you can quickly release and move
your horse if the need arises.
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