Securing in the trailer

[haffyfan]

Do you use good old baler twine or some sort of trailer tie? I've just been looking at getting some ties and it's a minefield...i didn't realise there were so many different designs!

Any recommendations either way?

[brigadier]

Hot potato with me Haffy! Just had a huge row with R and R after Welly bust a brand new leather headcollar (the leather ripped like paper) when he pulled back, he was tied to baler twine. They said you shouldnt tie a horse to baler twine and headcollars should be designed to break. I am inclined to disagree but I appear to be in the minority. (I blieve a headcollar should be stronger than baler twine at least, especially with a good strong horse. (I can see the case with a sec b or finer animal.) I like the elastic rope ties for trailers, the ones with a panic release at one end and use a leather headcollar so in dire need the leather will break but hope for one that is better quality than the one I bought.
One of the issues I have when loading Harriet by myself is that she loads and follows me on fine but then panics if I tie her and go behind to do the bum bar, the compromise is I just thread a long lead rope though and go back so I can keep pressure on it but she isnt fixed. We are gradually getting there with this method but have had one or two quick rear unloads!

[fleabitten]

I just use baler twine. I have a separate lead rope that stays permanently tied to the baler twine. I lead the horse in and then clip the permanent leadrope to the headcollar and remove the other lead rope. Saves getting headbutted trying to tie up! Ive never saw anyone use a trailer tie but then ive never looked in many peoples horseboxes to see what other people use lol Anyone i know just uses baler twine. Baler twine works for me as murphys a good loader and traveller and never had any problems with it. If it aint broke dont need to fix it.

I only found out that tip a few months ago about having a 'trailer leadrope' - was helping someone at riding club and they had it set up like that and i thought it was genius.

As for leather headcollars, murphy doesnt one and owner doesnt worry about it (she never uses one, at least) so i just use an ordinary webbing headcollar.

[haffyfan]

Thank you. Flea i have spent my whole life tying up with baler twine and i'm pretty certain we were actually taught to do so at both RS and PC? I partially get the it's quite strong thing but in my experience it does snap under pressure - how do you go on with monkeys who learn to pull back and break away with ties that give? I guess i know the answer really - train them properly and they won't!

My friends pony did this, it was pure naughtiness, she knew she could snap the twine so she did - she was a very petite show pony - a tie would have been a nightmare with her but i don't think they had been invented, they use to double band the really thick twine so when she pulled she stayed tied and would after a few attempts give in and stand. She was a general cowbag it has to be said, would take several men to hold her down for the vet when vacination time came round and bathing her was a joy, (she was barely over 13hh and yes of course [white] grey!).