Tether systems/safety

[Susan Willis <smw@sos.net>]

I think the tether systems are a great concept and
they certainly are gaining in popularity. Forgive
me for beating this into the ground, but there is
one safety concern anyone using these must be
aware of.

Trailer manufacturers, if they consider horse
safety outside of the trailer at all, are mainly
concerned with the area immediatley around the tie
rings they have provided on that particular model.
Because they are ASSUMING that you will tie your
horse to that spot. But if you use a tether
system, or a high line, or an electric corral, you
should be aware of what potential hazards your
horse might face.

Area #1 - the wheel wells - are they rounded or do
they have sharp, protruding edges? If your horse
was grazing in a pen and stuck his face under the
wheel well, then jerked upward suddenly, would he
cut himself? Think it doesnt happen? You havent
been around horses long enough!

Area#2 - the bottom edge of the trailer frame in
front of the wheels and behind.....is it rough,
jagged and potentially dangerous? A horse that
lays down and rolls may get  a leg under there,
and could cut himself badly.

Area#3 Your tack room door - does it have a
protruding latch that your tether rope could get
caught on? Or a halter if the horse rubbed against
it?

Call me a pessimist, but one thing I do know for
fact is that horses can hurt themselves even under
the best of circumstances, so if we are aware of
all the potential hazards, and we can alleviate
some of them, perhaps we'll up the odds!

Be Safe!
Susan