Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Trailer accidents/to tie or not

On Sat, 9 Nov 2002 10:07:19 -0700 (MST), <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>...  The odds are still better with seat belts, and likewise,
>they are still better for tied horses in trailers.)
>
>Heidi

I would suggest the the safest way to go is with either a breakaway
safety halter, or a "weak" tie.  That is, an arrangement that prevents
the horse from getting his head down too far, but that will break or
release the head before the forces in an accident get large enough to
cause serious injury.  Unfortunately, most trailer ties seem to be
made of material strong enough to tow the trailer with!

In my own rollover accident, Kahlil was not tied and he suffered only
superficial injuries.  When the wrecker guy cut the trailer open to
get him out about an hour after the rollover, Kahlil immediately began
chowing down on the grass in the highway median.  Had he been tied
with a strong tie, he probably would have broken his neck.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com




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