Ridecamp: [RC] high-line directions

Jennifer, you use a mechanical advantage. A series of
bowline loops and caribeaners that you run the rope back
through after it goes around the tree (or stationary
object.) I'll try to explain: 

example:

rope (mountain climbing is best, it doesn't have as much
stretch. There is a company online, I can look it up for
you if you want it - they sell pieces and imperfect rope at
a discount. Fine for horses, just not for dangling over a
canyon.)
tie bowline knot (#1)so that there is a loop in one end of
the rope. Click a caribeaner to this loop. Wrap around the
tree, as high up as you can get it and click the carib.
over your long end. (I use the carib. as the rope pulls
tighter that way.) 
Go to the other tree and wrap around the tree, tightening
so the rope is as taut as you can get it by hand. Measure
back apprx. 8-10 feet on section between the trees. Tie
another bowline knot(#2) with a loop at that point. Wrap
around the tree again and this time, near the tree on the
section that is the "end" of the rope, tie another bowline
knot(#3) with a loop. Get this one so it is as close to the
tree as possible. Attach a carib. to each loop. Now, the
fun part and you will amaze your ridecamper buddies when
you do all this, trust me!! Put the rope back up on the
tree at the height you want, run or click the rope through
the bowline/carib. (#2) on the section the horse will be
on, run it back through the last carib/bowline loop (#3)
and use this mechanical advantage to tighten the living
hell out of the rope. One small girl can get it pretty darn
tight all by your little lonesome. Once you get it tight
enough (and you may need to practice a bit at home,
especially getting the loops in the most advantageous
places) Then, wrap your remaining end around the tree a
couple of times and then tie with any sort of a quick
release knot back onto itself, or onto one of the carib. At
the Klickitat ride, I had the highest, tightest line in
camp and once I got the knots figured out, it was a cinch.
(pun intended!) (I printed out how to tie a bowline and
kept it in my tack box)

I also put a bowline loop in the middle to tie the horse
to. I have only had one accident with using a high line (or
is it a picket line?) and Classy my friends horse scratched
his head with a back foot and got his leg over his lead
rope. I had to get up and cut his lead rope loose. NOW I
will have a quick release on one end of the line and also
tie them a little shorter at night when I can't watch them
as closely.

Here is a great rope site and the bowline is there!! My
favorite knot!

http://www.scoutingresources.org.uk/knots_az1.html#Bowline%20Bend

Hopefully you can understand my directions, if not, I will
try to draw it out and e-mail it to you, or take a digital
photo too. 

heidi sowards




--- Jennifer Judkins <jenjudkins@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> I was wondering how you adjust the tension on this
> highline.  I've tried them before, like the idea, but
> have a hard time getting the rope A. High enough and B.
> tight enough so it doesn't sag lower than the horses head
> over time.  I agree the high picket does seem to be a
> good compromise between tying and fencing, nothing to be
> destroyed by other rampaging horses.  Any tips on setting
> these up properly would be appreciated.  Jennifer.
>  "A. Perez" <walkergirl@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Hi:
> 
> Please forward this on to Ride Camp for me......I can't
> seem to 
> get anything
> into the message board.
> 
> There are two differences between highline and picket.
> 
> Highline goes OVER the horses head. Up high. At least 6 
> feet. A highline
> rope is placed between two stationary objects (I've used
> by 
> highline rope
> over my trailer and camper roof -- pad corners with a
> towel.) 
> Distance
> between trees depends on number of horses to go on
> highline. 
> Ideally, about
> 40 feet. Horses are tied to highline with highline lead
> ropes -
> - 10 feet
> long. A horse IS NOT allowed to move up and down
> highline. He 
> stays in one
> spot. Horses are about 10 feet a part if buddies.
> 
> I've used highlines over 30 years and never had a horse
> get 
> hurt or get
> loose (if tied correctly). The nice thing about a
> highline is 
> that the pull
> is up....the horse wants to get loose, he yanks back on 
> highline, head goes
> up, butt goes down, hindlegs go under and he just
> scrambles in 
> one spot. He
> runs in a circle and he can pull all he wants and can't
> get 
> hurt or loose.
> 
> My horses lay down flat on the ground under the highline
> and 
> when camping,
> will spend a week, two weeks, three weeks on a highline
> that I 
> move from
> site to site to keep soil impact down. They are fed while
> tied 
> and have
> water in tub near by. They are perfectly content on the 
> highline as they
> can see in all directions, move in all directions and
> even butt 
> up to one
> another in a strange forest. .
> 
> Picket. Horses are tied to with a rope chest high. Lot of
> 
> packers use 'em.
> I don't because a horse can jump, pull back, 'panic'
> forward 
> and take it
> out. I prefer the old highline and it can be set up
> anywhere, 
> easy to
> store and easy to use.
> 
> In Nevada where there are no trees in the desert. I put
> horses 
> between
> truck and trailer. Once had a sand storm come up -- not
> hard 
> but it blew
> pretty good. Took a couple canvases (some people use
> plastic 
> sheets) and
> hung one at each end of truck and trailer. Horses had a 
> cozy 'stall' out of
> the wind. Only problem was scorpions....
> 
> If you'd like to see my horses on highline, go to website
> www.twohorseenterprises. That's Sig and Bud highlined at
> a dry 
> camp in
> Oregon.
> 
> (Thanks for posting for me.....)
> 
> Bonnie Davis
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________________________
> Get your own "800" number
> Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more
> http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag
> 
>
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net,
> http://www.endurance.net.
> Information, Policy, Disclaimer:
> http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
> Subscribe/Unsubscribe
> http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
> 
> If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director
> at Large 
> and By Laws Elections.
> 
>
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now


=====
Heidi-aerc#M20935  /\_/\~    http://www.synjinarts.com
                 ~~/~~  \\~~~~   (Wildlife/Western & Equine
                  /   O> ) \~~~~~    Art)
                 /    __/   \~~~~~~
                (_@_/  |     \~~~~
                       |      \~~~~~~
                       |       \~~~~

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus ? Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
http://mailplus.yahoo.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large 
 and By Laws Elections.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=