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If we camp in a place that has big enough trees we
highline. We tie one end to the hay rack on the trailer and the other to a
tree. We use a tree saver on the tree end and a tiedown with a ratchet
strap on the other end (a non-stretch rope is run in-between the tree saver and
the tie down). To get the line high enough in the tree we stand on the
camper step. To tighten the highline we use the ratchet.
We usually tie 2 horses on a line. We put a
hay bag on either end (we've modified the bags and have knot eliminator type
rings that the bags hang on). There are knot eliminators in the center of
the line to keep the horses from tangling up with each other. We can space
it right so that a muck bucket full of water can sit in the center of the line
so either horse can drink but they can't become tangled. The horses can
walk up and down their section of line, lie down, roll etc.
If we are somewhere without suitable trees we use a
trailer tie system (my husband custom makes them). We have two rings
attached to the overhead tie bar, one for the horse and one for the hay
bag.
The horses are quite comfortable with
either way and it takes less than 5 minutes to set up either system.
We've been at this for some time now and so far so
good. We had a near wreck at one ride before we found non-stretch rope....We had
one horse on the line, it rained and the rope stretched. The horse rolled
(usually not a problem) and I looked out of the camper just in time to see all
four of the horses ankles above the high line rope, the rope had really
stretched in the rain. I hollered, the horse quit rolling and we tightened
up the line. Gave me a scare, I still have visions of that horse hog tying
himself in the highline.
Mary-Anne
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