Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Tracy -- I've been using the Hi-Ties and really like them a lot.  I've 
camped next to people that have Spring Ties, and you are right, they are 
noisy. They are also springs, so if a horse gets tangled and you release 
them, the spring springs up, then comes down again.   I don't feel that 
they are safe for MY horses (and that is just MY opinion).  I've witnessed 
some accidents that have caused my opinion to be what it is.  REMEMBER -- 
there is no 100% safe way to confine a horse.  Everybody has their own 
preference for what works for them.  I've seen a lot of accidents over the 
years in all kinds of containment systems and for my horses, the Hi-Ties 
are the best method to restrain them.

I have a comparison page on the different arm-tie products 
here:  http://members.tripod.com/ridephotos/horse/ties.html

The thing that I have found with horses that are on ties that spring, or 
bungees, is that they often learn to pull -- that is not something that I 
want my horses to learn.  So, I don't tie on a bungee (for other safety 
reasons as well), and like the Hi-Tie because in over three years of use 
none of my horses have learned to tie or pull on it.  I typically have had 
two horses spending the equivalent of two to three months worth of nights 
on their Hi-Ties each year, and have had zero injuries as a result.   So 
there is my opinion. :-)

Here is a photo of one of my horses on his tie at the Grand Canyon ride 
last October.  You can see how he is tethered, with velcro at the top, a 4" 
O ring attached to a 2' nylon tie (a regular in-trailer type tie), another 
4" O ring that the trailer tie attaches to it w/ a quick release snap, then 
the cotton rope is tied thru the O ring in a quick release knot (you may 
need to tie a more secure knot if your horse is Houdini), then a bullsnap 
that attaches to the horses halter.  DO NOT TIE YOUR HORSE OVERNIGHT WITH A 
QUICK RELEASE SNAP DIRECTLY TO THE HALTER.  They only need to rub on a leg 
to release themselves and get 
loose.  http://community.webshots.com/s/image1/2/99/84/95329984ozmJWj_fs.jpg

Karen
in NV

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There are 2 ways to win at this sport. You take a horse and race him for a
short time and then find a new horse or you can take one horse , do the
homework and spend many miles and years enjoying that horse.
~  Paddi Sprecher

ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

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