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day. Anything you can do to
simulate these conditions will
enhance your horse’s health.
If he is tied, provide hay in a
bag that he cannot get his feet
into, nor wrap around his head as he’s
pushing and pulling to get the hay. If he
is not tied, place the hay on the floor so
he’ll be able to maintain a more natural
head/neck position. By putting his head
down, he can drain debris from his respiratory
system, which helps to prevent
respiratory issues.
Avoid bungee cords. If you decide
to tie your horse in the trailer, do not
use a bungee-type stretch cord. These
products are dangerous to horses and
humans. I knew of one horse that was
able to get out of the trailer while still
attached to the cord — then it broke! I
know of numerous horses and humans
who have lost eyes and had faces cut
open by these.
Use a breakaway tie rope. To avoid
a trailer-tying tragedy, use a small rope
or string that will break under pressure,
such as leather, a hay string, or
a high-tech option. (Two options are
Davis Turtle Snap Cross Ties, available
from Equestrian Collections, and the
safety-release trailer-tie products from
Jemal Escape Mechanisms.) Attach the
breakaway part directly to the trailer’s
attachment or ring.
Leave some slack. One trailer-tying
myth is that the tie rope helps a horse
balance, and will even keep him from
falling down if he loses his balance. This
is false. To see how a horse balances
USRider ® Equestrian Motor Plan
Hitch Up! e-Magazine • Summer 2010
HEIDI NYLAND PHOTO
in the trailer, get a trailer cam. You’ll
then see how he balances during turns,
stops, and acceleration.
Horses need room (a little slack in
the rope) to use their heads and necks
for balance. Standing up inside the
trailer while it is in motion requires constant
minor adjustments of the horse’s
musculature, even on the interstate at a
constant speed. Short ties in particular
make it almost impossible for a horse
to balance with his own weight and
normal methods. They also make it
HEIDI NYLAND PHOTO
If you use a traditional lead rope to tie
your horse, you will likely need to cut your
horse free if he panics, notes Dr. Rebecca
Gimenez. Even this safety knot will pull tight.
Carry a sharp knife, and know how to use it.
impossible for a horse to get up.
Watch the rope ends. If you choose
to tie your horse in the trailer, make
sure that the loose end of the tie rope
cannot get outside of the trailer, where
it could become wrapped around the
axle or another object. This scenario will
likely lead to a tragic death.
Train your horse. The scenario you
described could have been avoided
if the horse had been taught to yield
to pressure and to exit the trailer only
when given a specific cue. Train your
horse to safely load and unload with
the help of a reputable trainer. Practice
loading your horse as an essential
evacuation skill, so he will load regardless
of inclement weather and other
adverse conditions. USR
Rebecca Gimenez, PhD (animal physiology),
is a primary instructor for Technical
Large Animal Emergency Rescue.
A Major in the United States Army
Reserve, she is a decorated Iraqi war
veteran and past Logistics Officer for
VMAT-2. She is an invited lecturer on
animal-rescue topics around the world,
and an equine journalist.
Dr. Rebecca Gimenez’s TLAER business
partner, also a primary instructor,
is Tomas Gimenez, MVZ, Dr. Med. Vet.,
professor emeritus, Clemson University,
National Veterinary Response Team,
National Disaster Medical System.
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In the trailer, provide feed to
keep your horse’s digestive
system running smoothly —
but do so carefully, says Dr.
Gimenez. If your horse is tied,
provide hay in a bag that he
cannot get his feet into, nor
wrap around his head as he’s
pushing and pulling to get
the hay.
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