Posted 2011-03-01 11:32 AM (#130937 - in reply to #130925) Subject: RE: Overnite with my horse
Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas
[. Are you referring to "picket lines?" These are about chest height. I think the highlines being referred to are about 7-9 ft. high...That would be the day when I see my horse get her hind leg that high.. Highlines properly tied(up high and tight) won't give enough to allow the amount of sag it would require to get a leg over it.
Posted 2011-03-01 7:00 PM (#130956 - in reply to #130937) Subject: RE: Overnite with my horse
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Posts: 376
Location: Missouri
Quote: "That would be the day when I see my horse get her hind leg that high.. Highlines properly tied(up high and tight) won't give enough to allow the amount of sag it would require to get a leg over it. "
Hate to think of how many times I've heard this, then see their horse dangling from it's hind pastern with severe rope burn. I've yet to see a horse that could not scratch it's ears with it's hind foot. If they can scratch their ears, they can sure get a foot to their chin and over a lead rope.
Some folks never have a problem with it, but far too many do. I don't want to be there anymore. I'd rather leave them loose as high tie them overnight.
Posted 2011-03-02 1:29 PM (#131011 - in reply to #130956) Subject: RE: Overnite with my horse
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Posts: 342
Location: Ohio
Originally written by bbsmfg3 on 2011-03-01 8:00 PM
Quote: "That would be the day when I see my horse get her hind leg that high.. Highlines properly tied(up high and tight) won't give enough to allow the amount of sag it would require to get a leg over it. " Hate to think of how many times I've heard this, then see their horse dangling from it's hind pastern with severe rope burn. I've yet to see a horse that could not scratch it's ears with it's hind foot. If they can scratch their ears, they can sure get a foot to their chin and over a lead rope. Some folks never have a problem with it, but far too many do. I don't want to be there anymore. I'd rather leave them loose as high tie them overnight.
I thought you were meaning over the highline itself as opposed to a lead rope.
Well, getting caught up on a lead rope could go for any type of tying, whether its to a highline, picket line, hitching post, fence, trailer, etc. The only solution would be hobbling the problem horse while tied or put in a fenced area with no halter on (if you're worried about them getting their foot hung up). Just seems to me that a good foundation of training to stand quietly tied would be enough to eliminate 95% of the things that could go wrong.
Posted 2011-03-03 10:47 AM (#131076 - in reply to #130989) Subject: RE: Overnite with my horse
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Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Gone, What they usually do is slip a piece of old garden hose over the rope. If the horse gets a leg over it, the hose will prevent the friction of the rope sliding against their flesh. (The rope slides inside the hose section)
Depending on what you ar doing, A short 12-18" length of hose on a lead rope would prevent a horse from getting rope burns when he got his leg over the lead.
When you picket, They often use a 10 foot length of hose slipped over the rope to keep whats near the horses feet from getting wrapped around a leg.
Posted 2011-03-04 8:55 AM (#131136 - in reply to #39273) Subject: RE: Overnite with my horse
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Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
The rules of 7 for a highline are 7' high, 7' foot between horses and 17" of lead rope.
Usually when horses get a leg over the lead, It's because they had more than a 17" lead that allowed the horse to put his head down. If the head is lowered, the horse can scratch his chin and get a leg over the lead. Many of us want to feed on the ground or allow the horses to lay down while on the High Line. so we allow for longer leads. This is where the horses get themselves into trouble.
If you want to be absolutely safe with a highline, Just remember the Rules of 7
Posted 2011-03-04 9:21 AM (#131138 - in reply to #39273) Subject: RE: Overnite with my horse
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Posts: 1069
Location: MI.
When attaching the lead to the high line, I keep it a foot from the ground so they can drink out of their water bucket. They can lay down with their head up. This is more comfortable for them especially after riding long hours but it comes with possible issues when scratching their heads as I mentioned before. Fornunately, I have never had a horse get hung up......Three rules of 7 are good to remember.
Posted 2011-03-04 3:26 PM (#131174 - in reply to #131138) Subject: RE: Overnite with my horse
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Posts: 376
Location: Missouri
Quote" I have never had a horse get hung up.
Take it from someone that has. It's not pleasant, and not worth taking the chance.
One year, while in Montana, we had 2 of them get hung up the second day we were there. It rendered them unuseable for the remainder of the trip. Fortunately, we had spare horses, but resulted in the others being ridden every day. I like to let them have a rest once in awhile.