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Conference noted::equitation

Title:	Equine Notes Conference
Notice:	Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:	MTADMS::COBURNIO

Created:	Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2080
Total number of notes:	22383

1930.0. "Trailer Saftey at Shows" by PCBUOA::LPIERCE (Time to Ride) Wed Oct 12 1994 10:09

	I was wondering if any of you fell the same way I do about
	horse show trailer parking and trailer safety.  Not to mention some 
	of the folks who don't have a clue.

	One of the major things that bugs me; is when there is plenty
	of room at a show/event and a truck/trailer comes up and parks
	right next to you - so there is not even a horse length between
	you.

	Another thing, I think it's unsafe to leave your trailer
	ramp down.  Especially when your all parked like sardines.  A
	number of accidents could occur.  Maybe others feel different,
	and I might be over cautious - but you never know what your
	horse is gonna do, or what's gonna happen at this event.  I
	myself have even tripped over a ramp (I was holding my hand up
	to block the sun and fell/tripped on a ramp.)

	I've also been to a few places where the parking is not adequate
	so folks like to unload right in the way of entrance.  They must
	feel like they cannot maneuver the trailer well enough to park
	it with there equine friends inside .. but they block the way
	for others to get in, and unload.
		
	When ever we want to attend a show/event .. and we've never been
	there before, we drive out a week or so before to scope it out.
	

	1. How large is the parking area
	2. How big are the rings
	3. Is there a good warm up area
	4. What do the jumps look like
	5. How long does it take to get there
	6. We check out the water situation
	7. Is there a shady spot to park (if so we need to get there early)
	8. Is there a separate exit to leave
	   (alot of times if there is 1 small exit .. you get stuck
	    in some traffic w/ incoming and outgoing trailers)

	Lou

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1930.1	and other problems..!	EPS::DINGEE	This isn't a rehearsal, you know.	`Fri Oct 14 1994 13:27`	46
	I think this is a good topic, Louisa - the only really unsafe behavior I've seen at shows has been in the trailer parking areas. For day shows, that's also the "saddling enclosure" for each trailer-load as well. A couple of subtopics for this are: 1. On horseback, what should your gait through this area be? I've seen people actually gallop through! My trainer ended up putting "speed bumps" out - this was between trailers and cars where there was not more than about 8 feet clearance, people and horses moving through, etc. (speed bumps = mounting block, tack trunk, whatever, to make them think about slowing down to get around). In general, because there is so much activity in that area, most people keep to a walk. Only if a person is about to miss a class do you see them trot. But cantering and galloping?! That's an accident on-the-hoof... 2. Should you leave your horse tied to the trailer? At all? [Un]supervised? I've seen horses' legs and necks in grave danger because they got caught up in the lead line and fell - their limbs were up in the air so they couldn't get up or get loose. The only solution was to cut them out with a knife, and that wasn't too healthy in one case - the horse was really thrashing. When I did a lot of organized trail-riding, everyone tied their horse to the trailer; but at a hunter show, it's rare to ever see it done. I don't know about leaving trailer ramps down; but I have asked people (or stewards to ask people) to move from entrances or from too close to the trailer. I ask nicely and they have moved. If they don't, most shows have tractors that can pull quite a lot...;-) Besides, you start seeing these same people at all these shows, and you want to keep on as friendly terms as possible! So should they!! -julie
1930.2		PCBUOA::LPIERCE	Time to Ride	`Fri Oct 14 1994 17:38`	15
	The new bungie ties work great for tieing to a trailer. I wish I had invented that. I can't see a way the critter can get tangled in them (but ya never know) :-) We never leave our kids unattended. They tie great to a trailer. Some folks can put there kids inside the triler, but ours hate it. (they kick and fuss) tied out side they just stand there..they dont even need food. but we never leave them alone! I see alot of folks who do leaves there's .. I have not seen an accident yet, but I would hate to come back to my trailer and find my horse hanging or upset. Lou
1930.3		NRODEV::BIGELOW	PAINTS; color your corral	`Mon Oct 17 1994 10:17`	12
	My thoughts on safety.... Tieing to the trailer.... Luckly all my horses tie well, and they get out a lot, so I tend to tie 'em and leave 'em. I think where people have trouble is when they tie too long, don't leave enough hay or water, tie too close to other horses - especially ones who may fight. I firmly pratice tieing the horses short and leaving a ucket of water, and a large hay net. opps, in comes a customer.....more thoughts later.....
1930.4		CSLALL::LCOBURN	Plan B Farm	`Mon Oct 17 1994 14:48`	16
	I tie to the trailer at organized rides, as well, but I do not ever leave her unattended. She ties well, and behaves herself, but you can never be sure of the horse tied to the trailer next to you. I've had people unload beside me, then tie their horse to on side of their trailer next to my horse without a word, no "does she kick?", nothing. Pretty risky, if you ask me. My mare does not kick, but how do they know that without asking? And even though I don't leave her unattended, I tie her only with the break away trailer ties, just in case. When I need to leave the trailer area, she either goes with me or back into the trailer. She's a very easy loader and I feel safer with her in there than tied to the side. If it's too hot out for her to stand inside, then she tags along on the lead line.