The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Another Dumb Question

4K views 20 replies 14 participants last post by  Vidaloco 
#1 ·
What is the reason for cross-ties? I don't have anyplace to cross tie my horses and I don't plan on teaching our youngsters to cross tie. Is that a mistake, should they learn to stand that way? I suppose I could set something up, but was just curious what the advantages are.
 
#2 ·
I think its important to teach horses to cross tie, since it is a standard way of grooming/tacking/bathing/etc. for most barns (Western/English/Otherwise). My filly never cross tied before (she is 3) and I assumed that she had since she stood quietly on the ties. But now that she's broken quite a few sets (and I talk to her breeders) I know that she hasn't.

If horses learn from babies to stand quietly on cross ties, (even if you don't use them, you can just make them stand a few minutes a day while you pick their feet or groom them) if you sell them for whatever reason.. they won't have a panic button on crossties (like my filly sort of does)

You can set them up in a stall if you don't really have anywhere else to set them up. We put them in our stalls to keep the aisle way cleared. Just make sure the horse is trustworthy with something hanging in its stall. I've never heard of this, but I'm sure some horses would get themselves in trouble if you left them over night with a set of ties hanging there. (In which case, their easy enough to remove and replace daily)
 
#6 ·
My three horses have never been cross tied in their life, I don't know anyone who does it around where I live, maybe its a more common practise in America?
My horses are just tied to a bit of twine attatched to my shed.
I teach them to stand independent of the tie, my arab will stand anywhere I put him, does not need to be tied at all.
I don;t think my horses would appreciate not being able to turn there heads to look at something making noise etc, but I can understand where it would be useful to have the extra control.
I think it would be a good thing to teach your horse if he will ever be in that situation in the future, But I also think that if he is used to tying up fairly short or just standing then it wouldn't be too much of an issue for him.
 
#7 ·
I think my adult mares wouldn't have problems being tied in any manner. I call my mare the old nag when she is tied to a post. She never moves an inch. I just worry about my 2 fillys. I have them standing tied to a post but wasn't sure if cross ties is something I should add to their training. Funny, I thought it was an English thing :lol:
 
#8 ·
I think it is an english thing, just obviously not around my parts!
The only time i've seen horses cross tied is at racing stables, and that's because most of the thoroughbreds won;t stand quietly when tied normally.
I think it would be a good thing to teach your fillies, if only as another thing for them to get used to and yield to, it can only benefit them.
 
#9 ·
If your horse will stand quietly when tied it should stand quietly on a crosstie. I would caution that if you do use crossties make sure you use the quick release buckles and don't leave them. I believe they should be taught to stand tied first. I have seen wrecks on crossties when horses get nervous or impatient. (As a veterinarian I have seen problems with tieing to a post, etc. but the extra room for forward movement and the fact a lot of cross ties are in washrooms with slick concrete floors seems to increase the chance for wrecks.)
 
#10 ·
i have only ever seen cross ties in australia when ive been at the races. apart from that ive only ever seen horses tied to some place with a quick release safety knot. even at the equestrian centre i used to work at we would just tie them to a ring. i personally dont see the difference. if a horse wants to move around they are going to do it whether they are cross tied or not. cross ties certainly dont stop the tbs at the races :D fortunately though my guys are happy to be tied normally so i have no need to try other ways anyway :)
 
#11 ·
I think cross ties are an unnecessary form of restraint. You shouldn't need to cross tie your horse. If you do you might want to work on getting them to stand still while being tied. I taught my horse to ground tie, I drop the rope and I say "Hoe." Whenever he moved I'd back him to the spot and say "Hoe"
 
#12 ·
Abby said:
I think cross ties are an unnecessary form of restraint. You shouldn't need to cross tie your horse. If you do you might want to work on getting them to stand still while being tied. I taught my horse to ground tie, I drop the rope and I say "Hoe." Whenever he moved I'd back him to the spot and say "Hoe"
How is that so. Its just like someon holding your horse. A well behavedhorse should be able to stand in two ties...
 
#13 ·
LopinSlow said:
Abby said:
I think cross ties are an unnecessary form of restraint. You shouldn't need to cross tie your horse. If you do you might want to work on getting them to stand still while being tied. I taught my horse to ground tie, I drop the rope and I say "Hoe." Whenever he moved I'd back him to the spot and say "Hoe"
How is that so. Its just like someon holding your horse. A well behavedhorse should be able to stand in two ties...
I agree. My colts and foals from 6 months never have been cross-tied. It was not necessary nor for vaccinating, grooming, bathing or cutting their hooves.

And a bad behaved horse will not be better behaved by crosstying it.
 
#14 ·
Quote about cross ties as a response to ground-tying being better: "How is that so. Its just like someon holding your horse. A well behavedhorse should be able to stand in two ties.."

Yes, but an even better trained / better behaved horse shouldn't need them - ground tying is excellent. Good job!
 
#16 ·
wild_spot said:
My three horses have never been cross tied in their life, I don't know anyone who does it around where I live, maybe its a more common practise in America?
My horses are just tied to a bit of twine attatched to my shed.
I teach them to stand independent of the tie, my arab will stand anywhere I put him, does not need to be tied at all.
I don;t think my horses would appreciate not being able to turn there heads to look at something making noise etc, but I can understand where it would be useful to have the extra control.
I think it would be a good thing to teach your horse if he will ever be in that situation in the future, But I also think that if he is used to tying up fairly short or just standing then it wouldn't be too much of an issue for him.
yeh i have never seen cross ties in Australia before. lol
 
#17 ·
Many horses that I've worked with were not so well behaved when just tied to a post. They'd tug on my quick-release knot until they'd get enough length to reach that oh-so tasty blade of grass. Eventually they'd untie themselves and be munching away. Okay, so maybe that was an issue with training (or my knot tying skillz).

In cross ties, the horse clearly learns his boundaries because the ties always stay at the same length. I guess for me, it's just easier. I also find it easier to groom being in cross ties because you can go around the front of the horse without having to duck under a hitching post.

My horse was uneasy about using cross ties at first, so I just tied him to one side. If he freaked out, he had enough range of motion to spook, swing his butt around, etc and then chill out. Now, he knows exactly where to stand in the isleway to be comfortably tied in the cross ties. He has enough length to turn his head and look behind him, or drop his nose and relax after a tough workout!

If you ever plan to sell your girls, I would recommend getting them used to cross ties. Heck, it's just another positive thing you can add to their sale listing! "Stands quietly tied or in cross ties."
 
#18 ·
LopinSlow said:
Abby said:
I think cross ties are an unnecessary form of restraint. You shouldn't need to cross tie your horse. If you do you might want to work on getting them to stand still while being tied. I taught my horse to ground tie, I drop the rope and I say "Hoe." Whenever he moved I'd back him to the spot and say "Hoe"
How is that so. Its just like someon holding your horse. A well behavedhorse should be able to stand in two ties...
and a well behaved horse should be able to stand in one :lol:
 
#19 ·
Abby said:
I think cross ties are an unnecessary form of restraint. You shouldn't need to cross tie your horse. If you do you might want to work on getting them to stand still while being tied. I taught my horse to ground tie, I drop the rope and I say "Hoe." Whenever he moved I'd back him to the spot and say "Hoe"
I think crossties are a very good training device. I taught all my horses to stand in the crossties. Its just easier for me. Then they tend to learn to tie quicker then ones i didn't break to cross tie first.
 
#21 ·
Equina said:
If you ever plan to sell your girls, I would recommend getting them used to cross ties. Heck, it's just another positive thing you can add to their sale listing! "Stands quietly tied or in cross ties."
That was my thoughts about it too. I don't plan on selling the babys but figured it might be important to someone else if God forbid I did have to sell them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top