| Standing your horse in crossties in the aisle way | | | | and the halter, safely, to release the snap? For |
| of the barn is great for grooming and tacking. It | | | | me, the ideal spot is in between. Have two |
| even works for blacksmith time. Most horses | | | | lengths of crossties on each side, with the |
| stand perfectly fine in crossties. They might fidget | | | | quick-release snap connecting them in between, |
| now and then, toss their head or paw. They | | | | preferably a little higher than midway. When your |
| might look around and try and socialize with a | | | | horse is in trouble, rearing, backing up in a fit, |
| horse in a nearby stall. They might even "talk a | | | | trying to bolt forward or sitting down from pulling |
| little trash" of the nickering, whinnying kind if they | | | | back so hard, it's going to be the easiest route to |
| get some interest. They may take a few steps | | | | your unsnapping the quick-release without you |
| forward, a few steps back. They might rest a | | | | getting hurt. It's the safest route for the horse, |
| leg, and be totally at ease with themselves and | | | | too. |
| their situation. The ideal setup for crossties would | | | | A truly fastidious person can have quick-release |
| be in a designated grooming area or stall that is | | | | snaps at the top and midway. I have seen barns |
| open at the front. This would eliminate any | | | | where the connection to the screw eyes on the |
| distractions for the horse, and you. Whether it be | | | | wall is a small double or triple loop made out of |
| in an aisle way or grooming stall, it is referred to | | | | baling twine. In the event your horse starts acting |
| as crossties. Where's your horse...? He's in the | | | | up excessively, the baling twine will snap and can |
| crossties. | | | | easily be replaced once your horse is calmed |
| The actual crossties themselves are first on the | | | | down. The chances of your needing to pull the |
| list for success and safety for you and horse. | | | | quick-release snaps are not as common as one |
| They must, and I cannot stress this enough, they | | | | might think. Usually some calm assurance if the |
| must have quick-release snaps. Quick-release | | | | horse gets upset is enough to settle him or her |
| snaps are designed, appropriately, to release | | | | down. Sometimes a firm word or two, particularly |
| quickly. If your horse gets spooked from a | | | | if they are pulling back on the crossties, will do the |
| sudden noise or action in or around the barn and | | | | trick. A simple, "Get up" in a low voice will work |
| reacts to the extreme, he may need to be | | | | wonders most often. |
| "released quickly." My personal horse Malaki is | | | | For horses that have never stood in crossties |
| notorious for becoming unglued when someone | | | | before, take it slow. Ease them into it. Groom |
| walks overhead in the hayloft. I can usually calm | | | | them in the aisle way on a lead shank. Get them |
| her, but having quick-release snaps has come in | | | | used to the area and process. You might want to |
| handy on more than one occasion. | | | | keep the lead shank on them the first time or |
| The placement of the snaps is paramount. I have | | | | two that you hook them up to the crossties. Put |
| seen many configurations over the years and | | | | the cross ties on one side, and put some tension |
| some are mind-boggling to say the least. I wonder | | | | on the lead shank on the other. Have them step |
| why anyone would attach the quick-release snaps | | | | forward and back, to get the feel of being |
| to the screw eye where the crossties connect to | | | | tethered on both sides. The next time you go to |
| the wall. As a good rule, the screw eye should be | | | | hook them up, they will be accustomed to the |
| high enough so that a horse rearing could not get | | | | routine. As a word of caution, me being an old |
| its leg up over the crosstie. Thus said, if a horse | | | | Thoroughbred racehorse trainer, Thoroughbreds |
| does start rearing and manages to get a leg hung | | | | acquired off the track know nothing of crossties. |
| up, how on earth is the average height person | | | | They have a single tie in their stalls, usually at the |
| going to reach up high enough to yank on the | | | | back or on the side, and that's where they are |
| quick-release snap. This is no time to go searching | | | | groomed. They are hand held for the blacksmith. |
| for a stepstool or ladder. | | | | Take it extra slow when introducing them to |
| Worse, I have seen crossties where the | | | | crossties. Don't assume anything with any breed |
| quick-release snaps are connected to the horse's | | | | of horse. If you purchase a new horse, ask if he |
| halter. Again, if a horse is acting up and manages | | | | or she is used to cross ties. Don't find out the |
| to get itself in trouble, what is the likelihood of | | | | hard way. Again, safety is the key, for you, and |
| your being able to get close enough to him or her | | | | for the horse. |