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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Blocker Tie Ring

9/28/2012

 
There is one last mini-story to last weekend's show ...

After both tests were done, I went up to the show office to retrieve my score sheets.  I stood outside of the show office chatting with Marbaskin's Mom all the while keeping my eye on Sydney who was tied at the trailer.

We walked inside where we started talking with the show secretary.  I was there for less 20 minutes.  Out front, there came a call for a loose horse. Someone asked what color, and I heard, dark bay.  I knew it was Sydney.  

I blurted oh, sh*t! and bolted out the door.  Someone yelled that the horse's name was Sydney (THANK YOU HALTER TAGS!).  He's mine! I hollered, and the crowd laughed and was relieved.  The gentleman who had Sydney said that he had found him out on the main road (OH MY GOD!) where he was happily trotting away from the barn.  Sydney, Sydney, Sydney - it's a long walk back to Bakersfield!

I looked him over carefully and could find nothing wrong.  He was calm and happy and seemed relieved to see me.  We walked back to the trailer where I used the double loop on my Blocker Tie Ring.  Apparently, the single loop that I've used for years is not firm enough for Kiwis.

Speedy is quite respectful of the Basic Hold on the Blocker Tie Ring.  He has never tested the strength of that setting and is content to stand at the trailer for days.  When I returned Sydney to the trailer, I noted that the tie ring was still in the closed position which means that he simply leaned steadily on the rope until it slid out.  
Picture
Images from the Blocker Ranch
Using the Medium Hold setting takes a LOT of pressure to pull the rope free.  If Sydney pulls THAT hard, it'll be loud and BIG. And if THAT setting doesn't hold him, looping the tail end of the rope over the whole thing, Maximum Hold, adds one more layer of "grab" that I don't think he could pull free from even if he really tried.
Picture
Medium Hold
Picture
Maximum Hold
While this "escape" could have ended in disaster, I really just let it go as it does no good to imagine what might have happened.  Instead, I now know that Sydney needs to be tied in a slightly different way than my other horses have needed.  I have camped with my horses for almost two decades; they have always stood tied at the trailer.  This is the FIRST time that I've ever had a LOOSE HORSE.

Of course, it would be the horse from Down Under - he obviously learned to drive on the "wrong" side of the road and was freaked out about having to repeat the journey home.  No doubt he was thinking that his owner was a complete idiot!  Right side, Sydney, right side.
Kelly link
9/28/2012 02:56:00 am

My biggest fear at a show! So thankful Sydney is safe and sound!

Karen
9/30/2012 05:42:08 am

If I had walked back to the trailer and saw that my horse was missing, I might have been more upset. Since he was hand delivered without me needing to worry, I was able to just shrug it off. You can bet that I will be using the maximum hold tie from now on! :0)

lytha
9/28/2012 03:52:41 am

I love that blocker tie ring and I really want one for my next horse. There was a debate on Fugly about hard tying and I really think whether you hard tie or not depends on if you've personally seen a horse injured/killed from either breaking free or not breaking free. Mugwump's solution is great, safe, and even cures pullers - a rope that just keeps feeding out to diffuse the horse but never ends so the horse is never truly free. That sounds like a blocker tie ring (virtually) to me. I always used electric paddocks until I realized they only work until that one night they don't. My horse just decided to leave one night, and thankfully he was caught and I was just embarrassed. After that my camping solution was always tie at night, and paddock only in daylight hours. So glad Sydney was not hurt!

Karen
9/30/2012 05:46:25 am

Lytha - I've been using, and encouraging others to use them as well, for quite a while. I have three in my trailer, one for each stall, and two in the barn. I think they are the greatest invention. Like you said, everyone chooses their preferred method of tying based on which kinds of accidents they've seen or heard of. Not tying is just as dangerous as tying!

Your "tie at night, paddock during the day" was a good compromise. I use the Hitie for Speedy with a Block Tie Ring at the top. He can lay down, move around, but the rope will give if there is an emergency.

We all just make the best choices for our individual horses that we can. Hopefully everyone comes home safely!


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
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    • 2016
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  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
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    • 2019 Dressage Tests
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