Summer is just around the corner! Are you heading to competitions with your horse? Do you enjoy camping with your equine partner? If you travel with your horse for any reason, the HiTie Trailer System may be a helpful tool for you.
The HiTie was developed to provide a comfortable and safe alternative to trailer tying and portable corrals. The HiTie allows horses to safely graze, eat, drink, roll, and lie down while tied. It gives horses free movement and access to an area equivalent of a 13 foot diameter round pen.
If you are planning a camping trip this summer, the HiTie can help reduce set up time, shorten your packing list, and give your horse more comfort and ease at base camp.
If you are traveling to horse shows or competitions this summer, you can utilize the HiTie while you wait to ride in-between classes/divisions, or after your ride to let your horse relax.
You can use a halter or a collar with the HiTie. Some find that using a collar gives horses more freedom to lay down and roll, as the collar slides up and down the neck as they move.
EasyCare Customer, Lisa, shares how the HiTie has helped her enjoy camping and shares some tips for success.
“Over the years, my horse camping has evolved and improved. I began a long time ago with a tent and stock trailer. My horse would either get tied to the trailer all night or I would build an electric pen. I got tired of rough camping in the elements and having an occasional loose horse. Sometimes my horse would jump out of his electric pen, or a neighbors horse would get loose and run through MY pen, causing equine chaos. My riding buddy got a “portable pen” but her horse got tangled in it when he rolled and took the pen with him when he ran off. That was a wreck! Some of my friends carry heavy steel pipe panels on their trailer to build stalls at camp. It’s effective, but they are so heavy and cumbersome to set up and break down. A few years ago, I finally saved enough and upgraded to small-ish 3 horse living quarters trailer. My sleeping situation was vastly improved but my horse was still jumping out of his electric pen when he would have random, late night wanderlust.
I purchased HiTies from EasyCare for my trailer and my horse containment issues have been resolved! The HiTie is pretty easy to install, just two holes need to be drilled through the frame of the trailer and it is bolted on with included hardware. The hardest part for me was finding the frame in my triple walled, insulated aluminum trailer. The HiTie was installed at the highest point of the frame where the uprights meet the ceiling frame. They can be installed to fold downwards or to the left, or right. Take some time to look at your trailer windows and layout to figure out where to install it.”
Some things to consider before installing: Do you want it on the living quarters door side or on the back side? If you use a canopy, will it be in the way? Where will you install rings for your buckets and hay bags? How close can you install your HiTies so the horses can’t reach each other?
“Once my HiTies were installed, I had to figure out how I wanted to rig the horses to the trailer. I have successfully used a large carabineer attached to a safety tie ring. You want some type of quick release system in case your horse gets himself in trouble. I also use a thick, soft cotton lead rope on my rigging so if a horse gets a leg over the rope it is not likely to cause burns or abrasions. I changed from a bolt snap to a bull snap because my horse figured out how to open the bolt snap by rubbing it on his buckets. They have not escaped since! EasyCare also offers a Bungee system for securing your horse.
I suggest letting the rope hang down and having the bull snap about 6″ off the ground. That give the horses a chance to graze and roll if they like. They have a lot more room in this set up than they did in my little electric pens.
Once my horses are rigged to the trailer, all I have to do is hang my hay bags and water buckets.”
Whether you are traveling to trail rides, horse shows, endurance rides, or camping trips, the HiTie can provide ease for the rider and comfort for the horse.
