Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

crossties and barn etiquette

From: Welke

Dear Jessica:

I recently went to a large dressage barn to visit a friend. When I started down the aisle of stalls I noticed that there was a set of crossties a each stall, stretching all the way across the aisle when in use. This blocks the aisle when your horse is there.

What is the correct or proper way to pass by someone who is grooming or saddling? What if your have to get your horse through to the other side? I didn't want to act really dumb and embarass my friend.

Thanks for your help!

Hi, I'm glad you asked this question, because the issue here isn't one of looking dumb, it's one of safety. And yes, there IS a proper and correct way to pass by someone who is grooming or saddling a cross-tied horse.

You say "Excuse me, may I come through?" and then you WAIT for the horse's handler to undo one side of the crossties, let the crosstie fall, and shift the horse a step or two away from the center of the aisle. Then you say "Thank you" and lead your horse past the other horse. Just keep going -- there's a vulnerable moment when two horses are that close to one another, and the handler of the cross-tied horse is the person responsible for fastening the crosstie again.

Don't ever ask "Can we just walk under?" even if the horse you are leading is much shorter than the cross-tied horse. Walking a horse down an aisle under crossties is an invitation to an accident. Cross-ties can catch on horses' heads, on saddles, and on YOUR head. Don't even CONSIDER it.

If the horse's handler is not as safety-conscious as you are, and says "Oh just walk him under, it's okay," don't do it. It ISN'T okay. Say "No, that's okay, I'll wait," or ask "Would you like me to unclip him on this side?" (and then WAIT for the answer). But even if the person grooming or saddling the horse gets annoyed or impatient, makes faces, rolls her eyes, sighs loudly, or makes comments about "people who don't know anything," just keep your cool and realize that in this case, YOU are the one who knows something. ;-) I've seen all these behaviours exhibited by people who ought to know better -- and I've seen some awful cross-tie accidents, all of which were completely avoidable...

I don't think you will ever embarrass your friend, by the way. You have an interest in learning and the guts to ask a question even though you worry (wrongly) that it may be stupid -- those qualities both make a lot of points with me!

Keep thinking safety, and remember, there is only ONE stupid question -- the one you DON'T ask. ;-)

Jessica

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