Cross-tie etiquette

photo credit: A-Daly

If you like to use the cross ties there are some simple that should be addressed. When using the cross ties follow these etiquette rules : 

• Do not cross tie and then walk away. Get your stuff, groom your horse, clean up, tack up and then ride. Don’t haul out your horse, leave and get your saddle, go to the bathroom etc. Get all your tack and grooming equipment first. This avoids the horse from being unattended while standing in the aisle. If you have to go to the bathroom, either do it first before bringing out your horse, or put him back in his stall so that he won’t be unattended for a period of time.

• Drop the cross-tie clips gently. This prevents the clip from whacking against the wall and breaking.
• Passing under the cross ties is dangerous. Use some sense and wait until someone undoes one of the ties and moves the horse over. If you horse is fractious, when someone comes by, then use a lead shank and unsnap both ties and hold your horse while the other horse goes by. If it is a stallion, or a stallion is coming by, then use some sense and take the horse from the aisle way and into a stall while the horse passes. This is a safety feature that, when done, can avoid a costly injury to a person or animal.
• If someone is out riding and their ‘stuff’ is by the cross ties use the next available cross ties. If that is not possible then when the person returns, readily pass their equipment such as halter and brushes to them.
• Remove the halter from the clips. Do not leave your halter hanging from the cross tie. When tacking up place the halter with your grooming supplies so that your things will be neatly together rather than having the halter suspended from the clips. 

The most common cross tie etiquette rule is to clean up the aisle after you are finished. Sweep the aisle and the floor and put manure, sweepings, hair and dirt in the wheel barrow and then dump the wheel barrow. That is, sweeping dirt and manure into the stalls is not acceptable. By keeping the area clean it avoids riders from tracking through the dirt and it leaves it clean for the next person.

 Use some common courtesy and leave the stable in the same condition as you found it. This way everyone who comes into the stable will feel welcome and will, hopefully, keep it in the same condition as it was when they found it.

photo credit: Serge Melki