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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 6:17:17 PM
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This has been posted before on AL, but a reminder never hurts...
My old mare, Biba, was injured badly last night as a result of being tied up with baler twine. Lyn, her loaner, believed it would break if anything happened - instead, Biba pulled back and the FENCE broke. Biba panicked and ran off, pulling the rail behind her, and got herself staked in the off-hind pastern. Luckily Lyn (who I cannot fault) had a gut feeting that the inch or so of wood sticking out of Biba's leg was worse that it looked, so she got her to the vet ASAP where an x-ray revealed there was anther 8-10cm sticking into the leg, up against the tendon. It was touch and go, but Biba was operated on and mercifully the tendon was not damaged.
So we now have Biba at an expensive vet hospital in Newmarket. Although the operation was a success, we now have to get through the healing process without complications. And all this because of baler twine!
It is a *myth* that modern baler twine breaks. The belief is a hang-over from the days when baler twine was a natural product, not artificial as it is today. The difference was demonstrated to me by an old farmer who still used the natural sort. For years, I had a stock of this for tying up, but alas it is all gone now.
I NEVER use the orange/blue twine myself, and certainly would absolutely never use the stuff that is used on big bales - it is nothing but a trap masquerading as a safeguard.
Also, the high breaking strain of baler twine makes it a danger if it gets wrapped around your/your horse's legs. So make sure you cut all loops of twine before you throw it away - and dispose of it safely to the dump in old feed bags or similar.
Keren
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Edited by - MinHe on 04 Feb 2012 6:20:01 PM
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 6:35:14 PM
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| I am very sorry to read this , fingers crossed for your old girl that she recovers fully.I agree the modern baler twine is lethal, we found out the hard way a few years ago nothing too serious but enough to give us a scare, thanks for reminding us all of the danger. |
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george
Gold Member
Wales
1353 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 6:37:11 PM
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| So sorry to hear your horse has been hurt, I tie up with twine but always cut a few strands off to make it weaker as Blue snapped a few lead reins instead of the twine it alerted me to the fact that it is very strong! hope Biba gets better soon without any complications x |
George xxx
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carole ferguson
Silver Member
United Kingdom
457 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 6:53:53 PM
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Hope Biba is O.K.
Years ago - we think the gipsies tried to take a horse from the livery yard I was at. I went out to bring in my mare - and I saw a friend's big hunter gelding looking a bit sad. He had what is apparently called a pikey twitch - which was a loop of baler twine around his bottom jaw. His poor bottom lip was terribly swollen - but by the time the Vet arrived - I was able to cut the twine off with a very sharp penknife. The vet said had it not been removed - he would have lost his lower jaw as the blood supply was basically cut off.
The Vet told us this was a pikey twitch - and they had obviously tried to steal the horse - but failed.
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joanna_piana
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3935 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 6:56:44 PM
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| Hope your mare will make a fully recovery and thankfully it wasn't worse. I still use bailer twine but like George I only use a few of the strands so they will break straight away. |
      
Harthall Rashida RIP, Binley Ishara, Bouchan
Chorleywood, Hertfordshire |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 7:03:08 PM
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Hope your girl makes a speedy recovery - it is terrifying when such events unfold
We do use some 'nylon' string for tying up, but its stuff we purposely left out to photo degrade to weaken it! My stock of sisel has ended, so I've invested in some Equipings, not that we tie up much, and the trailer has safety rings. It frightens me when I see horses tied to the wagon all day at shows etc and nobody around to check on them. |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 7:35:43 PM
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| All best wishes for a speedy recovery, and thanks for the reminder. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 7:53:14 PM
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While baler twine is definately dangerous to all livestock not just horses it is worth considering teaching your horses to tie up properly or not tie them at all. With youngsters I only put the lead rope through a tie up ring and hold the other end so that I can give and take. The other option is a tie up ring I came across used by Clinton Anderson. It is a ring which allows the rope to slide through if the horse pulls back. You have to use a long rope it works because the horse usually stops after a few feet if he doesn't feel trapped. You can then adjust the rope to a shorter length again. I thought this would be so much better for arabs who dislike being tied. Certainly much better than tying to something that is suposed to break which can be a shock in itself and a danger if you are standing too close at the time.
Butr thanks for bringin this up MinHe. Baler twine can make a mess of cloven hooves if it gets caught up between the clefts. |
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 8:43:34 PM
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| I use the Velcro break point thingies, but also never leave my horse unattended tied-up. I have seen people leave yards altogether, locking the gate behind them, with horses left on the yard tied-up to a tie ring, on baler twine. |
    
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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MirandaToo
Silver Member
England
381 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 8:46:52 PM
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| Sorry to hear this. Hope Biba is OK and back to fitness soon. What a nasty accident, but so easily done...... The equipings sound like a good idea.x |
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 8:52:25 PM
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Sorry, meant to say  , hope Biba makes a full and speedy recovery. |
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 9:00:25 PM
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| Yes me too forgot to wish Biba a speedy recovery. |
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natntaz
Platinum Member
England
2919 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 9:04:52 PM
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Hope your mare Biba makes a good recovery  x |
   
Natalie Pix. Essex. Tariq ibn Radfan and Taroub |
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nerissanic
Bronze Member
England
156 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2012 : 11:11:28 PM
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oh poor girl - i hope biba makes a full recovery.
baling twine can certainly be lethal stuff but can also be magic stuff and useful for temporarily fixing things!
i tried making some velcro-thingies but my mare soon worked out how to get undone so now i use a very long lead rope and don't tie her up at all after she got the lead rope over her head and panicked.
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2012 : 11:14:02 AM
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Oh that sounds terrible. I hope she gets better soon. When I got Storm I started using one of those trailer rope things. It has a normal clip at the end that attaches to the headcollar and the other end is a funny looking clip that if pulled hard it comes loose.
Ive got one for the stable and one for the trailer.
Im also very wary about tying horses up with quite long leadropes. Velvet was once tied up outside the stable (even tho rope wasnt that long) and she leaned over her door. She got her rope caught on the underside of the door hinge, panicked and fell. Luckily escaping serious damage to her neck.
Since then Im also paranoid about headcollar/bridle/reins on in stables, again because of the hinge (it sticks out). Even when they dont have any of these on, I always make sure the hinge bolt is covered by a rug over the stable door. |
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2012 : 3:42:08 PM
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| Hope Biba soon makes a full recovery, pleased to hear there was no tendon damage. |
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Touchofblue
New Member
29 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2012 : 6:08:02 PM
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Totally agree modern baler string is lethal
People I know vaguely had mended their horses neck rug with baler string
Horse got caught in a fence--and paid with its life as the neck rug did not tear.
Hope your horse makes a full recovery OP
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Pashon2001
Platinum Member
3575 Posts |
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Meggie-Lu
Platinum Member
England
1519 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2012 : 2:31:05 PM
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| Thank goodness she is ok. I find hair bands are good looping them through the metal ring and they break really well but also hold well. |
   Danger Mouse |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2012 : 3:14:46 PM
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I am also with Pashon on this one I never tie my horses up seen so many nasty situations I just wont take the risk now, hope your horse has a speedy recovery.
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littlearabians
Gold Member
1323 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2012 : 3:30:34 PM
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Im sorry for your horse, and hope for speedy recovery.
I always use this for youngsters, and it is fab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWtvdBzJDNw
I bought mine in a tackshop in Denmark and I love it, it has so you can adjust the pull when teaching to tye up, but if the horse panicks it can pull the rope straight through and will not get hurt... its on ebay as The Clip - Ultimate horse tying & training tool endorsed by Josh Lyons...
I do tye my horses up at times, but its all depending on what im doing with them, quite often I just hold the lead and do what ever i need to. |
www.littlearabians.com
Classic Polish Arabians
Worcester based
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Meggie-Lu
Platinum Member
England
1519 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2012 : 3:43:38 PM
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| Littlearabians what a fab bit of kit! Im defo getting one of them! |
Danger Mouse |
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Topic |
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Baler Twine is DANGEROUS!
