A few months ago AC Farm Services installed an Easy Care HiTie to our horse trailer. We first got the opportunity to tie horses to it at Shakarag’s Summer Hunter Pace and fell in love with it immediately. The HiTie has quickly become one of our most treasured tools when traveling. Our horses are happier, and that makes us happy.

What is a HiTie? It is a 4ft fiberglass “arm” that is bolted to the exterior of your horse trailer. It stows away for travel and is easy to engage for use.

Why do we recommend the HiTie? Most importantly, your horse’s comfort and safety. Additionally, it is handy, useful, and easy to use. The HiTie gives your horse freedom to move while restricting how far they can move. Your horse can graze, reach water buckets, even lie down.

What is the benefit of using the HiTie? When horses are tied from above their ability to pull back and fight is greatly reduced. In addition to this, the Hitie’s flexible fiberglass and bungee means that your horse, if they were to pull back, is less likely to actually break away. The manufacturer says the fiberglass has a tested strength of “up to 72,000 lb.” Additionally, the adjustable bungee accessory is designed to tear away when it is under great stress. In the event of an emergency, and your horse needs to escape, it can do so.

How does the HiTie work? As your horse pulls back, the HiTie and bungee slowly increases the pressure. This is preferable to a lead rope tied at eye level because if a horse pulls back, there is nothing to suggest they step forward until they reach the end of the rope, and by then the spooking horse may be in full flight or fight mode, increasing the likelihood that they will break away. Remember, all new tools need proper introductions to horses, but in our experience the horse can challenge the HiTie a little and they stay safely tied.

We recently heard a story about a distracted horse owner who tried to drive off without loading his horse. He had his gelding tied to the back of his trailer. He got in his truck and pulled away, not remembering his horse was still tied out of sight. Luckily, the horse escaped with only minor injuries. One of our clients watched the horse struggle to break free brought their trailer the following week for a HiTie installation. Not only is her horse in full view of her side view mirrors, but with the bungee her horse will be able to safely tear away.

 For more information visit ACFarmServices.com.

Here is a helpful video of the HiTie in use from Easy Care:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk0pSyFHBZc]