By DEBBIE BUSBY
As a welfare and behaviour specialist, I'm focused on the potential impact of cross ties on a horse's physical comfort and mental wellbeing. People often come back with examples of things that "need" to be done to horses; most of the time I have an answer for that; I'm committed to developing and encouraging practices that promote mutual trust, agency, and low-stress handling.
More points about the use of cross ties…..
Restriction of Natural Movement
Horses are prey and social animals with a strong need for freedom of movement; consequently restriction of movement in the absence of preferred conspecifics is likely to cause distress. Cross ties restrict their ability to move their head and neck freely and naturally, which is essential not only for their sense of safety and comfort, but for us to be able to read their behavioural signals of fear, anxiety or relaxation. This restriction can heighten stress levels, taking a horse closer to sympathetic state (all the Fs) and their reactivity threshold. Speaking of the Fs, Fidget (fiddle about, displacement activities) is a key one in this context – mouthing objects such as the lead rope, taking steps, mobilising head and neck, variously interpreted as calming signals or self-soothing behaviours, show us that the horse is moving out of their easy coping range and that we need to take action to rectify that. They aren't able to express these behaviours when cross tied, so we miss these important indicators.
Lack of Agency
Cross ties leave horses with little to no agency over their environment, potentially causing frustration or learned helplessness (typically via psychological flooding). Horses thrive mentally/emotionally when they feel a sense of control or choice, even in what we may think of as small ways, such as being able to turn their head. For a horse, this is an important thing to be able to do, and when reading the horse's emotional state it is one of the first signs we see that all may not be well – it's crucial that we are able to read early signs of this so that we can keep our horse, ourselves and our relationship within a "bandwidth" of comfortable co-operation.
Safety Concerns
Horses tied in cross ties are at greater risk of panic if they feel trapped (their first distance-increasing response is run away first, ask questions later), especially if something spooks them. This can lead to behaviours such as attempts to rear, or pulling back. The rigid setup of cross ties offers little room for the horse to move away from perceived threats, contributing to negative affect and potential injury.
Potential for Physical Discomfort
Incorrectly adjusted cross ties can place undue pressure on the horse's head and neck. The fixed position may force unnatural or braced posture, physically uncomfortable, particularly for horses with musculoskeletal issues, which we are know are heavily under-diagnosed.
Compromised Welfare
The horse may manifest as a "well-behaved" animal that doesn't resist the handling and husbandry performed while cross-tied, but this compliance stems from a state of coercion and psychological distress rather than trust or understanding.
Use of cross ties indicates an anthropocentric prioritisation of human convenience over the horse's comfort and mental state. This goes against welfare-centred management practices that aim to reduce stress and improve trust and co-operation.
Alternatives That Promote Better Welfare
Single tying, or using a calm environment without tying, allows horses more freedom to stand, to move around (unless loafing or dozing, horses rarely stay still for long periods, so an opportunity for them to move around for a stress decompression effect is an aspect of good welfare) and to express natural behaviours which serve as indicators to us of how they are feeling about what's happening to them, supporting their sense of security and aligning with their ethological instincts.
Understanding how horses habituate to, or become sensitised to, the range of objects and experiences that we expect them to become accustomed to in their day to day lives, helps us to manage and train them to have the life skills to cope with low-stress handling without resorting to compromising restraint. We can help a horse learn to stand still for longer periods using psychological learning theories (perhaps counterintuitively, if well-executed, a learning protocol that includes offering a walk away option helps horses become more comfortable about potentially bothersome stimuli).
By reconsidering convenience methods like cross ties and embracing practices that respect the horse's natural behaviour and emotional wellbeing, we not only create safer and more effective handling environments but also build a stronger, trust-based partnership with our equine companions.
About The Author
Debbie Busby is a Registered Clinical Equine Behaviourist (ABTC/APBC/IAABC), running her successful international consultancy since 2006. Debbie consults on all aspects of equine behaviour, consulting practice, human behaviour change and expert witness, and lectures internationally, supervising masters students and mentoring new behaviourists through professional routes. She is primary author of "The Horse, A Natural History", chapter contributor on Equestrianism in "Equine Behaviour in Mind" and her new book will be published by Routledge in March, "Equine Behaviour in Practice: Understanding Horses and Resolving Behaviour Problems". Debbie has a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare, and is currently conducting interdisciplinary doctoral research in horse-human relationships and interspecies wellbeing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
To learn more about Debbie, to read more from her, or to book a consultation, click here to visit her website. Follow her on LinkedIn by clicking here, and her Facebook page, Evolution Equine Behaviour, here.
