Gun Dog Forum

What are you using for your horses? My trainer gave me one of his stake-outs and we made one out of one of those bright orange single-dog stakes.

We bent both of them last season so I'd love to replace with something heavier/more durable, but I dont' know what at this point.

Some use a short axle from the junkyard.

If someone uses an axle, can you post a picture of it? I'm not getting where you clip the horse...or do you put a sturdy O-ring on your line and just hammer the axle through it? The stakes we currently have all have swivel tops so I'm not getting it.

Put what is called a welded o-ring.( when it is made the ends are welded together then ground smooth) on the end of the chain. You can attach it with links. Drive stake through the o-ring. They work great and are cheap.

The last stake I built I used a digging bar that I got at a Harbor Freight store. Already had a large flat spot to hammer on I just had to cut it to length. The digging bar was something like $30. The head on it is big enough that the "O" ring wont slip over it.

Karen I make a good one that I designed with a twin top and a swivel bull snap. I can make you one if you want me to, heck let me look I might even have a spare if that brother of mine aint abscounded with it! lol

I'd LOVE to see a picture of what you've made (at the very least). And if you have an extra, let me know how much $$ for it. Thanks!!

I have a line on heavy duty railroad caliber steel pins...the kind that are used to mark out construction sites (hard to explain) But like Bill says get a welded O ring or even a heavy heavy duty Carbinier style clip and drive the stake through the ring(or clip) when you drive them into the ground. Make sure you have a swivel snap on your tie out line at the horses head.

I have about 8 pins coming if want a couple I can add them to my order with my friend.....they are the same pins/stakes we use to put up the chain gangs.....my buddy works highway heavy construction nad gets them all the time.
They are easier and lighter then the used axel method.....

Thanks for the offer, but I don't think we'll see you at all this season.

Sorry Karen I will see what I can do for pictures

Karen,
I don't see any photos yet so I'll post a few of what I use. I make these myself and I have also made several in the shorter "dog stake-out" version (with a cable instead of the hose wrapped rope) for quiet a few field trial friends. I have also made quiet a few of the hose wrapped ropes and horse stake-outs for field trial friends as well. I'm not into it to make a buisness out of it cause I have a full time job and spare time is precious these days, but if you want a couple PM me privately and we'll talk.

The horse stake-out is roughly 36 inches long and the hose wrapped rope assembly is roughly 16 feet, so it gives em plenty of room to graze while on the stake-out.

I have no horse, with that said... at a trial recently a very experienced horse person told me they never use the dog type stake outs (pictures above) because the top is too sharp and if the horse rolls on the ground it can be impaled on the stake. Don't know how accurate but thought it might be worth sharing.

Christie has one for $85.00.

http://christieenterprises.com/index.ph ... e_out_pack

You drive the stake just below ground level. I add a panic snap, and like a leather collar instead of the nylon, my horses wear the collar instead of a halter, 24/7. Brad Harter wrote a great article for Field Trial Magazine on how to condition a horse to being staked out, you can order a back copy for Craig, but I just stake mine out in my pasture and let them work it out while I am making sure they don't get hurt too bad. Don't be too quick to rescue them, or they will learn to lay there all night waiting for you.

Neil

Karen~

Ours are similar to Jeff's but our's doesn't have the swivel on them. Ours are similar if not longer just like our dog stake outs with about a 2" wide flat T bar top then we us a large O ring that doesn't slip over the top of the stake to connect our chains to for the dogs and the horses as well. When my husband gets in the house I'll ask him what type of steel the stakes are. And their not as heavy (to carry and pack around) as most of the axles I've seen. lol I'll try to get a picture of them on here tomorrow before heading out to a weekend trial.

Robbi

mudhunter wrote:I have no horse, with that said... at a trial recently a very experienced horse person told me they never use the dog type stake outs (pictures above) because the top is too sharp and if the horse rolls on the ground it can be impaled on the stake. Don't know how accurate but thought it might be worth sharing.

It's accurate. I saw this exact thing happen at a trial in the White Mountains of AZ. The horse recovered but it wasn't pretty at the time.

That's why we use 2-3" flat tops so the horses won't get hurt. I'll post a picture of ours tomorrow.

Horses are going to find a way to get hurt, but mine have several thousand hours on the Tarpin Hill (like the Christie available now) stake out without incident. Not that they couldn't do it, but since most of it is underground, they would have to work pretty hard at it. Never sell a horse short though, I am never shocked when one finds a new way to hurt itself. They hit the ground intent on running up vet bills.

Neil

Well I said last night I'd post pictures of the stake outs that we use.

The first is a steel stake (easy if bends to pound back straight with a sledge hammer)~




This stake out is one we use on the horses too but is made out of fiberglass~



Both types of stakes have worked well for us for many years with NO horses being hurt/injured on them. We use with medium to big O rings (metal of course) to attach chains to.

Robbi

Robbie, where did you get those stakes?

Thanks for the pics!

Karen

My husband made the still one and a friend made the fiberglass one. You could go to any metal fabricating place and I bet they could copy them. The ends are pointed but not sharp pointed.

BTW -

You probably do not want a pronounced point on a stake. If you happen to pound the stake into a tree root and it has a sharp point...you will likely have a dandy time getting it out, even with a fencepost puller. Been there... did that. Had to dig one out and chop it out of a 2" tree root. Not a lot of fun with an entrenching tool and dull hand axe.

Rounded is fine, even flat works if you bevel the edge a bit....if it hits a root it will either slide along it or bounce back and refuse to go in further.

RayG

I welded some large nuts on the end of about 1/2" rebar maybe 3' long-then made an X with 2 pieces of 3/4" steel pipe welded at about 70 or so degrees- I put rebar theough X and pound in ground --it makes a nice angle and horse can't pull it out BUT I can- to tie horses i use a short rope tied in a circle through the nuts- if interested I can measure one --made them about 18 yrs ago and have used all over AK and in western US on hunting trips etc. They also work for dogs- on tundra we used to carry screw in dog stakes- welded larger more durable ring to them- good in tundra and when horse has one rein up he will not fight tie.

Being one that's not opposed to change, I took a few pointers from this post and made a few stake-outs this week in hopes they may be attractive enough to sell a few. I'll post a few photos tomorrow after the paint dries and see if anyone is interested in one. (or maybe we can tweak the design even more )

Here are the photos as promised.

1 inch diameter hardened steel rod. Tip is not too sharp, rounded, so it will go around tree roots and not into them.


4 inch round head made from 3/8 inch plate steel, not pointed on top so if the horse rolls over on it it will not hurt the horse.


Stake. (this one is 34 inches long. I can make them as long (or as short) as you want, but I personally don't trust a short stake on a horse stake-out.)


Hose wrapped rope assembly (with rope directly attached to stake link) (Stake link made of 1/4 inch steel) This hose wrapped rope assembly is 25 foot, I can make them shorter if you desire.


Close-up of stake link directly attached to hose wrapped rope.


Hose wrapped rope assembly (with rope attached to stake link via swivel snap)


Stake with link and hose attached to stake-out.



If anyone is interested in one I'll sell the stake, stake link, and hose wrapped rope assembly (in either attachment configuration) for $80.00 each, and I'll pay shipping to the 50 U.S. states. (I have 6 already made up and ready to roll.)

I just had to bring this back to the top. I just got a set of the below stakes, links and leads from Jeff and the quality and Craftmanship is better than anything I've seen to date. Extremely well built and I seriously doubt will ever need replacing in my lifetime. I just wanted to share my first hand experience with these, as I think you'd be hard pressed to find a nicer built stake out for your horses.

Vonrommel wrote:Here are the photos as promised.

1 inch diameter hardened steel rod. Tip is not too sharp, rounded, so it will go around tree roots and not into them.


4 inch round head made from 3/8 inch plate steel, not pointed on top so if the horse rolls over on it it will not hurt the horse.


Stake. (this one is 34 inches long. I can make them as long (or as short) as you want, but I personally don't trust a short stake on a horse stake-out.)


Hose wrapped rope assembly (with rope directly attached to stake link) (Stake link made of 1/4 inch steel) This hose wrapped rope assembly is 25 foot, I can make them shorter if you desire.


Close-up of stake link directly attached to hose wrapped rope.


Hose wrapped rope assembly (with rope attached to stake link via swivel snap)


Stake with link and hose attached to stake-out.



If anyone is interested in one I'll sell the stake, stake link, and hose wrapped rope assembly (in either attachment configuration) for $80.00 each, and I'll pay shipping to the 50 U.S. states. (I have 6 already made up and ready to roll.)

Bruce, Thanks for the compliments, I am truely glad you liked them and are happy with your purchase.

I should probably update the photos. The ones shown were mig welded and ground down and I now TIG weld all of them on both sides and the welds look a whole lot better! I also now use the STS bull snaps on the hose covered rope assemblies (this was recommended by end users) and they hold up to the abuse much better and are less likely to open on snags and such.

I normally keep 6 of these on hand and ready to roll, so if anyone needs some, just shoot me a PM and we will go from there.

As a P.S., if they ever break, send them back to me and I will fix em for free!

Has anybody used this type of stake?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNE2dvZOqgI

I am looking to buy a stake and for information on training a horse to stakeout.

Thanks

Tas wrote:Has anybody used this type of stake?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNE2dvZOqgI

I am looking to buy a stake and for information on training a horse to stakeout.

Thanks

That kind of stake might be extra safe, but I would be willing to bet real money if that stake were 24" or longer it would be a real joy to get up out of the ground.

I put my horse stakes in the ground with a 6# forming hammer which is essentially a sledgehammer with a 2 ft handle. No way I would trust my horses on a stakeout that short. Heck I have had a couple of dogs that would pull out stakes bigger than that.

Training a horse to stake out is easy. You stake them out, grab a six pack and find a shady spot. Eventually the horse will get itself in a mess. Most often it will either get itself out or stand there waiting for you or someone to come help. You are there in the relatively rare case where the horse freaks out and starts doing stupid stuff. A few afternoons should get the horse fairly well acclimated to the stakeout.

Oh yeah...it works better if the horse has just been ridden hard and is tired out.

RayG

Vonrommel wrote:Here are the photos as promised.

1 inch diameter hardened steel rod. Tip is not too sharp, rounded, so it will go around tree roots and not into them.


4 inch round head made from 3/8 inch plate steel, not pointed on top so if the horse rolls over on it it will not hurt the horse.


Stake. (this one is 34 inches long. I can make them as long (or as short) as you want, but I personally don't trust a short stake on a horse stake-out.)


Hose wrapped rope assembly (with rope directly attached to stake link) (Stake link made of 1/4 inch steel) This hose wrapped rope assembly is 25 foot, I can make them shorter if you desire.


Close-up of stake link directly attached to hose wrapped rope.


Hose wrapped rope assembly (with rope attached to stake link via swivel snap)


Stake with link and hose attached to stake-out.



If anyone is interested in one I'll sell the stake, stake link, and hose wrapped rope assembly (in either attachment configuration) for $80.00 each, and I'll pay shipping to the 50 U.S. states. (I have 6 already made up and ready to roll.)

That is a beautiful stake! We used to use the same stakes that we used on the chain gangs, these tar better. We alkso used pore pushed thru a hose, 20'. And we hooked them to a single foot hobble. Kept the tie out rope on the ground and hores weren't able to get their feet tangled. It was the fear of them injuring themselves with the rope that led to the rope thru the hose. We used heavy bull snaps on the ends and a heavy welded ring on the stake.

Beautifut job on those stakes!