from trampling hooves will be minimized such as on hard packed dirt or rocky soils.
Your highline should be at least 100 feet away from water sources such as streams or lakes (some areas require a longer distance).
2. Place the Tree Savers - Wrap your tree saver straps around the two trees you’ve selected. Place the tree savers as high as possible so the highline is above the horse’s head.
3. Lay Out the Highline Rope – Loosely stretch your rope between the tree savers and tie one end to the first tree with a bowline knot. Use a quick release bowline
4. Tie an inline loop in the rope about 5 feet from the second tree.
The Alpine Loop is secure and very easy to untie when breaking camp.
5. Run the remaining rope through the second tree saver and back through the inline-loop you made in step #4.
With this arrangement you’ve just created what is known as a “Truckers Hitch” a type of block and tackle arrangement that gives you a 3-to-1 mechanical advantage and the ability to get a line good and tight.
6. Pull tight and secure with a couple of half-hitches. Tuck any left-over rope behind the tree where a curious horse cannot get to it.
7. Decide where to place ties for your horses lead lines and attach a prusik loop at each point.
Make sure to place tie points so that the horses cannot chew or rub on the trees or get into mischief with one another.
8. Tie horses lead ropes into the prusik loops with a quick release knot.
Now that we’ve demystified the secret recipe for a highline you’re ready for years of safe and enjoyable horse camping! As always for the straight scoop on places to ride and camp visit www.trailmeister.com, the largest source of accurate horse trails and camps in the world.
Basic Knots Everyone Should Know
Half-hitches—Used to secure a your highline
Bowline— The King of Knots. Easy to tie and untie.
Trucker’s hitch—Great for tensioning. The 3-to-1 mechanical advantage lets you more easily get a highline tight.
Prusik knot—Created for use in climbing, the prusik is a simple friction knot with a lot of uses, especially for sliding adjustments.
Full instructions for all of these knots can be found at www.trailmeister.com
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