Horse doesn't like being tied up - advice please!

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anniedoherty

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My new horse (8 year old IDxTB) has broken 3 lead ropes and one headcollar in 5 weeks because he doesn't like being tied up. It seems to me that he doesn't like any pressure on his poll. Having said that though, I can scratch his poll and he enjoys it and starts grooming me back when he is loose in his stable but I always have to approach his head slowly when he is tied up or he spooks and pulls back on his headcollar.

He puts his head up to avoid having his bridle put on but he calms down if I turn his face to me and sort of cradle it under my armpit, so that's not a problem but I do need to teach him to be tied up.

The problem is worse at the moment because he has just gone to my trainer's yard to be assessed for possible back problems so he is in a strange environment. He is naturally stressy anyway and hates to be left tied up alone even if I just pop to get a brush or something. He turns round to watch me and then starts walking around and getting agitated and I think he would probably break his lead rope in that situation too but I've never gone out of his sight for more than about 10 seconds when he's tied up.

Has anyone else had this problem and overcome it?
 
Horses over here tend to be taught to tie from little, particularly in the western scene where they are always tied to something which will not break, so we don't generally have this problem here.

I have heard about the bungee cords though - they stretch so that when the horse pulls against them, they are actually pulling against themselves. Might be worth a try?
 
Clementine - if it works let me know as friend has one the same - she has to take into stable and loose tack up etc as he rears and breaks string/headcollar etc. (he is also an ID/tb) He is better, however when other horses on yard next to him - very bad when on own.
 
Will do pagancloughie, although I won't get to the tack shop until next week. Darcy was tied next to my other horse today but he still broke away although this time he didn't canter off into the distance. He just went and stood behind my other horse until I got hold of him again. I was momentarily panicked though because I didn't trust my other horse not to kick him. They are in adjacent stables but only "met" yesterday lunchtime so I have no idea if they will get on well or not.
 
Thanks v much Haniki. I was wondering if tack shop would have anything or if I would have a wasted journey but I will just order one online now. I will report back for those who are interested and let you know if it stops the problem.
 
I have heard off people using the inner tube of a bicycle tyre as a bungee (obviously with a string tie in the middle of it and the tie rope) as they have the same give & take effect.
 
Your chap sounds so much like my IDxTB!!! Mine has to be bridled in a certain way or he pulls back and you have to be really careful how you approach his head - he's only like it when being tacked up though. Once he's been ridden he's not bothered at all! It's something I've got used to now, along with his many other quirks. As for tying up, I agree that tying him to something unbreakable might be worth a try as long as you stay nearby in case he panics. Do you know your boy's breeding? He sounds so like mine I wonder if they're related!
 
Prilly, I don't know his breeding I'm afraid but he does sound very similar to your boy. He is very headshy when it comes to putting his bridle on and it's much easier to just undo the reins, breast girth etc so that I don't have to put anything "extra" over his head but after he's been ridden he will dip his head down so that I can take his bridle, breast plate and reins over his head with no fuss whatsoever!
 
I don't know if it would work but how about cross ties? Use 2 leadropes one attached to each side ring of the head collar. Tie one to one side of a corridor or stable and one to the other. That way if he pulls back the pressure would be from the side not the front and the different feel might confuse him. Would recommend using quick release clips one him whether cross tied or not so that if he panics you can release him fast instead of him breaking the rope, the head collar or haven forbid himself.
 
Thanks Twilight, unfortunately I know that won't work for him because he was cross-tied today - new yard rules, not my choice - I knew it would lead to trouble and it did. He freaked out even more than normal. I am hoping that the bungee type things will work because he just pulls against pressure and they should make him feel a lot "freer".

I took him back to his stable today after his little incident and groomed him in there and he calmed down instantly. He stood really nicely for me to do everything and he let me scratch his head for ages and was grooming me back whilst I did it. I don't know his past history but I wonder if he may have been hit on the head or hit it himself if he's panicked? He hates me plaiting his forelock but I've always done it when he's been tied up so I'm going to see if I can do it in the stable without tying him up at all. I've only had him 5 weeks so I am still getting used to his quirks!
 
It sounds like he has been hit in the past.

We had a TB imported from Ireland a few years ago and he was so headshy, he would literally have a panic attak if you moved your arm up too quickly to brush/bridle or even stroke his head.

The only thing I can recmmend is time, patience and praise, just treat him like a youngster who you are teaching to be tied up.
 
My boy came across from Ireland as a 6yo, and sounds very similar to the horse St Bernard describes above. I think he's probably been whacked round the head - he has some scars on his face which look suspiciously like whip marks. He's 15 now, but I do have to treat him like a youngster. Clementine, if you can just persevere and make some allowances I'm sure you'll be fine. I know how hard it is when they're difficult, but I have some really good times with my boy too, and I love him dearly - I've had him 3 years now. You sound just the kind, patient sort of person your chap needs.
 
Thanks St_Bernard. I am using lots of praise when he stands nicely and lets me anywhere near his head. Thanks to you too Prilly. Your chap sounds lovely and you obviously have a great deal of affection for him. I always think that what I lack in talent I make up for in patience (!) so, hopefully, Darcy and I will make progress with this issue.
 
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