Horse pulling back

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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Horse at work has suddenly got a habit of pulling back. Don't know what started it, and TBH I rarely tie her up anyway, doing things with her 'loose' in the stable suits me just fine. She is a pretty chilled mare, who seems to accept things in her stride. I've never seen her stressed... in fact normally she is half asleep!! However, her young master (13 yr old) owner also ''deals'' with her - and last week being half term I rarely got to even stroke her!!
I don't know how the horse is doing it, but so far, although tied with string, she has yet to break the string. The wooden rail has snapped (twice, in 2 different places), the tie ring of the lorry has broken, the bolt of the stable door has broken, one lead rope snapped and another the lead rope clip broke. Mare is always in a leather headcollar, so far that is in one piece, but I'd rather replace the string (which I have ''shaved'' to make it weaker) than her breaking anything else. I did tie her up today, lasted barely a minute and nothing happened to cause it, she just walked back, pulled a bit, panic'd for a second and the lead rope snapped. I'm puzzled over the strength of the string, and wandering why the mare has suddenly started doing this... only really noticed it happening within this last/past week. (well, noticed the damage!) No one is telling me what has been going on, so I feel I'm either not meant to know, or got to work it out for myself, which I'm trying to do. I'm not at work all the time - really only the mornings, so don't know what happens later.
And on an unrelated topic, this mare has also started to really refuse to load, which is also a new thing... but the owners have told me this. We are currently building a loading bay, so that should help.... they say!
 
Sounds as though the mare hasn't been treated very politely, and her reactions to pulling back etc are now instinctive. Maybe? Is there any way you could 'unexpectedly' call in at work?
 
Unfortunately modern bailing twine is far stronger than it ever used to be so really doesn't break very easily. You need to take about 3/4 off the thickness of it for it to work as you need it too.

An older trainer I know had a problem with a youngster doing this so tied the horse up to a tie ring set in a concrete wall, quite strong obviously, then he tied the horse by 3 loops of bailing twine sufficiently weakened that they would break if required, but each loop was a different size, so one small, one a bit bigger then one bigger again. The horse pulled back and broke one loop but was still tied by the two bigger loops, pulled and broke another but didn't bother after that, so although it's a pain to do for a while it worked for him and might be worth trying in this case. Or of course you can get those quick release rubber things to tie to, although they do release really easily.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Run the rope through the ring and hold the end, when she is pulling back keep the pressure on and when she stops, release it. Long rope necessary.
Click to expand...

This works well as if they do get really stuck in you can release it before they get injured.

I teach all mine using a bum rope - it allows them to feel some pressure from being tied up but then the bum rope kicks in and sends them forwards
Knot at the wither is a bowline

MatamataWaikatoWorld008.jpg
 
Get yourself one of these

http://www.blockertiering.co.uk/

I use one with my youngster. On the one hand you dont want them to learn they can pull back and break string (and run off) but you also dont want injury. With these you can use a long rope (12ft) and the rope will slide through slowly if the horse puts massive pressure on it. Uusually it stops panicking way before the end of the rope and gives back (then just pull the rope back through to where the horse was) but also it wont break anything (or its neck).
 
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