Horse wont be tied up--its now a game.

Toffee44

Toffee44

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New pony is being a utter cowbag at the moment. Shes getting easier to catch now. When I tie her up she stands there then for no real reason, other than fed up (can be within 5min of tying up) she will just break the twine and bugger off. Have tried two pieces of twine. I have tied her to some tail bandage with the idea that the elastic in it might encourage her to walk forward, she snapped it and buggered off. Any more Ideas, I think its now turned into a game and she knows she can get out of things. Its really bugging me, im sure theres something simple I can do but i cant think. Its annoying because shes come so far and now the for past few days this!!
 
With lil the only solution was four pieces of twine. Not an ideal one but she's learnt there is no point in pulling. Before anyone says anything I know its dangerous to use more than one piece of twine but I was always there and armed with scissors so I could have cut her off immediately had there been a problem.
 
I know exactly what your going through!! Sadly, I didn't find anything that has worked wonders, but I know if I leave mine tied up for more than five mins she gets bored and pulls back, panics and pulls harder! When Iam with her, she is fine, but I have to be on guard in case anything might spook her. I generally don't tie her up at all, keeps us all much more chilled that way!
An old family friend has told us to tie her up using a chain to a metal post that is deep into the ground. They can pull, but can't get away and give up and are perfect there after. He claims he has never had a problem, but there is no chance in hell I am going to do that - no matter how tempting it may be on paper!!
I have read in a book to teach a horse to tie using a lunge line, you apply pressure as its threaded through the ring - you on the other end -and you have the length to play with. Used in a stable first. Never done it myself, but maybe you now have to go back to the very begining?
 
I have tied her to three but she then snapped the rope but it was a old rope so might give that a go again. Shes a little moo. :D Gonna raid dads shed int he morning for an old inner tube becasue that was a similar idea behind using the bandage.
 
Ruthnmeg said:
I know exactly what your going through!! Sadly, I didn't find anything that has worked wonders, but I know if I leave mine tied up for more than five mins she gets bored and pulls back, panics and pulls harder! When Iam with her, she is fine, but I have to be on guard in case anything might spook her. I generally don't tie her up at all, keeps us all much more chilled that way!
An old family friend has told us to tie her up using a chain to a metal post that is deep into the ground. They can pull, but can't get away and give up and are perfect there after. He claims he has never had a problem, but there is no chance in hell I am going to do that - no matter how tempting it may be on paper!!
I have read in a book to teach a horse to tie using a lunge line, you apply pressure as its threaded through the ring - you on the other end -and you have the length to play with. Used in a stable first. Never done it myself, but maybe you now have to go back to the very begining?
Click to expand...

Its the same thing she pulls back. Panics and then pulls harder. She tied fine in the stable but all of a sudden now I have started to work her shes started this. Today my aim was tie up, lots of sweeties and a groom. But spent more time catching her back that grooming.
 
My horse used to break free all the time at random moments or over anything (brush/sponge/saddle etc.). I bought one of the velcro break ties off robinsons so that she couldn't damage herself or anything and then everytime she broke free, I just tied her back again. Now she seems to have stopped almost entirely and tries to chew the knot instead. :p This is in an enclosed space so she can't walk off very far.

It sounds as though your horse is a more serious case than mine but I just thought I'd let you know that they can get better!
 
the inner tube works a treat, we used it for teaching stroppy yearlings. they would fight like hell but in the end had to give up eventually and they never tried again! please dont do the post thing i have seen this done once being reassured it was 'safe' well the horse freaked so much it jumped forward and snapped its neck. just make sure the inner tube isn't a rotten one!!
 
My Tank does this in the spring and summer. He is perfectly well mannered the rest of the year. The call of the field is just too strong!

I don't tie him at the mo as I am only ever picking his feet out. I have taught him to stand still for this by pestering when he moves and he's figured out it all goes much quicker when he's still.

The more hardware etc you use just increases the danger and the amount of stuff she'll break.

Does she still do it with a net there? Is there something she is frightened o? I have serious doubts that she's doing it to annoy - horses don't think that way, however much it may look like it. There must be a reason for her behaviour, she is trying to tell you something.
 
ive had this issue with my mare, also sticking her head down then bringing it up and under the rope. and to top it all off the odd rear.. i got like a chain thing.. see piccy.. and attaced it to rope high up.. the first time she shot back her face was a piccy.. nout happened. it did work a treat.. but i will say the smart cowbag, learnt to use her nose to flick the chain over her head and onto her neck.. BUT it 100% cured the pulling back.. darn mares..

piccie.. look to her right side, headcollar up to top of stable.. its attached to the bit of string, if she shot back there was no tension.

017.jpg
 
My mare used to do this when I first got her 7 years ago - but (racking my brain) I don't think it took long to stop, so don't worry!!

However, my girl wasn't being stroppy, she did genuinely worry, so I never ever got cross with her. The main breakthough was never making an issue of it!! These are two possible thoughts

1) have a lunge rope which goes through the loop and you on the other end. If she pulls back you can just 'give' with the rope so nothing ever actually breaks and its never 'stressful', but is large ineffective on her part. I used to sometimes just sit there reading a book with the lunge rope, but you could do it while cleaning tack if you are an industrious type?

2) if I did tie her up (on binder twine), would normally put haynet there and if she did break free would just catch her and calmly retie her.

Whatever you do, don't let her 'thrash it out' unless you are trying to teach her to panic!!
 
mine does it usually just cause she is board, I used to use the rubber tie things but she knows she can break them so I have to use bailer twine, but she has broken headcollars and several leadropes, she is a little minx, so I just make sure i dont leave her for long when she is tied up, she can also undo her rope.

Bloody animal
 
I would second the lunge rein, run the lunge rein through the metal ring and just allow her to move slightly, you may need a schooling whip to get her moving forward and release the pressure herself if she is too big for you to be able to reach her back end with your hand (use the whip to push not hit). Just keep repeating it until she realises she has nothing to gain. Depending on her size you could also try (humane) swinging, using a lunge rein and a strong bloke who won't let her get away but I think the first suggestion would solve your problem in just a few sessions.
 
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