How to teach horse to tie up solid?

bollybop said:
Loading into my transport needs work, I'm aware of that. The first part is to get him to learn that pulling away is not an option (away from transport). Then can move onto the actual loafing part.
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Do it the other way around. Teach him to load first and then once that training is solid and well in place, only then move on the tying up in the trailer. You need to teach him to load alone with you at the rear of the trailer and once he's in you put the breech bar over and close up the ramp. Then you can go back to his head and tie him up. It's quite easy to teach and normally doesn't take long for the horse to understand.
 
i have, on two occasions, had to retrieve my horse from the other side of the yard after he broke free when tied to a seemingly solid object! First time he pulled the tie ring clean out of the wall, the second time his head collar ripped straight through which must have taken quite some considerable force.

He was tied solid for a number of months but still broke free on these two occasions.

I now tie with baler twine but am considering one of the tether tie contraptions
 
Paint Me Proud said:
i have, on two occasions, had to retrieve my horse from the other side of the yard after he broke free when tied to a seemingly solid object! First time he pulled the tie ring clean out of the wall, the second time his head collar ripped straight through which must have taken quite some considerable force.

He was tied solid for a number of months but still broke free on these two occasions.
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'Seemingly' being the operative word here. He wasn't tied solid. If he were he'd still be there :)

I use nylon halters, tied to nylon ropes, tied to posts dropped deeply in the ground ... now that is solid and will not break, ever.
 
bollybop said:
If I'd wanted loading questions for my horse I'd have asked.

As I have previously stated the first thing that my horse needs to learn is that pulling and yanking won't get him anywhere. He has learnt from previous owners that by throwing his weight around he can get away with it.
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As previous posters have pointed out, if he ties on the yard with no problem, then being tied up is not the problem. The problem is he's not happy on the trailer, panics and runs. He goes backwards because he can't go forwards. You need to find ways to make him love the trailer. To do that you need to think outside the box. Literally. He sounds claustrophobic, so set up equipment in your school or field to get him used to increasingly smaller spaces. Can be as simple as a jump parallel to a fence to start with. Get him to stand, back up, step forward, back up. Do it so you can ask for just a shift back and fore in weight, minute control. Then transfer that to loading. Take control of his reversing out. To the point where he's so bored of stepping back and fore that having a rest inside the trailer is a good idea. Have his favourite treats to hand, go through the process and give him his tea in their. Repeat to the nth degree.

If he panics about the breaching, go back to the school, with a friend, and practice there with your jump, passing a rope then a jangly chain behind him etc. Look at all the steps of loading and standing and being shut in a box and practice them individually.

Wear a riding hat and gloves :)
 
You don't have a problem with tying up, you have a horse that is scared of the trailer. If you continue down the route of poo-pooing all suggestions from those that undoubtedly have more experience you'll never break the cycle. Work on loading so that he is HAPPY to go in the trailer, without whips of brooms or lunge ropes etc, then you will find your problem is solved. If you're loading without partitions and not using a breech bar, relying on the ramp to keep him in, get a breech bar so you can stop the cycle of him rushing out backwards. Your best bet is to teach him to self load so you're at the back when he walks in and you can do the breech bar without needing to tie then you can cross tie at your leisure once he's secure inside.
 
Agree with the above. Tying up is not the issue, loading is your issue. You need him to be happy in the trailer. To start with I would just get him happy with leading in the trailer and out the other side, when he is happy with this progress to holding him still in the trailer, this might need to be achieved by way of food or treats. Just so he learns he can stand and wait in there. Once he will happily stand and wait then have some one put the breeching strap across. Do not try and put the ramp up with a horse like this without a breeching strap. He will mow some one down! Even once he has the strap behind him, make sure the person lifting the ramp always stands to the side. I would also always have the front ramp down so he doesn't feel trapped but have the breast bar up.
You will need two people until he is happy.
Don't tie him up until the strap is across and the ramp is up.
Then tie him up and leave via the jockey door.

I reiterate, do not get to the part of putting the ramp up until he will happily stand in the trailer, with you holding him and him not thinking about reversing. Make the trailer a nice place to be with feed etc.
 
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