Pulling back when tied

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marion95

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Hi,

Does anyone have any advice on how to stop a horse pulling back and breaking baletwine/leadrope? When I first got my horse 5 years ago she used to do this every now an then. She stopped after a while (when she relaxed with me I guess). I've loaned her out recently and she's started doing it again. They know she has a tendency to do this so always make sure they don't leave her/ensure she's tied to weak baletwine etc, but I really want to advise them on a way to stop her - obviously I don't want her injured and also, it's annoying.

She isn't panicking or doing it when frightened, she just pulls until it breaks and then stands there.

Thanks,
 
I'll let you in on a secret:D You need: one horse, tied up to whatever you want it tied up to; one flexible water trug full of water - directly behind the horse, at about 3 feet away from it backside. Then you wait... The horse pulls back, possibly breaks the twine and promptly sits in the water trug - works every time:)
 
Hi,
I think i remember reading on here before that you could use a lunge line directly through th tie ring but not tied up, so that when the horse pulls back there is a long way to go before they feel any resistance. You need to remain close by in order to prevent any tangling up issues and to hold the end of the line.
 
Vetwrap or some other stretchy bandage which will stretch when she pulls? That way she won't get the satisfaction of snapping it, if she is not doing it from fear or panic. Or a lungeline threaded through the ring or twine and held. So that when she pulls back she doesn't get away and will hopefully learn it is to no avail (make sure there's no knots in the line that might catch though, else you may be in trouble)

ETS i am not too keen on the water trug idea i'm afraid, as that may cause panic where there was none before.
 
If she isn't too stressed I wouldn't be overly bothered, it is irritating but not particularly dangerous unless she is left tied while on her own. She will likely settle again once she has relaxed in the new place.

I had a mare who did this, she was a big beastie and had actually pulled the ring out of a wall (not with me btw, I always use bailing twine). I found that if I tied her to the fence or anything she could see over she was fine but a high wall/stable wall and she would break it then stand there going to sleep.

The same in the stable, if she was tied by the door and could see out, fine, if she was tied to the wall she would pull back and break the string. The irritating thing was she would then stand quite happily facing whatever wall she had been tied too rather than turning away she just wouldn't be tied to it.

Always very calm too, no stress or flap she would just pull back or rear almost gently but firmly until the rope gave then stand quiet. If she stood on the rope then despite my 'osh*t' she would just lift up her hoof then 'flick' out her nose to move the rope then put the hoof back down. She had obviously done it before and worked out quite calmly what to do about it.

That has turned into quite an essay, sorry.
 
You could try these ..

http://www.rideaway.co.uk/equitie-safety-horse-tether/default.aspx

We use them to tie my TB up - because he had a habit of panicking if he feels trapped and would pull against the bailer twine then freak out. These ties are elasticated and have quite a bit of 'give' before they snap open. It may stop her pulling as she won't get the same feeling / might confuse her!! Also - its a bit safer. I also use them in my trailer.
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Someone said it isn't a major issue and wait for her to relax again, which I agree with to a certain extent, but it's always in the back of my mind that she might hurt herself one day.

lillith, she sounds exactly like your mare. If she ever stands on her lead rope, she just lifts up her hoof, no problems at all!

Think I'll suggest the lunge line first and go from there.
 
If you're sure she's just being bloody minded (i.e. not panic'ing and is just doing it because she can) I'd opt for one of these -

http://www.fieldguard.com/rubber_ties_rubber_leads.html

I've had numerous big TB mares come to me, prone to doing the same thing, and these have worked brilliantly. They 'give' but don't break at all easily (I've never had one break).

A cheaper alternative worth trying (although not as strong, so will eventually snap) is a bicycle inner tube tied in a loop to the metal ring and the lead rope tied to that. It'll give and stretch really well and really helps them to learn that pulling hard won't result in a broken tie. You need to be using a decent headcollar too. One that won't snap at the slightest tug.
 
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