Pulling back

Erray

Erray

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 November 2005
Messages
282
Location
Isle of Mull Scotland
www.mullponytrekking.co.uk
Hi how do you stop a horse pulling back when tied up? My horse is really bad for it and if the string doesn't break he panics. Because of this I always tie him to well frayed string so now he does it all the time. He is especially bad on the trailer and is impossible to load alone as as soon as I step back to put back strap on he pulls back and if I tie him he then usually bangs his head and panics and won't go on again. It has become a real problem and is very frustrating. Has anyone else conquered this problem? Are there any gadgets out there to help? I would love to know. Thanks!
 
well i know what they would have done in the olden days the s*d (lol) tie him so so he cant get loose and keep him there for a few days..that should teach him.....but urm nowadays....have you tries loading him in a bridle? or tying him up with a bridle? those side reins on both sides help with tying...tie rope to both sides of his halter and tie to both ends of the trailer..is my advice
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There is a bungee thing on the market apparently for this very problem. Hose pipe works too.

I prefer the old fashioned approach and so I use a non-breakable halter and teach mine to tie to an immovable object when young. Then the thought that they can escape doesn't ever enter their heads. I think some people on here might be horrified if I mentioned the places I have tied some of my guys to
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; tree trunks, gates, bridges etc ... I go off out into the wilderness and if I need to tie then they are simply tied to anything that will not move and they stand quietly.
 
Lol!! I still use the "olden days" approach and I don't have any horses who pull back; it simply never occurs to them. I don't however need to tie them there for days; a much shorter time is all that is required.
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Ditto Tia. I cross tie mine in the corner of the stable, straight to tie ring, so it can't break and leave them there for a couple of hours! Works a treat and they will never move when tied up.......... or untied for that matter.
 
Thanks hh whenever I have tied him to anything solid he has either broken headcollar or rope, have been tempted to use a halter rope but worried about scarring him. I have a be nice(?) halter for him which has worked wonders with him when loading but has already left a nice mark on his nose. Unfortunately he is one of those very frustrating kind of horses, nothing is simple.
 
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Lol!! I still use the "olden days" approach and I don't have any horses who pull back; it simply never occurs to them. I don't however need to tie them there for days; a much shorter time is all that is required.
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so do i..

a telegraph pole in the middle of the barn..after a short period of time, usually less than an hour, or two, they are standing quietly.

have had a couple tied to the post chain for 3 days..but they turned out to well adjusted little ponies.
 
Ah if you use this method then you must use a nylon halter and nylon rope TIED to it, with absolutely no buckles or clips, it has to be nylon otherwise the weaker (brass/metal) parts will break.
 
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Thanks hh whenever I have tied him to anything solid he has either broken headcollar or rope, have been tempted to use a halter rope but worried about scarring him. I have a be nice(?) halter for him which has worked wonders with him when loading but has already left a nice mark on his nose. Unfortunately he is one of those very frustrating kind of horses, nothing is simple.

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yh i knw what you mean..i have one currently like that but aint taking any noncense lol!!....i agree with the others i still use the olden days methods..i ave tied yerlings and silly colts to tree trunks all day....i have even tied a rebellious colt foal to the back of the quad and pulled it along!!
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....he never ever pulled me after that!!.....why not get a leather headcoller..which is not lickly to snap?? and peraps a strong link rope..and cross tie him??..get someone to rap the rope round a bar on the gate when you wash him so he cnt get anywhere so he learns to stay still but if he does go to rear etc then the rope cn be tidend or slackd etc!!..does that make sense?? but no releasing the rope!! hes got to learn that he cnt win!!
hope i could helpxx
 
My Dad who was a farmer used to pull cows that got stuck with a rope headcollar attached to a tractor - but he said you must never do that with a horse as there anatomy is different - basically you could pull their head off
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Don't know if this is correct but if it is I would think attaching a horse to a quad bike a very bad idea. By the way the cows were always fine when they got out of the mud.
 
Thanks everyone, problem is this horse is 12 years old and probably always got away with it. He is big and strong and knows it and everythng you ask him to do he freaks at. I have had him 2 years now and he is improving especially with ridden work but is still very difficult on the ground. I have nearly given up on him so any times, he is the only horse I have ever in my life lost my patience with, once that has gone, he has won. When he panics he seems genuinly scared, basically bolts and snorts like a dragon and eyes pop out of his head, he is very dramatic. He has only had one owner before me and never been badly treated or harmed in anyway, only thing is last owner is rather dramatic too, perhaps gets it from her.
 
I bought a bungee tie up thing for Bear, he's a bloody pain for pulling back. But with the bungee when he steps back and it tightens he takes a step forward instead of back!
Works a treat and they are only about £3.99.
 
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My Dad who was a farmer used to pull cows that got stuck with a rope headcollar attached to a tractor - but he said you must never do that with a horse as there anatomy is different - basically you could pull their head off
shocked.gif
Don't know if this is correct but if it is I would think attaching a horse to a quad bike a very bad idea. By the way the cows were always fine when they got out of the mud.

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nope not a problem at all....
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...he was 1 then and now hes 7 and winning bsja classes!!..cnt have done the b****r much harm
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and yerp we do that to our cows as well
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Hi,
My mare doesnt tie up very well sometimes she is fine but other times she pulls back and breaks headcollar, twine, even once pulling ring out of wall, then i saw a tip to use a elastic tail bandage as when they pull back it stretches and eventually they have gone back without the breaking of anything and then relax, it worked for my mare and she is 14, i broke her in and did everything the way it should be but once she got away with it when I was washing her mane she did it all the time, sometimes i just put a big knot in the end of her rope and loop it through her haynet (not tied) when she pulls back she does come free but still has rope on and i just loop it in again till shes fed up. that seems to work too. Apparently there is a rubber hose gadget on the market that works very similar to the elastic bandage, but it is £20.00. I am happy with what i do so don't need to buy anything but that might work for you, as mine doesnt bother when travelling., she will also let me do most things while she stands loose, so thats ok for me.
 
I know a horse who actually waits until someone is watching him and then pretends to panic and pulls back because he knows it worries us humans!

He gets a smack on the ass for his trouble and doesn't do it again until he spies a stranger!
 
I know of a 4 year old who pulled back, broke it's neck, and died slowly on the yard. It was tied straight to the ring. Probably very bad luck, but could have been prevented. (QR by the way).
 
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