Stopping a horse pulling back

Is there any way to stop a horse pulling back when they're tied up? George only does this if something terrifying scares him like a bin bag or today the hose scraping on the floor
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I and he must find it scarey in those moments that you wait and hope for the baler twine to snap. Today the very frayed and thin baler twine didn't snap, the quick release on the lead rope didn't release and I couldn't get him to walk forwards or undo the lead rope
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thankfully it was an old neglected (on purpose) leather headcollar and it did give way (this led to some difficulty catching George and of course I was on my own
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If only you could teach them to step forwards instead of pull back, but I guess at 9yrs old it is probably too late......or not?
 
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DidiR

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You need to tie up using the "pony club" quick release knot, so that when you pull the free end, the whole thing comes away, not like the "old" quick release knot which is still looped through the string, once released.

I can hardly do the "new" way myself, having done the "old" way for 30 years... so I can't explain it very well here either... hopefully someone else can, or you can ask someone on your yard to show you...
 
try 3 very different length loops of twine, all around the same tie-up ring, if that makes sense... put lead rope through all 3, so if he snaps the first, the 2nd will catch him, then the third. i've not had one go through the third one yet...
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my big wb used to pull back every time he was tied up when i first got him, he was a real pain. this cured him completely, hasn't done it for years now.
 
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try 3 very different length loops of twine, all around the same tie-up ring, if that makes sense... put lead rope through all 3, so if he snaps the first, the 2nd will catch him, then the third. i've not had one go through the third one yet...
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my big wb used to pull back every time he was tied up when i first got him, he was a real pain. this cured him completely, hasn't done it for years now.

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We did this with the polo ponies that pulled back when first broken works fantastically. Always had 3 rings on the lorry to as often they could get on the main road if they broke free at a match
 
I will try the 3 loops of twine approach sounds like it might just work.

PMSL at zig zag, although to be honest that's what I should have done, but our yard is so tidy there wasn't one to hand!
 
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Brush up his bum...

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That's what I do with my boy, or a big slap on the bum.

He only does it if something spooks him aswell, seems to work fine.

Also, I always make sure I tie the rope so just a yank from me and it comes from the bail twine.
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Luckily it's only rarely that he does it know...
 
myn does that alot of the time

she once pulled so hard back she rolled onto her tummy.

i do a quick release knot on those special quick release elastic string things, with a quick release lead rope, and if she pulls back try undo the kot quickly, but if that dont work normally she pulls back and something gives way and its ok!!!or if i need to a smack on her bum!!!!!
 
i'm not sure, my gelding was a TERROR to stand tied, he was literally dangerous when i first got him, he'd snap the twine every 20 mins and would swing around and squish you against the wall, but i think it was more out of stubborness/boredom then fear. i found a well aimed pokey hoofpick very helpful
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just be patient and don't let him get away with even a tiny step back. also, do you have a stable? perhaps tie him in there for a bit, let him get a bit more secure about it, don't tie the rope, just put it through the twine so if he pulls back it doesn't resist and break another headcollar, this way he won't escape, and he might be less spooky if he's in his own special area. basically just be really strict
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also, when he spooks, just act as if nothing happened, carry on grooming, if he senses you're nervous it'll make him worse.
 
George is absolutely fine to tie up pretty much anywhere, it's just on the odd occasions that something scares him and he overreacts and I panic as well as he is practically hanging himself.
 
Merlin does the same thing and its never the string that breaks .... grrrrr.....

He pulls back because he is momentarily scared and then gets terrified coz he cant get away.

Last time he did it was when I was shortening his mane with a solo comb and the click startled him
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scary eh???

Resulted in a backwards tumble over the breezeblock mounting block and a cut leg
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His favorite time to do it though is bath time, so now I put leccy tape round the cement hardstanding and at least he cant get away!!!!
 
Oooo I used to do that - never seen anyone else do it.

It does work though!

GG - could you just touch him on hos flank to get him to walk forwards? Ronnie sometimes frightens himself with his hay (!) and will panic and run backwards and likewsie - the frayed baler twine doesn't give nor does the panic clip on the leadrope - and so I have horse with rolling eyes and a very taut leadrope. I normally walk to his side and ask him to step forwards and sideways (if you know what I mean) with a touch on his tummy or flank. Just takes his mind off the scary bit of hay and means the rope slackens.

The only problem with quick release knots ( and I do the very quickest ones where you don't pass the end through the twine) is that they tighten when the horse pulls backwards and thus are too tight to release easily.
 
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