Tying up with no haynet

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Footlights

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My horse won't tie unless there is a haynet hanging up for him, if there isn't one then he pulls back, walks around and tries to escape. This is probably partly my fault as when I first got him he didn't want to come in from the field so I was trying to make coming in as enjoyable as possible - a big haynet, grooming, lots of fuss etc.

However, the haynet is now causing problems when I try and put his bridle on, as he just wants to eat and gets very fustrated with me. If I take the haynet away while tacking up then he just tries to escape and won't stand still for me.

What can I do to teach him that he needs to stand still for me, even if there is no haynet there to keep him occupied?
 
Try leaving him without one for a minute when he first comes in, do his itchy spots for him instead at first & gradually increase the time he has to wait for his net, until he realises he doesn't always get one. Try alternating the hay with a toy, or a Swede hung up on a rope etc. I'd also work on getting him to stand when asked so you can tack him up regardless.
 
Thank you Littlelegs, a toy is a great idea to keep him amused without becoming obsessive over his hay. I will give that a try!
 
You need patience and time. Bring him in and at first give him a very small amount of hay in a net so he has some and finishes it then carry on with your grooming or whatever you are doing and other than minsisting he does not push you around let him get on with his tantrum and learn that he will not get away and that he will not starve if he has no net for a short while. You need to wean him off it and be firm if he gets bolshy about it If you want him to like coming in you could have a few carrots or something waiting for him instead of hay and let him have them before you tie him up so he has come in had nice things and then gets groomed but you do need time so you are not rushed and the patience to let him get on with his dont wanna ideas until he is fed up
 
Yes that's exactly what it is - a tantrum! He is very good at those!

I do worry about just leaving him to get on with it as I am worried about him hurting himself :-(
 
You don't literally leave him at first but if you give him attention every time you think he will hurt himself he will carry on with the behaviour so you just carry on with whatever you would be doing if he had a full net and when he realises that stamping his feet gets him nowhere he will get bored with it and stand still. Think of him as a child who will shout and scream and throw themselves on the floor to get what they want and where the parents will ignore them until they learn to behave :)
 
Sorry, yes I knew you didn't mean literally leave him.

Thank you for your advice, I will definitely be trying to ignore that bad behaviour and fuss over him when he is standing nicely from now on. :-)
 
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