V Tie, Equi-Ping; Tying a horse up. Modern times-what a mission!

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charliecrisps

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What does everyone use now to tie there horses up!?? It used to be free ... and good

But now we aren't supposed to use modern baling twine... I've been unsuccessfully trying the alternatives.

Equi ping does just that. Just pings right off as soon as my cobs so much as sniff near it (glad I bought 6 of them then!)

The V - Tie.... costs over a tenner!!! (of which I do like... but would need to purchase several)

Any suggestions ... Im not on a yard so kind of don't have many people to ask :-/
 
I'd like to know why baling twine is frowned upon now too, first I've heard of it! I have used equi-pings but my horse was able to break them far too easily so I don't bother anymore and just use baling twine. I have also just seen the V-Tie advertised for £7.95 here:

http://www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=282

I think it looks quite good actually, and much sturdier than the equi-ping. I also found that equi-pings are never as effective after the horse has broken them a few times, they don't seem to go back as securely.
 
I don't really tie up, but when I do - I tie straight to the ring. Easier to undo in a crisis. If I'm leaving a horse unattended, I put it in the stable, or in Alfs case, untie him and leave hims standing there looking embarrassed. I have a few strands of baler twine attached to some of my tie rings, because my friend/livery prefers to tie to string, and regularly wanders off and leaves her mare tied up.
 
Baling twine... It works, so why change it?

Either use the thinner stuff from a small bale, or separate the strands into a half or third from the monster twine used on the big bales. Or weaken it a bit by rubbing and fraying it with a blade or scissors.

EquiPings are useless, everything else is a bit of a gimmick and to make money. If they break, you have to pay to replace them. You buy one big bale of straw and have oodles of twine. :)
 
I found the equipings useless too, they broke off as soon as she so much as blinked, let alone moved! I just use bailing twine, but cut half way across the string so that it breaks easily. Doesn't look as smart as the fancy ties but does the job better than any seem to! Haven't tried the V Tie so couldn't comment on that one x
 
Landcruiser said:
I do think we are a bit paranoid about all this in the UK. Most of the world ties horses to solid objects.
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This ^^^ I tie my horses to...tie rings, and train them from an early age to stay tied. If you tie horses to things that break, you train horses to.....break things!
 
I find equitie the best, safe but not flimsy. My horses just ping everything else but hese are pretty robust
 
I've got the equi-ties, equi-pings and a V Tie as I've got a very headshy mare and tried them all at some stage. When she was on livery the staff would tie to the thick bale twine and she hurt herself pulling back so I had a selection of alternatives so they had plenty of places to tie her safely. The V Tie is by far the best but as I now have the horses at home I'd need a lot of them. I haven't had any problems with the Equi-Pings, I like that they open easily but my horse just pulls back and doesn't go anyway so it suits my needs. I've opted mainly for the Equi-Ties as they look smart, don't break too easily and I like having everything on the yard colour coordinated and neat so these are good on cost, effectiveness and looks!! They do however need replacing when broken so long term the V Tie may work out more economical especially if you only need a couple.
 
I use the Equitie

I dont like the way baler twine spins round and makes it hard to pull the leadrope through.
 
I don't use anything. Those equi-ping things snap in two seconds, twine is touch and go and you can get the rope caught up in it stopping it from a quick release. A good quick release knot is all that is needed.
 
mynutmeg said:
I just use thinned twine - still snaps no bother so long as you use the stuff from small bales, not large ones
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This. I just grab the cut end, take a hold of equal amounts and split it, then use it. It is stronger than the stuff I remember from childhood and to the point where a Fly pulled away when tied at the hose last year as something spooked her and her very high quality leather head collar gave way. The twine didn't. Another horse on the yard had pulled a bracket right out of the wall wearing a nylon head collar. I split modern twine...ALWAYS now.
 
Modern baling twine is synthetic and does not break easily like the old fashioned twine! IMO horses need to learn to follow a feel so when they feel tension on their lead rope they move towards it thus releasing the tension. I teach my youngsters this by using a long (at least 12', often a 20' line) wrapped once around a strong rail....then when the horse tests it by pulling back they learn that tension stays there until they stop and move forward.....I must add this is AFTER they have learned to 'follow a feel' in hand in all directions by all parts of their body!! I can then tie them up either by wrapping the rope around the rail several times, using a Blocker tie or just chucking the rope over the rail!! Or I can use a quick release knot and tie them up to something solid using a breakaway safety device, either stranded modern twine, old fashioned twine, a cable tie or other device.....but the basic rule is to educate the horse to move into tension rather than pull back!!
 
I tie to a tie ring or fence or whatever I need him attached to. I have had to deal with a panicking horse that we needed to release quickly, the knot came undone but got stuck in the twine through friction. The headcollar gave out before we managed to get the knife to the twine :(

If you use the right knot, the horse can pull back in an emergency and self release. If you have a horse that regularly tests the knot, you just do a conventional knot (a la BHS style), but know that if you pull the tail end it will release.

If I do have to tie to string, I use gardeners natural twine, or a seperated section from the hemp rope used on the Himalayan salt licks
 
Cortez said:
This ^^^ I tie my horses to...tie rings, and train them from an early age to stay tied. If you tie horses to things that break, you train horses to.....break things!
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I did have one livery who used an elastic quick release tie, her horse learned to release himself every single time.
But I don't tie to a solid object, even though my horses are trained to come forward from pressure, after I heard one neighbour describing how he did then got called away urgently and when he came back, in his words the horse was "just going cold" - broke it's neck. All it takes is a second and if there are flailing front feet you can't get close enough to release the quick release knot. Leather headcollars are more breakable than webbing ones too - as I know to my cost when I tied my usually sensible TB up to a log the other week. Better the headcollar than his neck though.
Baling string is just strong enough to put up a fight but break when the going gets tough IMO, but even better is training a horse to ground tie, so that when that rope is touching the ground they don't move. Then be considerate and give them a net of hay.
 
Mine tie up to a solid point. I'd tried the breakaway options and they all broke away. A short argument with a solid tie and they now all stand quietly. They do have release leadropes if things got too hairy. None were harmed in their shenanigans and were being watched.
 
Those equi ping type things are rubbish, bought two at a large show once and only used them once. I always use twine, it always breaks if my horses spook and panic, if they start taking the mick and learn to pull and snap it in order to get the nearby grass, they get tied to the metal ring ! (under supervision) .
 
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