How to Tie a Horse Using an Innertube

A horse tied hard and fast to a hitching-post, fence or trailer is at risk. If the horse is tied to something more solid than the animal is strong, the horse can break its own neck or legs or damage tack and equipment when fighting the knot. If the station is not strong, the horse can break off a portion --- the plank of a fence for example --- and panic with the broken piece attached to the lead rope or reins, dragging the debris under foot. The solution is a flexible, breakable link in the hitching mechanism: an innertube.

Things You'll Need

  • Innertube
  • 4-foot length of rope
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the innertube on the ground. Double it back on itself to make a crescent. Lay the rope perpendicular across the center line of the innertube. Slide your hand through the loop in the innertube at one end of the crescent. Reach with the same hand and grab the other end of the innertube.

    • 2

      Pull the second end of the innertube through the loop of the first and pull the innertube tight around the rope. The knot in the innertube around the rope is a square reef knot. At one end is a loop in the innertube; the other is wrapped around the rope.

    • 3

      Tie the rope around a fence post or to a horse trailer. A square knot will suffice. Tie the lead rope or rains of the horse through the loop in the innertube with a bowline, clove hitch or whatever your preferred hitching knot might be.