How to Break a Horse From Halter Pulling

A horse that won't stand tied is a threat to himself and others. Not only will this horse destroy a lot of tack and other equipment, he can injure humans in his path if he gets free. In most cases, a horse with this habit did not learn to stand tied as a youngster. In most cases, you can retrain a horse to get rid of this problem.

Things You'll Need

  • Rope halter
  • Soft lead rope at least 3/4 inch in diameter
  • Inner tube
  • Tree, post or other strong item to tie to
  • Dressage whip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the rope halter on the horse. Tie the lead rope directly to the halter. Do not attach it to the halter with a snap that can break.

    • 2

      Lead the horse forward until he moves freely and does not hang back on the lead rope. Praise him lavishly when he leads easily.

    • 3

      Turn him sharply to the left, so that his right hind leg must step over the left one. Repeat to the right so that the left hind leg crosses over the right. To do this, pull his face toward you in the desired direction while pushing his hip away. Tap his hip with the whip to reinforce your pull on the halter if necessary.

    • 4

      Tie your horse to an inner tube attached to a solid object that will not break when he moves freely in all directions, including backing. The inner tube will provide some give if your horse pulls back, thus lessening the chance for neck injuries. Ideally, whatever you tie the inner tube to will be poll high. Do not leave your horse unattended at first. Begin by tying him for 10 or 15 minutes, then slowly increase the amount of time until he will stand quietly for at least an hour. Leave him tied while you do chores around the barn when he gives no indication of pulling back. Next, leave him unattended but within hearing range. Remove the inner tube and go back to using his regular halter when he stands quietly for extended periods of time..