How to Fasten a Tie Down

If your horse consistently raises his head to get away from the bit, a tie down may help you adjust this behavior. The tie down attaches to the horse's halter, runs behind the breastcollar and attaches to the girth to control your horse's vertical head movement. A correctly fastened tie down keeps the horse's head at its natural headset. You may need to make several adjustments to get the tie down in the ideal position. If you're a novice rider, have your trainer assist you in positioning the tie down.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle with girth strap
  • Breastcollar
  • Halter or lead rope
  • Nose band
  • Tie down with conway buckle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put the saddle on the horse and tighten the girth. Fasten the breastcollar to either side of the saddle front and to the girth if the breastcollar is designed to do so. Slip the halter over the horse's head and fit the noseband in place around the horse's nose. Buckle all the buckles on the halter.

    • 2

      Attach the tie down to the halter's noseband, underneath the horse's nose.

    • 3

      Insert the end of the tie down with the snap behind the breastcollar.

    • 4

      Open the snap and fasten the tie down to the D-ring on the girth center. Stand on the horse's right side. Adjust the length of the tie down by sliding the strap through the conway buckle from right to left to loosen and left to right to tighten. The tie down should not restrict the horse's head at this point.

    • 5

      Finish tacking up and ride the horse as normal. The horse's natural headset while being ridden may be higher than at rest, so make adjustments to the tie down as needed..