How to Make Your Own Tie Downs

The cost of equipment for your horse adds up quickly. However, items like cowboy halters, tail bags, feed bags, nylon bridles, lead ropes and tie downs require very little sewing knowledge or materials to create. Tie downs are a suitable place to start for beginners. You only need to know how to tie a knot.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 5-foot rope
  • 1 4-foot rope
  • Two snaps
  • Glue
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fold one-third of the five-foot rope back and grasp the looped end with your dominate hand.

    • 2

      Wrap the end around four fingers to create a hole and bring the rope around and through the hole. Add glue to the knot and pull tight. This leaves a loop at the end to attach the tie down to the girth. The knot is called an overhand knot.

    • 3

      Bring the short stand around to the other length of rope. If the shorter stand originated on the right, you will start by doing the left knot to form the noseband. You will start on the right knot, if the short stand is on the left.

    • 4

      Tie the knot by drawing the short stand behind the long one and then over the long stand. Draw the short stand behind itself at the original entry point and then threw the center of the knot. Pull tight. The knot will move along the noseband.

    • 5

      Draw the long stand around to form the knot on the opposite side. Leave enough length to fit it on your horse. Tie the right knot using the same triangle technique.

    • 6

      Slip one end of the four-foot rope through the end of the snap. Use an overhand knot to secure. Repeat on the opposite end.

    • 7

      Put the tie down on the horse. Remove and make adjustments for fit. Add glue to each knot to make it more secure.