How to Train a Horse to Tie

Teaching a horse to tie is something most people don't think about. They simply assume that all horses know how to do this simple lesson. But it is actually one of the most important lessons a horse will ever learn, and can be one of the most dangerous lessons to teach for both the horse and the owner. A horse can break his neck quite easily, and in his violent thrashings can injure or kill any person nearby. Here's a safe way to teach a horse to tie.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber tire or hosing
  • Stout rope with bull snap
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure the horse is old enough to be trained to tie. It should be no less than 6 months old in order to avoid possible injury to the foal's neck muscles and possible damage to the spinal column.

    • 2

      Take a length of doubled or tripled rubber hose or an old bicycle tire and secure it to a stout pole that is securely cemented into the ground. It is imperative that it be higher than the horse's eyes and have a solid wall or other barrier in front of it.

    • 3

      Assuming you have haltered the horse and can get it close enough to the snubbing pole to tie it, use a quick release or other safety knot to tie the horse to the length of hose or the tire. Make sure that the rope has not more than 2 feet of slack. The rope needs to be short enough to make sure it does not loop around the horse's neck, but not so short that the horse cannot move about and feel the pressure of the snub.

    • 4

      Step away and allow the horse time to feel the confining pressure on his neck. When he finally realizes he is tied, he is very likely to "set back" on the rope and fight the pressure. This may continue for some minutes. Stay away, but observe closely so that you may step in an release the rope if things become too serious.

    • 5

      Once he has learned to come off the pressure of the rope, praise him. In due time, use an alarming object, such as a sack, to encourage him to feel the pressure of the rope again. Once more, he is likely to fight, but should come off the pressure sooner and with less struggling. Praise him and be sure that you only apply the frightening object long enough to get the tying lesson across to him.