Stupid crazy horse grrr!!!

[cascy]

Okay, so brad's horse paint is approx. 9-10 years old.


Has been on countless camping trips, has stood tied for weekends at a time (we never had small enought panels to take with us)...

And now, for whatever reason... He has decided that he does NOT tie anymore


He will stand tied fine, until he decideds he is ready to go back out to pasture at which point he will *effortlessly* rear back, break halter, lead, ect. and walk himself back to pasture


Now my issue is... We leave Friday for chuckwagon races. WE have barrowed sswtness75's trailer and there is no way I can let that thing get a dint or scratch from his senile sp? old man momments of not wanting to stand tied.

So... So far, he is spending about 4-5 hours a day tied to a BIG tree in the front yard to refresh his memory that he will stand tied, and with 2 halters on... he's not going anywhere....

BUT that doesn't stop him from still trying.

So, what do I do about a horse that KNOWS how to tie and stay that way, but after 10 years decides he doesn't want to anymore by this weekend?!?

Any ideas of what I can do with him without hurting jerri's trailer? I'm lost

[Crookedblaze]

The problem is that he has learned what he can get away with. He knows that he can break halters and get away. That is exactly what Mac did! I had no idea what to do, so I enlisted the help of a trainer.

Can you bring pannels with you? Mac has the WORST pulling back problem that I have ever delt with, nothing can set him off if he feels like it. So we put him in a 12 x 12 pen, tied him to a nice big tree in the middle of it, and let him pull back to his hearts desire. If he didn't hit the fence, the tree stopped him.

My other idea is to get a blocker tie ring. Clinton Anderson has them, so does Smith Brothers.

Good luck.

[cascy]

Well that's the thing...

I can work him through it in the long run, but I've got to have a plan in place by this weekend!!

WE don't have panels to take, no where to haul them up there, and don't have the extra 400 bucks to buy them either


I thought about electric, but as hectic as clinton wagon races can be... might not be a good idea either

[Crookedblaze]

When I travelled to team ropings with my moms boyfriend, we used electric fencing all of the time...just let people know.

Hope you find something that works!

[Quilting1]

I saw an "aussie tie" used at a Clinton Anderson demonstration that worked WONDERS on a horse in just 20 min. or so. Of course the horse wasn't "cured" but I could not believe how quickly he improved!!!

I also used a technique years ago that worked wonders on an Arabian gelding I had that was breaking brandnew halters (never thought to try to use 2 like you did though ) - some people had strong opinions against it but it worked great for me. I used a soft rope and tied a large loop in one end, then I put it around his belly where the cinch would go - put the loose end through the loop and then between his front legs, through his lead rope and then tied him with it. I stayed right there and watched him closely (!!! very important), and when he reared and backed the rope tightened and he stopped immediately - then when he took one step forward it loosened around his belly - he NEVER reared and/or backed again and never had a mark on him. I'm sure other may have some horror stories but I think as long as you watch them close to help in event of a problem there aren't as many risks involved.

[llarryllama373]

Oh man, this really stinks. Id be so frustrated... Could you leave him loose in the trailer? What terrible timing!!! Maybe you could borrow someones panels.... Im not much help, but good luck.

[Appsrcool]

I would make sure I have a neck rope on him, or try a large,long enough cotton rope around his belly just behind his front legs,make a loop in one end that will not pull tight,and run the other end through it,put long end between front legs up through his halter and tie with that plus his halter rope,making the belly rope just little shorter then halter rope,when he pulls back belly rope will tighten and he pulls against that instead of halter.WE use this on lot of horses but they are usualy 4yrs old and never tied before.But they don't break it.

[cook1745]

I agree with the blocker ring GREAT invention!!!!

[Appsrcool]

quilting 1 must of been typing same time as I was,same idea,it does work just watch them closey for awhile,but older horse should respect it and not get tangled up like an unknowing horse can.

[EquineAlberta]

Having a rope tighten around the horse's back/withers can result in spinal damage. A risk I would not be willing to take on an otherwise nice horse. Are there any stalls or pens available at the races? What about leaving that horse home?

Karen

[gypsy]

Are there any trees where you camp? I would recommend a rope halter-those don't break very easily.

[ahlihaff]

I know you WANT to take him to the races, but do you NEED to? If you can't solve this dilema by the weekend, maybe don't bring him this time; and work on the issue when you have more time?

[DappleGrayMyWay]

What about a hobble?

[cascy]

Well crisis averted!

We have found some panels to haul up there (but Mr. smarty pants will still be visiting the post for a awhile )....


Thanks for everyone's suggestions. he has alot of "post time" in his future but we'll make the trip fine.

And also yes, he has to go... He is brad's only horse... So if paint doesn't go, brad doesn't go which wouldn't go over so well

[horselady]

For another time perhaps or for someone else that has that problem there are portable electric fence that can be made two rows high works on battery, great stuff

[A J]

For his post time in the meantime have you been using a rope halter with a lead that does not include any hardware? My one mare right now has taken to occasionally pulling back - not sure why because she's never gotten loose since I've had her, but may have before that??? Either way, the rope halter combo has worked rather well. I've also discovered that if you wrap the rope around a few times before tying off the quick release knot, the knot is unlikely to tighten like it can on a single wrap around the post. Just a hint I figured out

[ray]

I have never done it but I have heard... if you loop a innertube from a bike or tire (whatever) through you ring or around your post and then tie to that, that they can't break it and it dosn't cause damage to the horse.

Has anyone tried this??? Opinions??

[MatchMaker]

Perhaps get a pull back halter? Obviously the horse needs to be supervised when you use it and it is not for all problems (My horse for instance pulls back and then breaks things because he's scared of the pressure so I couldn't use it on him). But it can help some horses. The halter has an extra strap that goes over the ears and then under the chin. You attach the lead to this and when the horse pulls he gets a strong whack behind the ears from the rope. Like I said, it may not be the solution but it may work.

[PeggySue]

Two sugeestions

Find a tree with a nice sturdy limb ABOVE his head so he cant' SIT back ... stand him there until he stops trying, tie him out from the tree so he can walk all the circles he want he just won't be ableto get loose


second I swear by this halter
http://www.horse.com/Farm-Ranch-Supp...rap-BMH08.html

[cascy]

Originally Posted by A J

For his post time in the meantime have you been using a rope halter with a lead that does not include any hardware? My one mare right now has taken to occasionally pulling back - not sure why because she's never gotten loose since I've had her, but may have before that??? Either way, the rope halter combo has worked rather well. I've also discovered that if you wrap the rope around a few times before tying off the quick release knot, the knot is unlikely to tighten like it can on a single wrap around the post. Just a hint I figured out

Well, all we use are the rope halters, and that's what he broke But I think he's about figured out that standing is alot better then his alternatives.


He stood tied most of the day today... If he started to pull back, I'd run out the front door and hollar at him, he'd stop (he's too smart... he will only pull back if he *thinks* no one is watching him).. Then he'd get to run circles for awhile, work on changing directions ect. until we had got the blood pumping, then he would go back to his post.


Ya know, it didn't take him but a couple times and a little bit of sweat, but he is really starting to think standing still at the post is much better then running with mom

Silly horse.... mom or the post always win