Ryan Coaxum

Tying Your Horse

by Ryan Coaxum

As a horse person and a horse trainer, I find great importance in having horses that can be tied up. While tying a horse or teaching a horse to tie is a very important and useful tool; it can also be very dangerous if not done properly. Whether I am about to tie a veteran horse or a young colt, I first ask myself some very important safety questions.

The first thing I consider is the object I am about to tie to. Are there sharp edges? If my horse were to begin pawing, would he get a foot caught (in a case such as tying to fencing or wire mesh horse fence). If my horse were to spook, would he injure himself on this object? If my horse were to set back would the object become hazardous (such as trailer doors, stall doors, gate panels or a dead tree limb)?

Are there any objects close by that could potentially harm my horse if he became excited? This may seem like a lot of speculation, but remember, horses are very unpredictable animals prone to instinct. It is better to take the necessary precautions, than to be faced with expensive vet bills. Upon finding a safe and sturdy object, we can begin to think about tying our horse. But for a second I would like to interject! Safety can change with a horse’s level of experience. For example, a veteran show or pleasure horse may be very comfortable with being tied to a trailer. A young colt who has only been tied up a few times may wind up in a bad situation. Common sense and good judgment both go a long way when tying a horse.

Many people make two major mistakes when tying a horse. One would be tying a horse too low to the ground. The other would be giving the horse too much rope. In either case, an excited horse can get a leg hung up over the rope. He could get tangled and fall down, and in some cases a neck could be broken. It only takes a moment for a horse to injure himself. When a horse is struggling, the damage is usually done by the time we can assist them.

I always make a habit of tying a horse, if I can, no less than 12 inches above the withers. Remember, shorter is better. On a young horse, I give just enough slack to where they can hold their head at neck level. Sometimes even a little shorter if the horse is being tied up for the first couple of times. At no time do I give more than a foot of rope to a horse. Any horse! Horses are animals prone to reflex, and should be kept in a safe position.

Also, consider your equipment when tying a horse. I like to use a sturdy halter and a soft cotton lead rope. Remember that horses are creatures of habit. Say we tied our horse with a thread bare halter; he spooked a little bit, broke the halter, and walked off to graze. He just taught himself a new trick. With good equipment this can be avoided. That is why I never tie a horse by the reins. They are expensive and easily broken. Not to mention the damage that some bits can do to the mouth and tongue of your horse. I also never tie a horse around the neck with something that could restrict their breathing, such as a lariat rope. This could cause major problems if the horse were to “set back”.

Lastly, I always take some added precaution when tying a young colt or an older horse with a bad habit. I like to use a tree with an overhead protruding branch. I have found this to be the safest way. By tying above the horses head, the rope cannot slip down, which keeps the rope out of the horses way, and should the animal resist, the angle makes it hard for them to gain leverage. I like to place an old western saddle girth behind the poll area, bringing the girth rings together under the throat latch. I then fasten the snap end of my rope to the two rings. Then I run the tie end of my rope through the halter ring (where the snap usually would go). I then tie the horse as I just explained. This helps distribute the pressure if a horse were to resist.

For more information on tying your horse or questions, just call or e-mail Ryan!

A new feature to our site! Ryan will frequently write new articles to post and we will archive old ones. If you'd like to be added to our e-mail list and be notified everytime we post a new training article, please e-mail use at coaxumranch@yahoo.com. If you have a topic you'd like Ryan to discuss, feel welcome to send us an e-mail!