Untying rope problem

[justjo]

I wonder if anyone can help, or if there are any suggestions. My horse loves to unpick the lead rope whenever or wherever I tie him up, I now no longer have such a thing as a quick release knot as if I do one of those he is usually walking back to the stable with me by the time I have turned around! He doesn't panic or worry about being tied up and if I manage to do a knot so complex it doesn't slip undone he just spends the time tied up picking at it to see if he can out do me. Most of the time this isn't a problem but he does sometimes escape and wander off if I'm not right there and also I do worry that if something should happen and he needs to be released quickly then the knot, as said earlier, is not quick release. I must add that I do always tie him to thin twine so that if he panics at all it is easily broken and he has proved this on one occasion.

[xsamx]

Use a trailer tie?

[xsamx]

cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Quick-Release-Trailer-Ties-Made-by-Us-lots-of-colours_W0QQitemZ180201230256QQihZ008QQcategoryZ16237QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Like that one

[calamity]

Aha! I had exactly this problem and the trouble is that success breeds enthusiasm so when the horse has managed to get free once he is motivated to try it again. I have a loan mare who has obviously had little training in lots of areas, being tied is one of them. It has been a challenge teaching her what is expected but she isn't a difficult character and will do a lot for a carrot. I have to admit I developed some pretty odd knots in trying to keep her attached and then rewarded her when she stood still for a few minutes. This has built up to a good long while and she no longer tries to untie the rope. Maybe I can soon try going back to a quick release knot. She will also open gates and I have spare lead ropes securing each of those. I hope you can have some similar success.

[calamity]

Oh, I should mention that I am a Western rider. We tie our horses so they are really tied. Using twine only teaches them to yank good and hard to break it. They get good at that too. Your horse needs to learn to accept tying. Its important for everyone's safety. Take it in little steps. Reward for standing still while tied.

[thelwall78]

Tie the quick release knot through the underneath of the noseband of the headcollar and clip the clip end of the rope to the bailer twine on the wall - he shoudn't be able to get to the knot then but will still be tied up safely!

[Teeni]

I remember those lead ropes in stalls with a block of wood of the end of them through the tie ring, although not very safe. You could always try something similar but with the block/leadrope through balers twine?

Block of wood, hole in the middle to put lead rope through (cut to appropriate lengeth) and the a knot underneath the block in the leadrope. As above put through balers twine instead of tie ring on the wall.

Hope some of that makes sense lol

[lolamae]

Agree with Calamity, either teach your horse to respect being tied, or if you don't want to do that then train him to ground tie, and mean it! Rope on floor means "Do NOT move your feet until told otherwise" All horses should be trained to ground tie anyway, it just makes so much sense. Your horse is having fun with you and seriously taking the mickey by the sounds of it

If he just likes playing, hang a ball up by the tie ring that he can fiddle with instead perhaps.

[jill]

Er, sorry, may be stating the obvious, but when you tie a quick release knot, I take it you do pass the loose end through the loop? Usually that way if they mouth the loose end it doesn't free them.

[horsey123]

my horse dose this with haynets so i am feeding in haynets so i have to use a cable tie onto the haynet
dontt think its that safe to tie up with

[Ryan&Dizzy]

my old horse used to do this.... i never found a solution i just decided that tacking up etc was easier to do in a stable as otherwise he escaped as soon as i turned away. he also learnt that if he couldnt unpick the knot that he could snap the twine and would very calmly put his shoulder on the wall and flex his neck away from it.... naughty boy!!!

[Cheryl Walmsley]

Sherb can undo them even with the loose end looped through. I think Sam's cracked it with the trailer tie suggestion.

[justjo]

xsamx I have looked at the trailer ties, are they safe? Looks like a good idea. Thank you

Jill I do pass the rope through the loop, thats the first thng he does, pulls it back through!

lolamae, how do you teach ground tieing? I have heard of it but never seen how to teach it. It sounds a bit aggresive though.

[jennywren]

My horse has decided to by-pass untying himself and just puts his head down against wall/stable etc looping the leadrope over his ears (this would panic most horses), pulls down and hey presto headcollar comes off over his ears, no matter how securely fastened. This never happens while watching him, only when your back is turned for a second but he can be seen practising the leadrope looping bit!

[Rimrock]

we have a 32 yo pony who can undo just about any knot, but he cant undo the knot if it's under his chin. Quick release on headcollar, and loop the leadrope round or through tie ring and clip back onto headcollar