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I've taught my mustangs to stand tied by using a very gradual approach - 
first in halter, I make sure they learn to give to pressure (in every 
direction). When I'm confident they know how to yield and relax at the 
feeling of pressure, I loop the lead rope around a stout fence post. I apply 
pressure from a few feet away and wait for the horse to take one step 
forward. When she has released her own pressure, I praise her and offer a 
few good scratches or a piece of carrot. I gradually increase my distance 
away and the length of time I expect the horse to stand patiently. Then I 
introduce something a little scary - not enough to panic the horse, but 
maybe a clapping sound, the sound of a zipper, whatever I know will startle 
her but not send her into a bolt. When she startles, I hold the lead rope 
firmly against the post so she moves around and suddenly feels a solid 
resistance. If the horse panics at that feeling of restraint, I let out on 
the rope and do some more work. Most of the time, though, the horse has 
already done so much "yield to pressure" work that it's automatic even in a 
stress situation and she moves into the pressure. I will then "test" the 
response by increasing the scary stimulus - until I am comfortable flapping 
things, waving plastic bags, banging cans, whatever and knowing that my 
horses will just stand there patiently. Then I tie the rope in a half-hitch 
knot, test them a few times, and *bingo* they know how to stand nicely. I 
also teach them to stand ground tied, just because it makes things easier 
for me - I would not trust this in a stressful situation! And I don't let my 
horses paw the ground while tied- I know it's normal for many horses and 
I've had arguments about it on other horse groups about ignoring it versus 
working it out of them, but I don't think it's a good idea and from the 
beginning I gently discourage it.

JMHO -
Jen

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