re pulling when tied

[LazyJArabs <LazyJArabs@aol.com>]

hmmm, i can't be quiet about this subject.

if a horse is tied and pulls and the halter breaks, what has he learned? he
has learned that if he pulls, he can get what he wants. he can get free.

if a horse is tied with a bungee, innertube, etc. and pulls, what has he
learned? that if he pulls, then the object he is tied to will pull back and
not offer any relief. when he finally relaxes, the object that he is tied to
will keep pulling. no relief.

if a horse is tied with an unbreakable halter and strong rope and he pulls and
he pulls and he can't get free, but the rope doesn't pull back when he finally
quits, what has he learned? he has learned that if he pulls, the halter will
not break, nothing will pull back at him when he stops and he finds relief.

now, you say what if he pulls and pulls and pulls and never quits? well, he
will quit if he has learned to give to pressure (what someone else has already
posted).

how do you help minimize the possibility of him pulling in the first place?
first, tie in a manner such that he can't get a leg over the lead. second,
always tie to something SOLID. a hook on a barn is not good enough. a crossbar
on a fence is not good enough. some hooks on trailers are not good enough. use
a POST, a post on your trailer...

also, TEACH him to LEAD, GIVE TO PRESSURE, and MOVE HIS FEET. usually all
problems go back to leading. also, if the horse will not give to pressure on
his head from you hand, what makes you think a post will be any different?
it's all pressure on his head. as to moving the feet, usually if a horse
figures out that he can move his feet around side to side, then going
backwards is much more difficult. horses want to take the easy way and if
sideways is easy, then backwards is hard.

i know i may have sounded a little NH preachy there, but my horse only pulls
once in a blue moon now that i have done all of the above, plus much much
more. if you think you can't figure any of this out, find a clinic to go to in
your area and ask the clinician (you don't have to take your horse to just ask
questions, that's what they are there for). if you have further questions of
me that you need clarified, let me know. i'll do my best to help.

hope this helps,
liz johanson & ariel (CA Royalty)
lazy j arabians
maple valley/hobart, washington, usa
http://members.aol.com/eajohanson/
http://members.aol.com/eajohanson/ArabianWebs/
http://members.aol.com/lazyjarabs/
http://members.aol.com/wildhrsemm/