Tie Down?

Amber.Molly · 05-12-2008, 07:10 AM

Just wondering if anyone uses one... or likes/dislikes them for any reason?

I used one yesterday for the first time in years... Pablo gets super excited when we run into the arena, and when he passes the music he throws his head up and goes sideways. There's another part of the ride where he gets excited and doesn't listen to my seat or the bit, and will just throw his head up and run through. SO... my coach told me to put a tie down on him.. and it worked quite well. He only threw his head up 2x and after that he was wonderful.

I'm going to have to purchase one, as I was just borrowing it yesterday... is there anything in particular I should look for?

Lindsayanne · 05-12-2008, 07:27 AM

I think they are, 99.5% of the time they are used, a band-aid for a training problem.

Sorry. You asked.

doublebarr · 05-12-2008, 07:29 AM

Hate them with a passion. We rope, run barrels, work cows and game all different events and I DO NOT use a tiedown and am still competative. There simply is not a real need for a tiedown outside of Tie Down Roping and it will hinder the horses athletic abilities more than help with anything. I've trained more horses OUT of tiedowns and made better horses out of them because of it.

Do a forum search on "Tie Downs". There's a lot of information that would be good for you to read.

Amber.Molly · 05-12-2008, 08:15 AM

I did ask, and I appreciate the comments.

I tried to do a search and it said no results?

A mare I bought was always rode in one, and she reared a lot. Once we took the tie down off she was fine. And Pablo is fine 95% of the time, but when he gets THAT excited, I am not sure what else I can do at the moment because during a ride I can not fix the problem (drill team) and he's not doing it during our practices.

I'll try the search again, Thanks!

Amber.Molly · 05-12-2008, 08:57 AM

Oook... I tried the search with an "s" this time (tie downS) and came up with some information. I understand that a lot of people hate them, and some like them.

If anyone has any other suggestions... or comments on how I could go about my 'problem' I would appreciate it

FallenAngel · 05-12-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber.Ali

Oook... I tried the search with an "s" this time (tie downS) and came up with some information. I understand that a lot of people hate them, and some like them.

If anyone has any other suggestions... or comments on how I could go about my 'problem' I would appreciate it

That would be better looked after if you put a new thread maybe in the training section ?

luttrellfarms · 05-12-2008, 07:22 PM

If it works well for you use it. You might try training forks which will teach him to give his head down and you can ride in them until this happens. I personally do not like tie downs but they make them for a reason.

ChieflaStables · 05-12-2008, 07:29 PM

My old trainer always had me throw tie downs on my barrel horses, it was kinda like an easy way for her to help me fix a bad problem, and I was watching her work with a very high spirited TB mare the other day and she told that lady to throw a tie down on too to fix the head throwing problem, But you know I decided to not use it one day, and work on my horse without it, and what a dream, I'll probobly never use a tie down again..

as lindsayanne put it "I think they are, 99.5% of the time they are used, a band-aid for a training problem." I completely agree.

It definitely could be of good use though if you use it right, not just throw it on a horse that slings it's head high and call it a day. (if that makes sense?!?)

Klaycock · 05-12-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

I think they are, 99.5% of the time they are used, a band-aid for a training problem.

Sorry. You asked.

I agree 100%. I don't like them and that is the biggest reason why, the other being how much you are taking away from the horse. If you watch a horse run normally (which I am assuming your doing speed with the way you stated how you "run into the arena") they stretch their heads/necks out so if you tuck and pull down where did that get you?? Also if not used properly the horse will simply learn how to run through you that way as well. I see it all the time in the speed arena. From the sounds of it you and your horse need to work on that control rather than try to stop it with a gadget. Take this to the training section..Ask them how to stop a horse from running through the bit, and specify which discipline you are doing as that will help them tell you where to start and stop. I would but my typing what I mean skills are just horrible..lol

Good luck!

ChieflaStables · 05-12-2008, 07:37 PM

OH, & reason I dis like it , and like working him w/o it now...

I had always been told by my old trainer to put a tie down on, no one else had said different, so I just went with it, a lady I'm good friends with at a show, I noticed both her barrel horses didn't wear one, so I asked her why, and she simply said they dont need one, sure they toss their heads sometimes, but for her mares, it let them stretch out more, and really bend around the barrel, w/o being held back by the tie down, (not her exact words, but something like that I guess) so anyways, the next time I exercised my gelding, I took the tie down off and tried that out, I trotted and loped and w/o the tie down, he was more relaxed when trotting and loping, he did swing his head high a few times, probobly testing to see if it really wasn't on, but I trotted him around the barrels and it went really well, so I started working on getting him to tilt his head in before a turn, and it might just be him, but he was so much more relaxed, and the next show we went to was probobly 4 days later, and we ran our best time yet (he's new) I was very pleased. I do have alot more work to do with him since he doesn't have a tie down on , but i think it's going to be worth it for sure. Let me know what you end up doing!

05-12-2008, 07:10 AM	#1
Amber.Molly Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,687 Images: 309 Blog Entries: 70	Tie Down? Just wondering if anyone uses one... or likes/dislikes them for any reason? I used one yesterday for the first time in years... Pablo gets super excited when we run into the arena, and when he passes the music he throws his head up and goes sideways. There's another part of the ride where he gets excited and doesn't listen to my seat or the bit, and will just throw his head up and run through. SO... my coach told me to put a tie down on him.. and it worked quite well. He only threw his head up 2x and after that he was wonderful. I'm going to have to purchase one, as I was just borrowing it yesterday... is there anything in particular I should look for? __________________ *Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.* *- Joseph Addison*

05-12-2008, 07:27 AM	#2
Lindsayanne Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 9,379 Images: 368	I think they are, 99.5% of the time they are used, a band-aid for a training problem. Sorry. You asked. __________________ Bashkir Curly Poster Child NE Prime Time Regal - 2006 ABCR National Champion & 2008 Breyerfest Demo Horse HAVE YOU SEEN MY STOLEN PONY EXPRESS HORSE TRAILER?*

05-12-2008, 08:15 AM	#4
Amber.Molly Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,687 Images: 309 Blog Entries: 70	I did ask, and I appreciate the comments. I tried to do a search and it said no results? A mare I bought was always rode in one, and she reared a lot. Once we took the tie down off she was fine. And Pablo is fine 95% of the time, but when he gets THAT excited, I am not sure what else I can do at the moment because during a ride I can not fix the problem (drill team) and he's not doing it during our practices. I'll try the search again, Thanks! __________________ *Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.* *- Joseph Addison*

05-12-2008, 08:57 AM	#5
Amber.Molly Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,687 Images: 309 Blog Entries: 70	Oook... I tried the search with an "s" this time (tie downS) and came up with some information. I understand that a lot of people hate them, and some like them. If anyone has any other suggestions... or comments on how I could go about my 'problem' I would appreciate it __________________ *Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.* *- Joseph Addison*

05-12-2008, 07:22 PM	#7
luttrellfarms Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 321	If it works well for you use it. You might try training forks which will teach him to give his head down and you can ride in them until this happens. I personally do not like tie downs but they make them for a reason. __________________ Tony R. Luttrell www.angelfire.com/trek/landrfarms

05-12-2008, 07:29 AM	#3
doublebarr Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 7,014 Images: 472	Hate them with a passion. We rope, run barrels, work cows and game all different events and I DO NOT use a tiedown and am still competative. There simply is not a real need for a tiedown outside of Tie Down Roping and it will hinder the horses athletic abilities more than help with anything. I've trained more horses OUT of tiedowns and made better horses out of them because of it. Do a forum search on "Tie Downs". There's a lot of information that would be good for you to read.

05-12-2008, 07:29 PM	#8
ChieflaStables Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 609 Images: 102 Blog Entries: 1	My old trainer always had me throw tie downs on my barrel horses, it was kinda like an easy way for her to help me fix a bad problem, and I was watching her work with a very high spirited TB mare the other day and she told that lady to throw a tie down on too to fix the head throwing problem, But you know I decided to not use it one day, and work on my horse without it, and what a dream, I'll probobly never use a tie down again.. as lindsayanne put it "I think they are, 99.5% of the time they are used, a band-aid for a training problem." I completely agree. It definitely could be of good use though if you use it right, not just throw it on a horse that slings it's head high and call it a day. (if that makes sense?!?) __________________ www.freewebs.com/horsesnheaven "the wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears."

05-12-2008, 07:37 PM	#10
ChieflaStables Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 609 Images: 102 Blog Entries: 1	OH, & reason I dis like it , and like working him w/o it now... I had always been told by my old trainer to put a tie down on, no one else had said different, so I just went with it, a lady I'm good friends with at a show, I noticed both her barrel horses didn't wear one, so I asked her why, and she simply said they dont need one, sure they toss their heads sometimes, but for her mares, it let them stretch out more, and really bend around the barrel, w/o being held back by the tie down, (not her exact words, but something like that I guess) so anyways, the next time I exercised my gelding, I took the tie down off and tried that out, I trotted and loped and w/o the tie down, he was more relaxed when trotting and loping, he did swing his head high a few times, probobly testing to see if it really wasn't on, but I trotted him around the barrels and it went really well, so I started working on getting him to tilt his head in before a turn, and it might just be him, but he was so much more relaxed, and the next show we went to was probobly 4 days later, and we ran our best time yet (he's new) I was very pleased. I do have alot more work to do with him since he doesn't have a tie down on , but i think it's going to be worth it for sure. Let me know what you end up doing! __________________ www.freewebs.com/horsesnheaven "the wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears."