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Location: WA | Hi everyone. (long post, but help and advice is much appreciated!)
So I'm seasoning my first colt and starting to haul her to jackpots ALONE. She's now set back with me a total of 4 times. The last time a truck and trailer pulled up behind us, she spooked, set back, actually broke her lead rope (not sure how this happened because I tie her to bailing twine) and took off bucking through the field. Luckily no one was hurt. Same night we finished and I got off to untack and she tried this crap again. I don't know if she spooked or was now testing out her new found habit. Luckily I was able to untie her and whip her ass back up to the trailer.
She now knows that she can get away, she's smart and I know she will do it again. I'm comfortable around horses, but to be honest this shook me up and I don't know if I can deal with a horse who does this all the time. It's embarrassing, completely unsafe and scary. I feel like giving up altogether. I really don't want to take her anywhere anymore because I fear she'll do this again and the more times she does it the more chances she or I or someone else will get injured.
I've had people tell me completely different things: put a halter on with spikes, tie her to a tree, tie her to the trailer without the twine, and just keep doing what I'm doing and be prepared if it happens again. I like the if you're going to be dumb you better be tough take on it, but I also don't want to watch my horse break her neck. I also don't want to sit and let this keep happening because I can't seem to get behind her fast enough to get her up to the trailer, I don't want to get hurt, and I don't want to scare her anymore.
I'm trying to make my own plan and I'd like some advice and more perspective to get us though this please!
Plan:
1.Go back and do lots of groundwork. She's pretty well desensitized and sensitized, but more groundwork the more respect she has for me.
2.Only saddle her at home at the trailer and tie her to the trailer for longer periods of time (something I honestly did lack doing before taking her out by herself)
3.When at jackpots, tie two lead ropes (one shorter and one longer) so that I have a better reaction time to her OR do I not tie her and just loop the rope through, so she never feels the poll pressure and gets less scared?
4. Try being more observant and talking her through whatever she's afraid of. Have a whip ready so if she does set back you can jump behind her and get her back to the trailer instead of letting her pull back.
5.If things don't get better I might have to get panels to put behind her??
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
 
| Might hobble her at trailer. That way if she does do it she can't get away. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| Try a blocker tie ring? |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
 
Location: Texas | I'm dealing with that right now with one of mine. If I use a tie ring she is OK but if I ever have to tie her without one it's game on. She's in boot camp right now and we are making progress. I agreed with you and had the same thoughts.. this is dangerous and I cant haul her anywhere if I cant trust her to stand tied. I can't also guarantee I will always have a blocker tie ring.
My other three year old gelding knows how to get loose with a blocker tie ring.. he just slowly pulls on it until he gets the rope out. |
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Regular
Posts: 69
| I have an older gelding that had never set back. We were at a race and a walmart sack blew right under him (while I was putting his boots on :) He set back violently but did not get loose. The next weekend, no walmart bag, and set back again. The lady next to me screamed at me for scaring her horses. That's about the time I quit hauling him. He did it again the next week at home at the hitch post (nothing scared him). That was 5 years ago and he still does it about twice a year. He has now permanently hurt the vertebrae in his neck and is having a few other related health issues from it. So I do think once they do it it can become a habit.
I just bought some tie blockers and plan to use them. I have horses that can untie themselves, and that's why I bought them. I wish I had tried to use it after the first few times. I think I will put a knot near the end so they can't actually get all the way loose.
It is very nerve racking and adds to the already stress of hauling! |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | hannahbug - 2017-06-08 4:20 PM Try a blocker tie ring?
I agree with a Blocker tie ring. I have them everywhere, and even an extra one in the trailer in case we have to tie to a fence somewhere. I'm an absolute fiend when it comes to tying - I do not want setting back injuries; ones that can easily be avoided.
As a note: I read a study about race horses that flip in the gate. They discovered that it was a hereditary behavior; that if the horse flipped, it was a sure thing momma flipped too. I see this as very similar to setting back. I'm just not going to fight it. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | My mare has been setting back for about 6 years. I only tie her with a blocker tie ring. At least she does not run off if she does get completely free. I will put her in the trailer at times when I can't keep an eye on her for a while.
I also try and park away from others so less likely she gets spooked. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | Use a rope halter or use a neck rope in addition to a good strong halter and lead rope. Tie your horse A LOT, any where you can, with a saddle on/saddle off, drive by, ride a bicycle by, push a baby stroller by, etc. Tie your horse after a GOOD HARD work out. I never whip or react to one that sets back, this just reinforces their fear that there is a reason to pulling back. I just leave them alone while they are pulling/setting back and just wait on them to figure it out but I ALWAYS HAVE THEM TIED to something that will not break with a halter or ropes that will not break. Tuff love approach.
I do agree, if it is an aged horse setting/pulling back, it is hard to fix. Leave them in the trailer or stall.
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Blocker tie ring |
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 Expert
Posts: 1268
Location: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma | I have one that's a goose at the trailer and sometimes at home. We use a good heavy halter with a lead rope without snaps (he breaks those). I've learned that once he spooks and pulls back, he will continue in the pattern until he's had chiro work done. Pulling back often gets them out in their poll or neck, thus needing adjustment. We also use a tie blocker ring as letting him have a bit of slack will often stop the pull back, I truly think he is claustrophobic.
Edited by RoanyGoodPoni 2017-06-08 10:19 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 702
Location: MN | The Blocker tie rings are the best!! Have one that violently pulled back when I bought her. First time I tied her, I used a tie ring and a 30 foot rope...she pulled that sucker through seven times!! Next day she did it twice and only pulled about 15 feet through. Now when I hook her up she drops her head and totally relaxes. They are amazing!! We use them everywhere. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| FLITASTIC - 2017-06-08 4:19 PM
Might hobble her at trailer. That way if she does do it she can't get away.
Yep, get her hobble broke - it's a good thing for any horse to learn for various reasons! |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| This is a BIG reason why I quit hauling/riding too. It's scary and very dangerous. I ALWAYS used a tie ring but saddling up a ticking time bomb got to be no fun. I totally sympathize with you. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 538
Location: Central Texas | I agree with the tie ring as well. My gelding does it sometimes just to be a butthead. I also recommend the Clinton Anderson rope halters with the knots. The ropes and halters have stood up to him and his shenanigans. The knots also put pressure on certian places which is releived when they stop setting back. They are pricey, but it's been worth it. I haven't bought a halter or lead rope in almost 10 years. |
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| All good advice-Chiro, tie ring with a super long rope, hobbles. I have also heard of success tying them a lot to the really big tractor tires. A few trainers tie them to those in their arenas with water tanks in them. It's nice because they can set back and pull them and they give but it is a lot of work so they can choose if they are panicked enough to work that hard or not. |
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Location: WA | Neros Winning Chick - 2017-06-08 8:32 PM
The Blocker tie rings are the best!! Have one that violently pulled back when I bought her. First time I tied her, I used a tie ring and a 30 foot rope...she pulled that sucker through seven times!! Next day she did it twice and only pulled about 15 feet through. Now when I hook her up she drops her head and totally relaxes. They are amazing!! We use them everywhere.
That is a great idea, thank you! I will definitely try this with her. |
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Location: WA | FLITASTIC - 2017-06-08 2:19 PM
Might hobble her at trailer. That way if she does do it she can't get away.
She's been hobbled once. I don't have much experience hobbling, but using them if all else fails was a thought of mine. Thanks! |
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Location: WA | Thanks everyone for the advice and kind words! This is a real challenge.
Sounds like I need to get a tie blocker haha! And Chiro is definitely already scheduled! Hobbles might be in the future if things don't simmer down and I can find a professional to help me (she has been hobbled before, but I don't have much experience doing it myself).
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Knock on wood and thank God I've never had a horse that learned how to set back.
Last year, I had my younger horse break free while tied to the trailer. However, I can't totally blame him. I was at a local gaming horse show working my other horse in the arena before it started and some IDIOTS who were riding in the who decided to arrive via parachute.
I am not joking.
And where do they choose to land? Of course, very close to my horse trailer. Of course, Shotgun panicked and broke his halter. I can't say I blame him for panicking about a large object falling from the sky.
I was livid at these morons, who are horse people and should know better to not land the parachute at the horse trailers .... but what'd'ya do. Thank goodness he has not pulled back since, or let it become a habit.
I would totally agree with trying the tie blocker ring. On one hand, you do want to tie them solid so they learn that they cannot get free if they pull. But on the other hand, you don't want them to hurt themselves. So I think the tie blocker ring is a good alternative. They won't get free but they won't hurt themselves.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Use the tie ring and a long yacht rope lead every time. There are lots of good horses that like to pull back. Some horses will never get over it and it just needs to be managed. The main thing is that they don't hurt themselves. |
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