tie-down or bonnet or not

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tie-down or bonnet or not Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2014-07-25 1:25 PM 2 replies, 3452 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


canchaserdelux Reg. Oct 2007	Posted 2014-07-24 6:41 PM Subject: tie-down or bonnet or not
Veteran Posts: 171	What are the advantages or disadvantages of using a tie-down or bonnet? I have been to several clinics some say a horse need a tie-down to brace on during a turn, thoughts? I have also been to clinic where they believed a tie-down restricts a horses natural movement. As I watch several barrel races whom have horses winning in the 1D, I have noticed very few use a tie-down or bonnet. So I am just curious everyone's thoughts. Horses that run on the race track do no use tie-down, but they are also not asked to turn.
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jettster Reg. Jun 2007	Posted 2014-07-25 1:01 PM Subject: RE: tie-down or bonnet or not
...Dot Dot Dot... Posts: 2064 Location: SW New Mexico	There has been a thousand threads on this.. It's a no brainer for me.. I use one if it makes the horse more comfortable in the turn. I am seasoning a OTTQH.... I school and do slow work in a myler snaffle ..or warner long shank hack with split reins... and no tiedown.. I can get his head to drag the ground like a peanut roller.... loping soft circles.. no tiedown.. I believe in having a horse super well broke.. That said.. Adrenaline does things to both horse and rider in a competition atmosphere. There are some horses will never need the support.. There are those who do. I use one on mine in a completion run.. It helps him, he turns great and is doing well.. Top hands will never hesitate to use one if they feel they will get a winning edge in using one! JMO...............
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livexlovexrodeo Reg. Oct 2009	Posted 2014-07-25 1:25 PM Subject: RE: tie-down or bonnet or not
I'm Cooler Offline Posts: 6387 Location: Pacific Northwest	Just depends on the horse. I don't think a tie-down or bonnet should be used as a band-aid to cover a habit that should be fixed with proper training. But, for example, I have a mare that uses a tie-down as a pacifier of sorts. You can ride and run her without a tie-down, she breaks at the poll, has a very soft face, etc, but if she gets agitated at a race and starts shaking her head and realizes she can get away from you, everyone around me is in danger of being ran into lol. So I keep one on her at races. She might be able to be weaned off it, but it doesn't hinder her times so I just leave it. ETA a lot of horses don't need them. I grew up with a team roping dad who just put tie-downs on everything, so my first two barrel horse ran in a tie-down and then I realized they didn't need them. The mare I talked about above is my only horse that uses a tie down. Edited by livexlovexrodeo 2014-07-25 1:27 PM
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