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Member
Posts: 18
| My mare is 19 and has been used in tie down forever and if you don't have one she has a high head previous owner always used tie down. I've never used them with my horses but I'm debating if it's too late to fix it as I want her to be able to stretch out and run but when she doesn't have it she's just high headed and her runs aren't as clean. Any advice guys |
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Veteran
Posts: 277
| Many a good barrel horse can stretch out and run while wearing a tie down. If she is finished and used to a tie down I would keep it on her. Tie downs are not taboo as some would like to think. Put one on her and play with the adjustments to find what works best for her. |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
 
Location: WI | Yeah, not sure when/why/how tie downs got such a bad rap. If it helps your horse/improves your runs, then just put the d@mn thing on already.
Plenty accomplished riders/horses use them.... The difference is they aren't too proud to not use one. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | I love the people that tell you that if you need a tie down your horse isn’t broke!! I seriously will laugh at them. My good horse is STUPID BROKE. My husband pens cows on him several days a week, but he runs in a tie down. Yes I can run him without one and his runs are super pretty, but he’s way snappier with something to balance on. I’d say if your horse has always been run in one- leave it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| My 23 year old can run barrels in a halter. He will ride around and if I was brave, run in a twine tied around his nose. He's totally 110% broke.
He runs in a tie down for competition because I don't want his head in my lap before we go in because he's ready. He can stretch out just fine! As you can see, the tie down isn't pulled so tight that he can't move his head. Just enough to keep his eyeballs aimed straight instead of sky high going in.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | She's 19....if it ain't broke don't fix it!!!
I get a head set on my horses and they ride around fine, but if a tie down helps by all means I'm gonna use it! |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | I'm with the if it ain't broke don't fix it. My old guy came with one(19). Pretty sure he is dead set in his ways. I'm not taking it off. And I'm not going to try to change the way he runs either. Mind guy he is not a barrel hitter or anything. But he is totally in charge when we run. I'm just along for the ride. I don't think he would listen to me anyway! |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I won a lot on a horse who ran in a tiedown. I thought about taking it off, but didn't want to risk losing over it. It never slowed her down. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I’d leave it. If it really bothers you, work at home without one for a while and see how you get along, or lengthen it out an inch or so at a time and watch your videos to see if she’s using it or not - some horses get so use to having one on that they become a security blanket of sorts I believe. My old horse legit never got his tight during a run and rarely hit it going to the arena - but if you took it off he’d break your nose. Just needed to know it was there. |
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Member
Posts: 36
| I'm in with the if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Some horses need a tie down, and some don't. If you horse is 19 and has always had one, keep it on. Tie downs can be adjusted so the horse can stretch out and run, and some horses balance against it and/or push against it when they run. The horse I am running now doesn't need one, but the one before absolutely had to have one or he would have given me some black eyes. |
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