I've had the Blocker Tie Ring II all of two hours. Went out to the tack shop today, picked it up, got Key and 'tied' him up.
I have my horse back!
I brought Key to the trailer and hooked him to the ring with my 25ft cotton rope (this rope had more slip if he pulled back--will upgrade to my thicker 22ft rope later). He was obviously very nervous, pacing back and forth and jittery. Coming from my lazy, please-light-a-bomb-off-under-my-tail horse, you knew this was something he was afraid of. He doesn't 'invert' and hide his fear--he's very child-like that way.
So I started to groom him, or rather, tried to as he danced around. I was hoping he'd pull back himself, but after five minutes he just seemed to work himself up more.
So I threw the brush at the side of the trailer.
The 'bang' set him off and he backed up--and could.
I re-shorted the lead to an acceptable tying length and tried again. A mini rear, and then he looked at me.
Huh.
I opened the tack room door of the trailer and pulled one of those plastic bag rain-coat things and shook the crap out it, threw it at him, etc. and got much of the same reaction--a horse that found out he could get away from what was scary.
It ended up with me hiding in the tack room and THROWING things (A brush, a ribbon, splint boots, rain coats) at him to scare him. I had to hit him with my helmet bag in order to get a reaction, and then proceeded to brush a calm horse with not ONE. NOT ONE more fidget. He stood there with that soft tail flick horses do, mumbling something about crazy helmet-throwing owners as I cleaned him off.
I love the ring. It was exactly what I knew I needed and it was exactly as I thought it was--it's strong enough to stop him from casually putting his head down to get a bite of grass, but gives enough so that when he panics he has full range of motion. I don't think he pulled more then five feet of rope through it the entire time. You can experiment as different kinds of ropes have different levels of slips, and you can tie it three different ways to make it have less slip.
I don't think I'm going to be tying my other horses with it unless they come up with the same problem (I feel like it would teach them to pull back? Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see.), but for problem horses and certainly ones like Key, it is a 100% must-buy.
If anyone wants photo or video of the rope I used/how I worked with Key I can get that for you--having a horse that doesn't tie but HAS to tie is so nerve wracking.
I also got the stainless steel version, but they have one made of a cheaper metal for about ten dollars less (I paid 34, and I've seen it for 24/26 bucks). It is worth EVERY penny and way cheaper then the ultrasound I just paid for.
Had to let you all know. LOVE!
11 comments:
I have a tie ring as well. It was the best money I ever spent for my reactive arabian mare, Izzy. I went through much the same process. She pulled back once and discovered she could move and then I looked like a fool wanting her to pull back a couple more times to further teach her. after that day I never had a problem tying her again.
I also use it for every horse I tie up now, it's just a much safer alternative to me. On my other mare, Friska I put it on the 2nd setting. Since she already ties well she has never tested it but if something ever does spook her enough to pull back I know she will be safe and not injure herself or break something.
aw garsh! I didn't know you were thinking of little ole me. I was about to go through your other readers to be like "who ELSE is having this problem?!"
I'm so glad the blocker worked. I'll have to order mine next time somewhere has free shipping (LOL) I did use the parelli (oh no is right) way without knowing it was necessarily her method. It did seem to get rid of the claustrophobia. I'm just so glad I'm not alone! Not that I'd ever wish a problem on someone else, but to know that I am feeling the same things about a problem as another experience horse person is really a relief :D
Good luck bringing Key back into work!
Glad it did the trick!
Hey, that's great to hear! I used to use one for my TB who generally tied fine but sometimes would get freaked out and pull back. He never got into a habit or really pulled enough to be dangerous, but I felt better using it and he was quite calm.
Just don't leave them unattended with it. Bailey figured out that he could pull the rope all the way through ;)
Excellent news! Thanks for the update. :) But oh no, who got ultrasounded?
I'd love to see photos and videos of this in action. I have a pony who pulls when something frightens him. I dare not leave a bucket of water for him as if it tips, he will pull. Actually he even eyes the bucket suspisciously and snorts just because it *might* fall over.
He is always tied solid and is not a panicker. He'll pull then step forward and relax. What happens if you're not there when they are tied up to this ring? (eg. I'm at a comp and I've gone off to the secretary's office to check in?)
I'm just picturing him standing there with about 5 metres of rope wondering what to do with himself. :-)
PS. I have seen photos these made inexpensively out of an old lose ring snaffle bit.
Just read the last comment about not leaving them unattended... Thus, it wouldn't suit me. Pony would still have to be tied solid at events.
How to make your own from an old snaffle bit.
Thanks for posting your experience with this as I was wondering about getting one for my mare for showing, but it seems it might not be best for tying at the trailer when you can't always be there.
Good news! Although quite controversial with the Dressage Coat! Keep posting!
These are great comments, however please read about the product and understand the concept. For those who thought it would not 'work' at a show, they are lacking the critical information that there are several different 'levels' of tying; and as a particularly difficult horse is taught not to panic, by the slipping non-claustrophobic action, the level can be changed/increased so that it requires much more force to pull the rope through. It is important to know this and understand that most horses learn to release the pressure themselves very quickly, by stepping forward, and can then be safely tied with anything. (generally withing just a few tries) However it is still the safest tool as even tied at the 'tightest' level, if something did go wrong there is still some give, allowing the horse a moment to calm themselves and remember their lesson but not giving so much that they will pull much slack or get loose. Hope this helps for those who still have questions. K
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