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Poll Tie Downs

10K views 15 replies 11 participants last post by  Runninghot88 
#1 ·
Since tie downs that go over the nose are highly debatable. What are people's thoughts and opinions of Poll Tie Downs? These allow the horse to have his nose and doesnt let him balance off of it. I saw Brittany Pozzi (think round 4?) run her horse in one. I didnt know they existed but am happy I learned they do :)
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#4 ·
To me they are they same as a tie-down just a little freer in the nose area. They are called many things, from bonnets, headsetters, ect. But they have the same concept....keeping a horses head down. It works off Poll Pressure VS Nose Pressure.

Don't care for them....
 
#6 ·
I'm going to go against the grain here on this one (based on the responses).

I personally don't like tie downs either. I would like the horse to learn to balance on their own. None of my horses learn the barrels or any gaming event with a tie down.

HOWEVER ..... there is a time and a place for tie downs in barrel racing. There are some horses that just plain run better with a tie down. It's not that they aren't balanced in the first place, but they'll run better with one.

So when I have a horse that is already going well on the pattern, I will try a tie down and see what happens. If it seems to help them, I'll keep it on. If it doesn't seem to make a difference, then they don't wear one.

A tie down is like any other piece of tack. It should never be used to mask a problem (ex: force the head lower, or provide balance to a horse because the horse doesn't have any on their own), but it certainly has it's place and can be useful when used correctly.
 
#7 ·
Tie downs are not designed to keep the horses head down or keep their nose in. They are designed for the horse to be able to lean against the pressure. So for barrel racers they can help the horse REALLY turn the barrel well. However if you decide to take one OFF a horse who is used to one spend a LOT of time without it before you decide to run. I know someone who got seriously injured by deciding not to run in one randomly.
 
#8 ·
Tie downs have their purpose. But I think most are used incorrectly, or many horses who don't need them wear one anyway. A tie down is my last resort and then it's just a plain nylon one. I feel like they restrict movement and motion, but that's my opinion. I ran my old mare in a tie down off and on through the years, I never noticed a difference in her turning style. But it helped other things.
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#10 ·
I would personally not use one on my horse for barrels, but I think I've heard that tie downs can be useful for balance when occasionally worn for cutting? From what I remember, they were recommending tie downs used selectively and seldom to help a horse who already knows how to balance, balance even better but not to use it as a training crutch. Has anyone read the same article? No idea where exactly it was from. :?
 
#11 ·
I wont use a tie-down or bonnet unless I have too - sadly most of my horses run a better pattern with one than without - but can all run without. ANYWAY... I'd use a bonnet on a horse that pops up out of his turn instead of driving forward out of it. If you watch Duke run barrels he's very stiff/straight when leaving and I think (just from observation) that without it he would loose a lot of drive and forward - without it he'd shoot more up than out. If that makes sense? I believe Jane Melby may have used one on Beauty at one point as well. Sometimes people use them as crutches/to hide holes. But with Duke I dont think it has to do with lack of training, some horses just run a different pattern.

I think Lance Graves talks about this in one of his DVD's (1st one I believe)- dont quote me on it though.

Just like with all things, use it properly and honestly and you wont have a problem.
 
#14 ·
BarrelRacingLvr: Right! I guess I kinda made it sound like she always ran in it -OOPS. Not what I ment! :)
I really dont watch him a whole lot - just not one of my favs.
 
#15 ·
Regular tie-downs have their place, but they are like so many other legitimate pieces of tack...they get a bad name from the clueless people who use them wrong.

Simple fact is, if anyone is using a tie-down to keep their horse's head down or keep them from flipping their nose or stargazing, then they are using it wrong...period. Tie-downs are designed to give a horse something to brace against to maintain balance and strength in a hard turn or stop...like what's seen in barrels and roping events. As Beau159 said, some horses do better with them and others do better without.


NOW, back to the war bonnet debate. IMHO, those are nothing more than a gimmick designed to cover up a serious training problem. I have never seen one used that wasn't made from thin gauge wire, thin enough to cause serious pain whenever the horse puts pressure on it. So, it's only purpose is to force the horse to keep his head down to avoid the pain of it pulling on his poll and forehead.
 
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