Tie downs and such

^ That is the exact situation with my little arab.

Agreed with members posts, especially kevins. That's why I never ever run or even ride with a tie down

...And Simon :P He just has it on so he knows it's on. It's on so loose he could get away with anything.

Ditto!

amen!!

Is this the same horse that can't walk on a nice loose rein?

It doesn't matter what the previous owners said. If your horse is rearing or flinging their head, you need to fix it through training, not a tie down.

OK, so I honestly believe that I rarely of anything of value to say but this is an interesting little story. I had a REALLY nice barrel horse I bought as a cheap prospect. I put him into training with my trainer at the time (he was 5) and she put a tie down on him. He was just pissy, off balance, and inverting constantly. When I moved to go to college I put him into training with a different woman in my college town and when she was done he ran with NO tiedown, comfortably, and happily. I honestly believe, also, that its a training issue. I'm not an expert first hand but I've seen the results of proper training vs. quick fixes.

Oh, and apparently standing tie downs are like a requirment to have at barrel races. I was working at a small rodeo here this weekend and EVERY SINGLE barrel racer (10-12) had a tie down. Just a thought.

I have to agree with Kevin. Granted, my horse uses a tiedown while running. But I don't like them. I see more people say, if your horse throws his head, rears, shakes his face...throw a tiedown on him. It's a stupid novice mistake. Same goes for training forks, if you use them, you should only have to use them once or twice. I think that they just simplify the message going to the horse. I can get a horse to break at the poll without it, but I'd rather just make it easier on both of us and show him what I'm talking about. Even if I don't ride him in it.
Now, my tiedown is a twisted wire tiedown. Hate it. But my horse will get his nose out a bit too much in the rate, so the tiedown does work to just keep him in check. He will be gradually weaned away from it as he ages. He is not a rearer, head flipper, or trouble maker. His normal riding is a snaffle and split reins and he does, 100%, go around like a reiner. If he throws his head, it's because I asked for too much at once, or am not asking clearly enough.

I think with all gadgets...despite the fact that they arent the ONLY way of doing something...if your going to use them, use them as intelligently as you can. There are NO quick fixes.

I honestly believe they just don't know any better. When I was little and would go to a barrel race...EVERY rider wore a tiedown. Some of which were adjusted so loosely that they were just decoration and some of which were so tight the poor horse became clostrophobic. Education is everything when it comes to horses and equipment. Most of those kids simply don't have that knowledgable person to look up to.

Spastic dove, this is not the same horse that can't walk on a loose rein, this one of the ones that my dad bought cheap and trained, but I got to compete with her.