Tie downs and such

Yeah, I agree tie downs are way over abused by bad riders. I mostly see used to make insecure novice riders feel better when riding an ill trained animal. I really think all young barrel racers should have to take a class about proper training and care of barrel horses and proper competition etiquette and then they should have to pass a test or something before being allowed to compete. I think that would seriously cut down on the abuse of barrel horses you see at almost every show.

Tiedowns, just like every other piece of equipment are very good training tools when used in the proper situation. But I see them abused more than any other crutch out there. It is sad that people would rather crank a horses head down and tie it there instead of properly training it to do the job it is supposed to do in a safe, comfortable, controlled manner.

With every sport people are looking for the quick fix to solve a hole in their training. I agree that if you need to use a tie-down on your horse you need to step back and evaluate why you are using the tie-down in the first place and then just go and fix the problem.

Tiedowns are not training equipment. They will not teach a horse anything but to lean into them and be heavy on the forehand.

Well then I would suggest NOT using a tie down or anything else to control her head so that you don't end up with another jiggy hot headed horse with holes in his training.

Don't tie downs usually make the horse get really muscled on the underside of their neck? Maybe this is just an urban legend, but it makes sense when you think about it.

They might develop some muscle from constantly pushing on the tiedown but that isn't a good way to get your horse fit.

*Tiedowns are not training equipment. They will not teach a horse anything but to lean into them and be heavy on the forehand.*

Kevin- Oh, thanks for clearing up that bit of ignorance for me, I have just always heard tie downs used as an aide to teach a horse to break at the poll. I have never used one in my training so I didn't know if it was true or not.

So it goes from my training aide category to the bad riding/training crutch box :) .

What do people mean "breaking at the poll"? Is this about keeping a horse from poking his nose out?

I don't think a tie down is much different then a martingale right? Except I believe tie downs are suposed to be tighter. I had my first horse in a martingale, because that's what the trainer told me to do (I was like 12.) I moved to a new barn and used a new trainer. He actually resisted LESS without the martingale.

I've herd people that put horses in their stalls tied down with all their tack on, for maybe an hour or so, for several sessions to "train them". I think this is part of the reason we see so many horses behind the bit. I refuse to buy a horse who dosent move his neck above his withers. Id rather have my horse be responsive then just kind of hanging there.

No. A tiedown and a martingale ARE NOT the same. With a martingale you can apply pressure, then release as the horse does right. A tiedown applies the same amount/type of pressure constantly. No give and take.

Break at the poll to me is a horse that wont resist to them bit. I want the to drop their head and give their nose. There is a HUGE difference between a horse that gives to the bit and a horse that evades one.

I don't care for tie downs or martingales; I do use draw and side reins while training from the ground, but only long enough to help said horse to travel in a decent frame.

Tie Downs and Martingales are often used 'just' to keep a horses head down. This isn't always the case, but in my experience it usually is.

I have gamed every one of the horses I have owned, and never have used a tie down, and my horses were quite competitive.

I do like mix and matching color leg wraps, although usually it's just two colors, on opposite front and hind legs.