Teaching older horse to be mellow in cross ties, or any tie

[enjoytheride]

Have you tried giving him hay while tied?

Have you tried just single tying him to one of the cross tie rings?

Have you tried tying him in his stall and tacking him up there?

Have you tried putting a set of crossties in his stall and tacking him up there? It’s very common to what he’ll have experienced at a show.

Have you tried lunging him, riding him, putting him up, then pulling him out and riding without lunging?

Have you tried not lunging him, getting on and going straight to a trot? Then walking later?

You say you have not really been getting after him if he moves around, what if you change that? My new mare moves around a lot in the cross ties and will back up until the ties are taught. She doesn’t pull back, she just stands there and strangles herself. I didn’t make any progress until I started carrying a metal shedding blade and thwonging her with it when she backed up or got into my space. It makes a very satisfying noise and vibration. She’ll jump around quite a bit and look at me like I just let a mark but it has been working.

I feel like a big meanie because I also thwong her for kicking when I blanket her or girth or up, and I thwong her when she tries to mow me down but I’ve noticed a much more respectful change in behavior and she has calmed down quite a bit. If you start to act like the alpha leader, take charge, tell him where to put his feet at, and tell him to not worry about other things because you are on alert he might calm down.

[uphill]

Disclaimer, haven’t read the whole thread, BUT, if not mentioned, the Blocker tie rings are worth their weight in gold along with rope that will slip thru. There are several ways to use the tie. Don’t forget horses are prey animals and restricting their ability to flee is something they need to get used to. A couple of different trainers also sell this equipment with their own DVD which show some extreme fear of tying cases overcome.
http://blockerranch.com/tie-ring-videos/

[goeslikestink]

try this
get a lung line - i do this with scared horses that have been abused or new babies not handled

anyways- 1st get some bailing twine and tie a loop onto a hitch rail so that a lunge line can go through easily

why this will re gain and build trust and confidence for both of you

once done get your grooming box handy and go get your neddy put his head collar on the attach the lunge line pass it through the loop on the rail and have folded in one hand - if your doing his left side as in grooming then fold it in your right hand - and have enough line so he can move his head as you normally would if you tie one up, then with your left hand take a brush and start grooming him starting at his head ------ if he chooses to move backwards let him you have enough line -they normally stop after a couple of steps wait till he stops moving back . then calmly go to him with out saying anything and place him back at the start of the hitch rail then say STAND in a dertermine firm voice not nasty one but firm pat him gather your line back up and repeat

this instill trust as grooming is bonding your problem is you have no relationship with your horse so you need to bond with him he will learn that grroming is reward for a good behaviour and then he in turn will learn to trust you and have confindence in repeat if nesscacary on the other side and change hands