I read about tying with a neck rope on another thread, and I’ve seen some for sale in a tack/supply catalog, but I’ve never seen one in person before. I tried to search to see if this has been discussed before but I kept coming up with rope halter threads. Are they safer than tying with a halter? Discourage pulling? I’m just curious and want to learn more. Thanks.
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It might be good to talk about the problem you’re trying to solve. I like the blocker ties for a situation where the horse pulls back.
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No problem, poltroon, just curious.
I have a blocker tie ring on my hitching post where I bathe my horses. I agree they are very handy for several situations.
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I don’t think so?
I was always taught to never, ever leave the rope tied with the halter just around the neck, because if they pulled back that way, it was really dangerous and risked breaking the horse’s neck.
Although maybe the neck collars that are wide–I think I’ve seen some that are ~6" wide?–are safer?
I do use a neck collar at endurance rides when my horse is tied to a high-tie on the trailer. It allows the high-tie rope to be a bit shorter (instead of connecting to the halter ring, it swivels to the top of the neck). It is also bright orange and reflective with ID information attached, another safety feature.
That being said, my horse is not a puller. And on a high-tie they seem to be able to get less traction. (no science here, just my observation.) He has had moments of spinning and dancing around while all his friends leave, and all has been fine.
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Thanks irish_horse, I just learned about another new product. I wasn’t sure if you just had a higher mounted tie ring on the trailer or if there was something actually called a high tie so I googled and found the HiTie, and I’m watching a video on it now. Interesting!
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It sounds ( and looks) like a bad idea, but maybe I am not picturing the right thing? Anyone have a picture other than what I am finding on an internet search?
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[quote=“candyappy,post:7,top like a bad idea, but maybe I am not picturing the right thing? Anyone have a picture other than what I am finding on an internet search?
[/quote]
Like this, I think
What I have is more of a giant wide dog collar. A lot of endurance riders use them on the trailer hi-ties at events. The horse does not wear a regular halter. I have no photos, but here is a link to an endurance rider who uses them successfully:
http://www.karenchaton.com/2011/11/neck-collars-review-months/
A neck collar wouldn’t be used in conjunction with a halter. You’d use it to tie a horse to a overhead highline as it can be a good bit shorter than a leadrope. A horse is less likely to get hung by a hind foot when scratching their ear, chin when tethered by a neck collar vs a halter on a highline. They have no real use in normal day to day handling imo, ymmv
[quote=“S , but if the horse pulls when tied, does it help with the panic that it can cause when they do?
I love all the caveats here. Pretty much “unless you have a super well trained horse that never pulls back or tests or balks don’t do this” :lol: :lol:
This is a random pic on the internet, not mine. Here’s the page it came from: https://www.theoverseersaddlery.com…-up-collar.php
I wouldn’t expect a set up like this to help with a horse that panics when tied at all. It might keep it there a bit better than just a halter, though. Who knows if it’s safer–but I’d think this wide, padded thing would be safer than a narrow strap, like the horse collars in the link above.
I have been taught never to leave a rope halter on in a float. I presume that means anywhere.
As others have said, the only time I’ve seen this used with any regularity is when someone is using a highline/picket line, either when camping or during endurance events.
The only other time I’ve seen neck collars used is for broodmares, and mostly to identify the horse. Much safer than a halter to be turned out for long periods in.
I don’t think there is any practical application for training a horse to tie.
This is what is called a Cow Collar in many catalogs. It is what all the Trail Riders I know call them. This photo is the first padded one i have ever seen. They do often come with a neoprene lining for padding. Width is usually 2" to 2 1/2" wide with a heavy buckle. Available from any Weaver dealer, though maybe special order from places like TSC. Comes in 36inch (calf collar) or 48inch for the cow size. I like the bigger collar, punch in extra holes so I can have a longer end to put thru the keepers.
A cow collar is not a neck rope, though it functions as one in moving the pull of lead rope from halter to further back onto the muscular area of horse neck. Until recently I had never seen cow collars used without a halter. Running the lead/tie rope thru the halter chin ring will make any rope pull straight from neck past the head to the solid anchor of post, tree or trailer. I would not use a collar or neck rope without a halter to keep that straight pull. Horse pulling on neck with only a collar could get dangerous angles of pull going, maybe pull collar off over the head. It scares me seeing horses with the spinning neck collars, loosely fitted, tied on picket lines. Not sure if horses get injured with only using collars, haven’t been trail riding much lately to ask folks.
A true neck rope is one long rope, fastened to itself around throatlatch, with long end run thru chin ring of halter before tying up the horse. Similar to this photo, though I never use rope halters on my horses. Various methods can be used to fasten the neck rope around throat, ranging from a solid ring tied into the rope with a snap to fasten shut, just snapping back onto the rope between two knots or the old screw-down, rope clamp with a ring on the screw bolt for the snap.
I use 3/4inch cotton rope, back-braid in my quick release snap and fit the horse neck by tying a welded 3inch ring to his neck size.
I ONLY use cotton rope for neck ropes because it won’t burn the horse if he suddenly pulls on it for any reason. Nylon rope, twisted, braided WILL burn horse with a hard pull, maybe melting with friction of a pull, so you can’t get your knot untied either. I am constantly amazed at how little pull it takes to heat up nylon ropes, especially the soft ones.
Along with that, do you know how to tie a quick release knot that CAN be undone after a horse puts his full weight on it with a pull? Have to say the old 4-H knot is a rather poor choice because it locks down on itself badly. I never use it any more. Highwayman’s Hitch is safer, directions can be found with a search. I use an unnamed knot these days that I was shown, seems to not constrict on itself like the other knots can.
I was raised and trained to use neck ropes as being the safest way to tie a horse solidly without horse hurting itself if it tried to get loose. With rope behind the skull/spine connection, on more muscular neck area, the chance of hurting him was much less. If you thought horse was REALLY going to fight because he was untrained, older and obnoxious, you went to a belly rope with no pull on neck at all in teaching to tie well. We dealt with a fair amount of untrained horses, you did not want to hurt them. But they could not get loose either or they learned to be halter breakers which was totally unacceptable. We never injured or hurt any horses with these methods, unlike other horse trainers who only tied with a halter. Ours came thru training relaxed, to be good horse citizens, tied well for long times without problems or injury the rest of their lives. Training to tie well took tIme but is a good investment to have a mannerly animal you can safely take places.
I always tie a horse to a solid object with a heavy neck rope and halter or cow collar, halter and heavy tie rope. I want him to stay where I put him no matter what. I don’t want him loose causing havoc , hurting himself or someone while running about. Never have used the blocker rings, though I have seen horses get loose from them. I think break away halters teach horses to be bad at tying, not anything I would use, along with a leather halter that also breaks easily.
I think good, heavy cotton neck ropes are a great tool for tying horses. I do believe they prevent neck injury while horse is tied solidly. We use a wide cow collar on one escape artist horse who can rub off the tightest neck rope and halter while he is tied. He CAN NOT get the wide cow collar off, it catches on his jaw bones first, holds the halter mostly on his head. He can’t get away when tied now! He is the only horse I ever had this rubbing problem with.
Neck ropes may or may not be something you want to use with your horse. I just like always knowing my horse is where I left him. Kind of old-fashioned about that.
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