That’s why I said they “learn how to hard tie.” Totally agree that if they don’t tie, hard tying them is a bad idea. I wouldn’t do that. But I would spend time teaching them to tie and not even put them in a scenario where they needed a breakaway until I knew 110% they wouldn’t pull back.
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A nylon cow collar will not break. They are made for much tougher animals than horses.
Clearly, goodhors has never had to cut down an animal hanging itself by one, about on its last breath and blood streaming from its nostrils. 2000lb dairy cow. Almost losing that cow and the vet bill on top guaranteed my boss would never make that mistake twice. You don’t need to make iteven once.
I cannot emphasize strongly enough how tying with a cow collar is the worst idea possible unless you don’t care if you kill your horse.
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The photos are cut off, but it looks like the rope from the collar is threaded through the bottom ring on the halter. This setup makes it identical to tying with just the halter, except it puts the pull pressure on the cow collar instead of the halter crown.
I would not advise using a rope halter and neck rope or cow collar. Lead rope will hang up (no release) without the smooth ring to slide thru. The neck rope and cow collar are where the pressure goes on NECK, not the halter crown.
I only use Valhoma halter that have quality fittings. I have never had one fail in a situation. I do keep them clean with washing, check buckle tongues for not being bent. No throat latch snaps since I have seen those get hung up on things on other folks horses. Throat latch snaps when used in turnout, often teach horse to duck their head out of halter and spin away, which I don’t like.
We taught our show calves to tie. Fair rules said use two ropes. So one was to a halter, other was to their cow collar. This made them pull straight if they got silly. Calves KNEW how to tie well as DD worked with them daily. As with horses, you don’t just tie up a cow who may not be used to it and walk off!!
However, cow or horse, I DO NOT want animal getting loose to possibly cause havoc!! Fairgrounds were right downtown with yards, traffic that could be damaged along with the animal.
We go a lot of places that a loose horse might creat very serious consequences. And in the vein of Hurricane discussion on abandoned animals, NO HUMAN LIFE is worth losing with MY loose horse causing a problem! Out in the wilderness expanses of those back pack trips, that loose horse might just disappear. Stories of tame horses “being found or rescued” after escaping are in the news every year. Hobbles never slowed any horse I knew! You are counting on herd instinct for him to stick around, come back, which MANY horses don’t have these days!!
The leg picket is a worthwhile idea, he can’t leave. BUT if horse already resists tying, I would believe that getting his leg pulled by rope restriction will be pretty exciting too! Teaching to picket by the leg is another long, slow training process without hurting the horse.
Sideline hobbles will 100% slow a horse. There’s literally no way for them to run with them on. Agree that every horse I have had has learned to run with the front leg hobbles.
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Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the input/advice 
