09/06/2026
While itās not the prettiest footage, itās real and part of this mare's journey. Not every lesson looks polished, and sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from working through the less glamorous parts of training. Some horses need to learn how to relax while being tied up.
That doesnāt mean tying them up for hours on end and making it feel like a punishment. Not at all. Often itās less of a physical challenge and more of a mental one. We are making the tied-up spot a comfortable one by providing hay and space to move their feet.
With this mare, it was quite interesting to observe. She was perfectly content standing there, munching on her hay and minding her own business. But the moment a person started watching her or engaging with her, the drama would begin: rearing, bucking, fussing, and making her opinions known. As soon as the attention came off her, sheād settle right back down and relax.
Rather than constantly stepping in, correcting, or trying to manage every moment, weāve given her a little room to work things out for herself. Weāve been using a highline setup that gives her a bit of freedom to move. She can take a few steps forward and back, and even circle around if she feels the need. That approach has made a big difference in a relatively short period of time while preventing her to get into a habit of pulling back while being tied.
Learning to stand patiently isnāt always the most exciting lesson, but itās one of those foundations that carries over into so many other areas of a horseās lifeš“.
A couple of things worth mentioning before anyone asks š
She has had fly protection on, and yes, the rope is intentionally a little longer than you might normally see. For horses that are impatient when tied or prone to pulling back, a highline setup can sometimes be a useful option. It allows them enough freedom to move their feet, take a few steps, and find a comfortable place mentally rather than feeling trapped on a short rope.
While this setup has worked well for her, she is supervised, and we wouldnāt leave her unattended like this.
