Quick-release knots are easy to tie, and while they will tighten up if the horse pulls against the rope, are still easy to release with a quick tug of the trailing rope. The bowline is a bit less convenient to tie and untie, but will not tighten up if the horse pulls on it. Also, some horses are quite adept at untying quick release knots. If you are going to leave your tied horse unsupervised or know that he has untied a quick release in the past, the bowline is the safer option. [2] X Research source Practice tying these knots ahead of time, before you use them with an actual horse.
First make a fold in the rope (called a ‘’bight’’) and fold it over the pole you are tying to, or through a ring. Then make another bight in the part of the rope that leads to the horse (called the “standing end”). Pull the second bight through the first bight. Then with your other hand, make a bight in the loose end of the rope, and pull this through the second bight. To tighten the knot, pull on the standing end. To release the knot, simply tug on the loose end.
First loop the rope over a pole, or through a ring. Then twist the loose end of the rope to form a loop. Hold the loop in your left hand, and with your right hand, wrap the loose end over the standing end. Fold the loose end over into a bight, and pull the bight through the loop in your left hand. Pull on the standing end to tighten the knot. Pull on the loose end to release the rope. To create an extra-secure knot that is harder for your horse to untie, create another bight in the loose end of the rope, and feed it through the last loop. Repeat this daisy-chain process as many times as needed to use up the loose end of the rope.
First take the standing end of the rope in your left hand and wrap the loose end over the pole. Then twist a loop in the standing end, and feed the loose end through the loop. Then wrap the loose end back over the standing end, and through the loop again going the other way. Pull firmly on both the loose and standing ends to snug the knot. [4] X Research source
If you must tie your horse to something the horse ‘’could’’ break, tie a loop of string around the object and then tie the horse’s rope to the string, instead of the object itself. If the horse does decide to make a break for it, this will minimize property damage.
Check on the horse frequently, especially if it is new to being tied up.
