Go back in time: Visit the snubbing post

Well folks this go let's take a peek into history and visit the snubbing post. It has been my experience this exercise has saved a lot of shoulder surgery, softened up a few contrary horses, and educated a lot of nice ones. The exercise will defiantly help teach how to stand tied and settle the emotions of the rank and rogue. Not only does this work on the good ones, it works real well on the emotionally challenged. In human terms it would kind of be like making a trip out behind the wood shed. Often when folks call for help and tell me of their horses poor attitude, the first question I ask is, "Do you have a patch of trees?" There is a lot that can be said when a brief period of silence comes from the other end of the phone. However, they usually come around to my way of thinking with a little explaining. If you don't have a patch of trees or can't borrow a creek bed to work in, you can grow a set of fast developing trees by planting a maze of telephone poles.

Some tools you might consider are a flag, rope halter, and a 22-foot or longer mectae rope made of good stuff. A broken rope will get you or your horse hurt. Also if that meat on your hands turning white bothers you much you might consider a pair of gloves. When working with the mentally challenged, I have seen some smoke come off the ropes and post. On a serious note, before you get started, the idea of the exercise is to let the post, rope, and the horse do the work. Try not to jerk or snatch on the rope as the horse passes by the post. Allow the rope to lay against the post as it passes and let the horse figure out for themselves the amount of pressure it takes to give to their own pull. It is similar to marshal arts. The horse will eventually match his own pressure and become soft.

In what I call the playground, there should be some snubbing posts or a few good trees. These trees play several roles. Not only are they obstacles to cross around, but they also act as self-motivators for horses that won't give you their face. Using a patch of trees or in a maze of snubbing posts, drive your horse through the trees, pretty much letting him go where he pleases in the beginning. As the horse passes by the tree, take your long rope and lay it on the tree trunk. The trunk will offer a small enough drag to show the horse to represent how little it takes to turn his hind quarters. It can also grab the rope hard enough to show the horse, how much it takes to roll his hind quarters. (See photo #1.)

The next step in playing in the maze, comes after your horse has gone through or passed by the trees or posts. The long rope is getting a bite on the tree, and it will have asked him to roll his hindquarters. As the horse turns and faces up, send him back through just as you did with your Rear End Under Front End Across exercise, as in photo #2.

Now let your rope grab against the tree as the horse passes back through in the opposite direction, and continue back and forth with Rear End Under, Front End Across. You will see a lot of action from your horse, who is being asked to go through very tight spaces and big obstacles. When you drive him through these obstacles, expect his emotional level to rise. A balk in movement or spooking shouldn't surprise you.

Your horse should almost be able to be led by a string by now, much less the pressure of the halter and lead. Now, walk through the maze ahead of your horse, making a trail with your lead rope. This will ask the horse to follow and give to the pressure instead of just following you. When you and the horse have achieved this goal, you will have a horse that will truly lead and not just follow. (See Photo #3.)

After you accomplish leading through the snubbing post and your horse understands how to roll it's hind quarters when pressure is applied, you might consider placing the mecate line over a tree limb or a j bolt in pole and continue in teaching them to stand tied. Give very close attention to where and how the long rope is laying over the tree limb in photo #4. It is high and it is loose. It is high is to keep the horse from getting tangled in it.

Warning: A horse that is first presented the task of figuring out how to escape pressure will push or pull against the pressure rather than giving to it. Some of your worst nightmares can be a horse pulling back against the lead rope and hanging himself.

As I take up slack in the long rope it puts a bite on the limb. With the rope high and loosely wrapped over the limb, I can move my horse back and forth breaking over his hind quarters. However, my horse gets into trouble, I can release the rope and have a loose horse rather than a dead one.

Notice in photo #5, I'm using a flag in my left hand to send my horse's front end back across. The flag frees up my rope hand, which will let me act more quickly and give me the entire length of the rope. If I were using the twirling action of the rope to move my horse back across, I would loose about six feet of rope. Eventually you will be able to make a light suggestion from your body or even just your thoughts to move their hindquarters over, but not at this point in training.

Asking your horse to increase his pace here would be a bit unnecessary right now. However in the near future, you will need to pick up speed and further educate your horse. You will have peace of mind knowing your horse can roll his hindquarters and truly give to the rope under high pressure conditions, rather than pulling back to escape pressure when you are not present. Things can get hot and heavy real quick while your horse is standing tied, but you will be glad to know you horse can roll his hindquarters and truly give to rope pressure rather than pulling back to escape it.

No way, shape, form, or fashion would I tie my horse as in photo #6 if he had not already accomplished the high limb tree work. I have to know for certain that he can give to pressure and roll their hindquarters.

Notice the way that the rope is tied. I have a wrap on the limb and a Bowline knot for a quick release. If trouble arose, the pressure will go on the wrap instead of the knot so I could untie quickly. Never think that quick release knots are easy to untie when they have been sucked down tight by a thousand pounds on the other end of the rope.

I hope this exercise helps you. Until we meet again, I hope the good Lord blesses you, your family, and your livestock, and we get some rain! Always remember "there is one bit that works on all horses, a bit of knowledge."

Pat

Pat Hooks is a day working cowboy from Texhoma, Okla. Hooks has taught clinics at national horse expo's and private ranches since 1989, and writes how-to articles for various national magazines, websites and is a published author. For more information on his books, DVD's, and clinics please go to www.hookshorseranch.com or call 580-423-7482.

Date: 5/21/08