Tying a horse is such a common part of horsemanship that most people never give it a thought. But if you have experienced or witnessed a horse panicking while tied to a post or a trailer, you know how dangerous it can be. Teaching your horse how to stand quietly while tied is essential for keeping both you and your horse safe.
Since a horse’s primary defense is flight, it’s understandable that they have a very powerful and instinctive fear of being restrained in any way. Training methods using strong restraints trigger fear and can make the horse “fight it out.” Tying a horse to something solid with a rope and halter that will not break can cause some horses to panic so badly that they cause serious injury to themselves, including damage to the cervical vertebrae, broken legs, or permanent nerve damage to the poll. If a horse flips over, the result can be broken withers or even death from a broken neck. Even if he does not injure himself, the horse learns only that resistance is futile (learned helplessness*). He does not learn how to trust or think.
You can teach your horse to tie safely while building his trust and teaching him to override his instinctive behaviour. A word of warning: working with a horse that has learned to break away, or panics when tied, can be dangerous. Be honest about your own ability, skill level and confidence. If you are out of your depth, get help from an experienced trainer who will work with you and your horse together.