Essential Knots for Horse People

An eBook from www.HorseOnSale.com

Essential Knots for Horse People

© ITLogy, LLC Underwood, WA

Table of ContentsHalter Hitch................................................................................ 1

How to Tie a Halter Hitch ................................................................ 1 Bowline...................................................................................... 2

How to Tie a Bowline ...................................................................... 3 Overhand Knot .......................................................................... 4

Hot to Tie an Overhand Knot .......................................................... 4 Picket Line Loop........................................................................ 5

How to Tie a Picket Line Loop ........................................................ 5 Clove Hitch................................................................................ 7

How to Tie a Clove Hitch................................................................. 7 Two Half Hitches ....................................................................... 8

How to Tie Two Half Hitches........................................................... 8 Common Whipping.................................................................... 9

How to Tie a Common Whipping: ................................................... 9 Terms and Definitions ............................................................. 12

E S S E N T I A L K N O T S F O R H O R S E P E O P L E

Halter Hitch he halter hitch is probably one of the most important knots for horse owners to know. As the name implies it is used to tie the lead rope, which is attached to the halter, to a post or hitching rail. The benefit of the halter hitch is that it can be released by pulling on one end of the rope. Even if there is tension on

the rope it can still be release with ease.

T How to Tie a Halter Hitch

The loop at the top of the picture would go around a pole or hitching rail.

Step 1: Pass the working end of the rope over the standing part.

Step 2: Pass the working end behind the loop.

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Step 3: Create a bight in the working end of the rope. The bight is then passed in front of the main loop and into the second loop.

Step 4: Tighten the hitch by pulling on the standing end and the bight. The hitch can be finished by passing the working end through the bight.

Bowline

he Bowline will create a loop that will not slip. This knot will not jam and is easy to untie if not under a load. You may remember tying this knot as a kid. Do you remember someone explaining to you “the rabbit comes out of its hole, round the tree and back down the hole again”? Well, they were talking

about the bowline. Common uses for this knot are, tying a rope around a horse’s neck, tying a horse to a highline or pulling a horse from a bog. This knot also has many uses when packing with animals.

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How to Tie a Bowline

Step 1: Bring the working end across the standing part to make small loop.

Step 2: Pass the working end through the loop that was created in step 1.

Step 3: Pass the working end behind the standing end.

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Step 4: Bring the working end to the front and trough the loop that was created in step 1. Tighten by pulling on the working end.

Overhand Knot he overhand knot was probably one of the first knots that you learned to tie. This knot is strong and secure. However, once it has been tightened it can be difficult to untie. Frequently the rope will need to be cut instead of untying the knot. Of coarse this depends on the type of rope that you

are using.

T Hot to Tie an Overhand Knot

Step 1: Pass the working end behind the standing end making a small loop.

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Step 2: Pass the working end over the top and through the loop. Tighten by pulling on both the working and standing end.

Picket Line Loop ackers will use a high or low picket line (long rope) to tie horses to when they are not riding. The picket line is normally tied between two trees, don’t forget the tree protectors. A picket line loop is tied every few feet in the picket line. The loop is where you will attach the lead rope when you

want to tie your horse. There are also special devices that you can hang from the picket line that take the place of the Picket Line Loop. However, knowing this knot will free you from having to pack these extra devices.

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How to Tie a Picket Line Loop Step 1: Create a loop in the rope by twisting the rope or passing the working end over the standing part.

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Step 2: Pass a section of rope behind the working end under the top part of the loop.

Step 3: Make a bight with the bottom of the loop and pass it up through the center of the hole created in step 2.

Step 4: Tighten by pulling on the bight. Tie your horses lead rope to the bight.

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Clove Hitch

clove hitch is a quick and simple knot especially when you can slip it over the object you are tying it to like your saddle horn. The knot is not secure by itself but is useful as a crossing knot. The clove knot is frequently used by packers to secure the center of the rope to the

sawbuck which will be used to tie their gear to the sawbuck. The clove hitch can also be used to stretch tarps or secure tents to a tree or other cylindrical objects.

A How to Tie a Clove Hitch Step 1: Create a loop by passing the working end around the back of the standing end. Step 2: Create another loop once again passing the working end behind the new loop. The two loops are then placed over a saddle horn, sawbuck cross bars or some other object and pulled tight.

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Two Half Hitches he half hitch is a very common knot. It is strong and secure. However, it can be difficult to untie if it has been under a heavy load. Because a single half hitch is not very secure it is advisable to tie two or more half hitches together.

T How to Tie Two Half Hitches

The top of the loop in the picture would be tied around a branch, an eyelet or some other object. Step 1: Tie an overhand knot.

Step 2: Tie a second overhand knot and pull tight.

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Common Whipping hippings are used to keep the end of a rope from unraveling. The benefit of the common whippings is that it does not require unraveling the rope or using any tools. However, this type of whipping can slide off the end of the rope easily if not tied tightly.

WHow to Tie a Common Whipping

Step 1: Lay the whipping twine alongside the rope. Make a bight in the whipping twine.

Step 2: Start wrapping the whipping twine around the rope.

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Step 3: Continue to wrap the whipping twine around the rope working your way toward the bight.

Step 4: Insert the working end into the bight. Pull the working end tight.

Step 5: Pull the standing end of the whipping twine until the working end has been pulled part way beneath the whipping. Be sure not to pull the standing end of the whipping all the way through as this will cause the whipping to unravel.

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Step 6: Trim the working end and the standing end of the whipping twine.

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Terms and Definitions Bight: A U-shaped loop used in making a knot or stitch. Many knots, such as the bowline can be tied in either the end or the bight.

Elbows: Two crossing points created by an extra twist in a loop.

Loop: A full circle formed by passing the working end over itself.

Standing End: The end of the rope not involved in making the knot, often shown as unfinished.

Standing Part: Section of rope between knot and the standing end.

Working End: The active end of a line used in making the knot. May also be called the “running end” or “live end”.

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© ITLogy, LLC Underwood, WA

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