As a habit, a horse that breaks free from ties is a tricky situation. Even if you follow all the guidelines about tying discussed earlier in this section, a horse who has learned that she can break free of ties may continue to try no matter what precautions you take. This is aggravated by the fact that each time a horse breaks free from the tie, the anxiety about being tied increases and if they break free, the pulling is rewarded.

Breaking ties can certainly cause injury. Common injuries occur in neck vertebrae and muscles, though such damage often goes undiagnosed. This injury risk can be reduced by making sure the halter or tie breaks easily. However, this also reinforces the success of the tie-breaking strategy. You may end up with a loose horse using this strategy, which is a different but equally frustrating and potentially hazardous problem.

It is definitely worth avoiding tying such a horse if at all possible. Ideally the guardian will find an appropriate trainer to re-teach the horse safely. However, that is not your job as a massage practitioner. If possible work on the horse in the stall with the lead rope easily in your reach over its withers, or draped once over your elbow or shoulder. You can also have another handler hold the horse for you while you work.