This was odd.

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Carly Rae

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Hi,

So when I had my little stallion Steve, I had him tied out on some grass I had a lead rope hooked to his halter and at the end was tied to a long rope. He was happily eating and I came out just to do my regular check to make sure he didn't tangle himself, and what did I find?

He had broken my lead rope (Unfortunately, Was a new lead too) But the buckle was still on his halter under his chin. That's not all though, I guess he felt bad about breaking my lead and getting himself off the rope that he went and literally buckled the clip onto the fence! So when I went out to see him he was just looking at me with this buckle clipped to the fence so he couldn't move around. Any suggestions on how he did it? Or have any of your minis ever done something like this?

Probably one of the weirdest things I have seen my horses do haha
 
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Not odd at all, just very very bad on many levels. Could have been a major wreck and you are pretty lucky he was soooo calm.

Whenever a horse has a snap on them, weather it be a leadrope, a snap on a rein, a snap on a harness part, even a snap on a rug - there is always a danger that he can get it snapped into something he comes into contact with. He probably snapped it just rubbing his head next to the wire - opened the snap and he's clipped to the wire.

It's one of the reason that snaps aren't recommended on reins or driving lines or other certain parts of harness's.
 
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I do not tie horses out for this reason. I tell my clients "they're not dogs, they do not tie well". I like leads with snaps, because they're quick and easy, but I do not like snaps on halter throat latches or on other tack. I find that many items are very poorly or cheaply made today and they often break. It is quite possible that he pulled and the clasp securing the rope let go or the rope slid out. Probably better that the lead broke, otherwise he could have gotten tangled or hung up in something. I have seen horses hang themselves, break legs and their necks being tied up un safely. Good thing he is good natured, had you been trying to halter break a youngster or been leading him out somewhere in the open, he could have gotten away or gotten hurt when the lead broke. I have had that happen, was walking a green mare, the cotton lead ripped right at the chin ring and she was off, took all day to get her home. Bolt snaps can easily snap onto things when they scratch or rub themselves on an object, and they can also undo them by applying pressure. Had a clients mare get a leg strap to her blanket clipped on a wire fence while rubbing her bum. I close a lot of gates with double end snaps and chain and I have to make sure that the snap ends are facing out otherwise, if the horse rubs on the gate, the chain slides and the bolt snap opens itself against the fence post. Glad he is okay.
 
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We have sheep that remove their ear tags without ripping their ears or separating the tags. Pure magic because it's an impossibility!

I agree that you are lucky he didn't freak out on that barbed wire or you would of had minced horse.

If you do long line them, you cannot just leave, even 3 minutes is more than enough time for them to do something stupid and dangerous.
 
As others said, not good to tie out. It's an accident waiting to happen. Also, your lead was a cheap poorly made one, and the clamp holding the lead to the snap was inadequate. I always get the brass ones, and am willing to pay a little more for a well made one. You are VERY VERY lucky your boy didn't end up snarled up in the barbed wire, ripped to shreds.
 
I know, I am very thankful that he was such a placid mini.

I don't tie out much without being able to watch normally I just let them roam our house yard to eat but our gate was broken at the time so I just tied him out, when I do tie them out someone is always outside near them keeping an 'eye' on them also me I sit out and just watch them or pat them but this time no one was around and he wasn't there for long.

Yes, that lead was just from a friend because they broke my other lead on accident so they bought a new one I guess lower quality but the clip is good. I normally buy the brass ones as well but as I said this one wasn't purchased by me.

But yeah, He didn't get hurt thankfully and he dealt with it calmly until I fixed it and put him out in the paddock again to prevent it happening again.
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I agree with what everyone else has said but wanted to add one more peice of advice and hope you dont mind....please fit the halter higher on his nose as if he would have pulled back hard, he likely would break that soft cartilage in the nose where the halter is currently resting. Horses in general will find any way to get into trouble!
 
Thanks for that, I didn't know that could happen but when I did own him that wasn't his halter it was a bit too big but he is a very calm mini and I know that he could freak out randomly and I am thankful he didn't and he was patiently waiting for me to help him out.
 

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