Patience. Patience is a virtue. Its a virtue that not everyone has. Like young kids for example.Lets say you have to bring then somewhere with you where they will have to sit and wait. On their own,they couldn't just sit there and be the perfect angel.They don't have patience,but you can create a fake sense of patience by distracting them with something,like a toy or their favorite food. You don't know how long it will keep them busy but it will hopefully give you enough time to get some things done.The same goes for horses. Every horse acts a different way,just like people of different ages. There are some horses,that when you tie then up they automatically relax and just take a nap. But with others,its not that easy. Just like you can find a way to keep a small child entertained,there are good ways to keep your horse "patient".
Techniques
1. Tie your horse up and give them a hay net.
Pro- For the most part,this technique should keep your horse from moving around.
Con- Since the horse is eating,it might shake its head trying to pull hay out of the net,and that may be frustrating,especially when you are braiding closer to the head. But that is why there are other techniques.
2. Cross-tie your horse. Cross-tieing is when you have your horse hitched,with a lead rope on each side.
Pros- Cross-tieing limits your horse to its range of mobility. You can start off with some slack and then your horse can move forward and back a little,and move its head a bit. But once it tries and realizes it can`t go anywhere then it may stand. But if that's not working,you can tighten up the slack a bit,until your horse stays.
Cons- Some horses might just get frustrated instead of accepting the restraint.
3. Cross-tie plus have someone stand at their head,handing feeding them hay or grass.
Pros- Your horse is very likely to not to try and move and wont be shaking their head because they don't have to pull the hay out.
Cons- You may be by yourself,or not have anyone who is willing to help.
4. You can be patient. Just tie your horse up and stand petting it until it relaxes,and then begin braiding without disturbing it.
Pros- If your horse is sleeping than it isn't going to move very much.
Cons- Some horses just wont relax,or just take much to long. This technique depends a lot on the horse itself.
5. Or if your horse doesn't like being hitched,then you can have someone hold the horse for you.
Pros- Your horse wont freak out,and may listen well to a human on the ground with it.
Cons- Your horse may not respect the human holding it and try to walk forward.
So those are just some techniques to try. You may find one that works,or you may find multiple. Or for your horse none of them will work and you will have to come up with something else. Horses have their own minds so nothing is guaranteed. But hopefully these suggestions may help in your favor.
Pro- For the most part,this technique should keep your horse from moving around.
Con- Since the horse is eating,it might shake its head trying to pull hay out of the net,and that may be frustrating,especially when you are braiding closer to the head. But that is why there are other techniques.
2. Cross-tie your horse. Cross-tieing is when you have your horse hitched,with a lead rope on each side.
Pros- Cross-tieing limits your horse to its range of mobility. You can start off with some slack and then your horse can move forward and back a little,and move its head a bit. But once it tries and realizes it can`t go anywhere then it may stand. But if that's not working,you can tighten up the slack a bit,until your horse stays.
Cons- Some horses might just get frustrated instead of accepting the restraint.
3. Cross-tie plus have someone stand at their head,handing feeding them hay or grass.
Pros- Your horse is very likely to not to try and move and wont be shaking their head because they don't have to pull the hay out.
Cons- You may be by yourself,or not have anyone who is willing to help.
4. You can be patient. Just tie your horse up and stand petting it until it relaxes,and then begin braiding without disturbing it.
Pros- If your horse is sleeping than it isn't going to move very much.
Cons- Some horses just wont relax,or just take much to long. This technique depends a lot on the horse itself.
5. Or if your horse doesn't like being hitched,then you can have someone hold the horse for you.
Pros- Your horse wont freak out,and may listen well to a human on the ground with it.
Cons- Your horse may not respect the human holding it and try to walk forward.
So those are just some techniques to try. You may find one that works,or you may find multiple. Or for your horse none of them will work and you will have to come up with something else. Horses have their own minds so nothing is guaranteed. But hopefully these suggestions may help in your favor.