Tying a Catch Line: A Handy Deal

Article and photos by Pat Hooks

Here is a handy deal for you to learn. Some people call this old tool a war bridle. I don't want a war with my horse, so I don't think in that manner--I call it a catch line. Be very sure your horse can respect a neck rope, knows his groundwork, and can be led before using this handy deal. Otherwise you will have a horse dragging you off and probably lose your catch line, to boot.

When I was a kid--and still to this day when I'm in a jam--I used a piece of bailing twine or scrap string for a catch line. When possible, I prefer a small diameter soft yacht rope, around 22' long for this purpose. The catch line is very handy to carry in your pocket. I have found that is a little easier to catch your horse with a hidden catch line, rather than going to the pasture trap carrying a work advertisement that reads halter and lead.

Pictured at left is a tied catch line. You will notice that at the bottom of the throat latch is a bowline knot. This knot will not slip. After the bowline knot is tied around the neck, you make two double hitches. Place one over the horse's poll and the other over his nose. Here's how, step by step:

The Bowline
The photo at right (click the photo for a larger view) defines the parts of the catch rope. Starting at the bottom left hand corner is the tail. It is hanging vertically and has a leather popper spliced in the end. Moving upward to the top left of the picture, the rope turns and horizontally travels to the right--this section of rope will go over the horse's poll. Next, follow the rope down to the middle of the photo, and you will see a loop. This loop is called a nine due to the resemblance of the number nine the rope makes. The nine is made by turning your wrist up, over, and toward the tail. See where the rope crosses over itself to make the figure nine? This is defined as a bight. This is the grip of the knot. Next, moving downward from the bight, the rope makes a half moon called the standing lead or slack. Finally, traveling back up to the hanging circle of rope in the top right of the photo, you have the coils.

As you learn this and other knots, it is a good idea to make up a rhyme to help remember the mechanics or pattern of the knot.
· Face your horse.
· Lay your catch rope over his poll, leaving enough length of tail on the left to tie with (approximately three feet). Drop the lead and coils down on the ground.
· Form and hold the nine in your right hand. Place the tail of your rope through the number nine with your left hand. See photo at left. Start your rhyme: "The rabbit ran through a hole..."

· Take the tail that passed through the nine and place it over--or in front of--the standing lead, going to your coils, as in photo C. I would add to my rhyme and say "...and jumped over a log." See photo at right.

· To continue the knot, look very closely at the photo below. The tail is doubled over and run back through the hole in the number nine, entering from the bottom and exiting out the top. With your left hand, reach through the number nine, double the rope (forming a loop), and pull the loop back through the nine. Now add to your rhyme again: "I reached in the hole and pulled the rabbit by his tail."

· Now that your tail is doubled and through the nine hole, pull your ends tight and form your bowline knot. Make sure this knot is correct. Practice over some still obstacle before you tie it on your horse. If the knot is tied correctly, it will not slip.

The Catch Line
To proceed with the catch line, tie a bowline knot around your horse’s neck. (Note: you'll need more than three feet of tail for this one.)

· With the remaining tail, make an extremely large number nine as in the photo at left.

· While holding the top part of your rope (the bight) with your right hand, reach through the number nine hole with your left hand and pull the tail of your rope back out the hole, as in the photo at right.

· In the photo below left, notice my right hand. I let go of the top bight of rope (where the rope crossed over itself making the number nine). I continue to hold the piece of rope coming directly from the horse’s neck with my right hand.

· My left hand holds the new loop formed after I pulled the hanging tail out of the hole. You have now formed two hitches.

· In the photo at right, I take the loop formed and held in my right hand and place it over the horse’s poll, and I take the loop formed in my left hand and place it over the horse’s nose.

· Remove the slack and gently tighten up the rope on your horse.

Congratulations! You have successfully learned to tie a bowline knot and combined hitches to make a catch line. See once again the photo at the top.

Good Luck and God Bless!
Patrick Hooks