Page 27 - The Pocket Guide to Equine Knots

forward, holding on to the rope until he gets used to that. Finally, I’ll raise it until it’s just
clear of the ground before tying it off.

Tying up a foot, step 2.

Again, the colt may resist, kicking at the rope that restrains him, but soon he’ll get used to
it. The process will have increased his readiness to give a foot when asked, and you’ll be

confident that you could restrain his movement in an emergency. And you can have
somewhat more confidence in his readiness to stand and wait for you, rather than hurt
himself, should he be caught in barbed wire. The bowline is the only knot in which I have full

confidence when tying the rope around the colt’s neck, so it’s the knot that makes the
procedure possible.

Running Bowline

Just as the bowline creates a fixed loop that will not tighten, another version of the same
knot can do the opposite—produce a tightening loop you can throw around an object to
snag it (perhaps as part of the procedure described for dragging poles in the last chapter)

or as an impromptu lariat rope. The running bowline is a fine knot for this purpose. Why
“running?” Again, the explanation is nautical. The word “running” when applied to knots and
ropes means that a portion of the knot or hitch is designed to allow movement.
A sailing vessel has two kinds of rigging. Standing rigging holds the mast and spars in

place. The standing rigging stays in a fixed position. Running rigging is made of lines
(ropes) that run through various pulleys (blocks) to adjust the sails or other parts of the rig.
The term “running” has stuck within the world of ropes and knots. It refers to a knot or hitch,

part of which is made to move.
Tie a running bowline by making a large loop in the rope by going over, then under the
standing portion (step 1). At the top of the large loop make another smaller one by twisting
the rope (step 2).
Then, just tie a bowline by bringing the end of the rope up through the small loop (step 3),

around the top of the large loop (the rabbit has come out of the hole and has gone around
the tree), and now back down through the loop. Pull the knot tight (step 4).