Page 49 - The Pocket Guide to Equine Knots

This is a personal preference, perhaps because I’m left-handed, but the other way works
nearly as well for me. But for instructional purposes let’s assume the rope is eye-spliced to

the left D-ring of a Decker saddle as you face the horse.
To tie a basket hitch pull a generous loop of rope away from the attachment point to go
around your load. Put the free end through the other D-ring from outside-in and let it drape
down under the big loop you have made (step 1). Then I lift up the large loop and rest it on
the top of the saddle (though you can leave it down and bring it up later around the load,

rather than down). At this point, I lift the load and rest it on my stomach in the diaphragm
area. (I frequently joke that a “packer’s shelf,” a little extra girth, is handy for this stage.)

Mule with Decker saddle rigged for basket hitch, step 1.

While holding the load against the side of the horse or mule, I bring the loop I’ve made
down around the load about a third of the way down from the top (step 2), then reach under
to grasp the free end of the rope. I bring it toward me and pull very hard, cinching the loop
around the load (step 3).

Then I bring the free rope up from underneath the load (I try to keep it centered on the
bottom) and tie it to the horizontal rope with a slipped half hitch (step 4). This is temporary,
a good enough knot to hold the load while I sling the matching load on the other side of the
animal, but easily loosened should the pack have to be raised or lowered. I secure the

opposite load the same way and check for balance by leading the animal around for a few
steps.

Manty basket hitch, step 2: loop around first load.