Temporary hitch for a light load or animal.
VIDEO
Cow Hitch – End Method Details
Found in: Arborist, Hitches, Horse & Farm
Also known as: Lanyard Hitch, Lark’s Head
Alternative: Besides to threading the end, you can tie the Cow Hitch using loops.
Description: The Cow Hitch, also known as the Lanyard Hitch (ABOK # 1673, p 290), is like the Clove Hitch. The difference is that the second Half Hitch goes in the opposite direction.
Why Include it Here?It answers the question: “What happens when I tie a Clove Hitch but reverse the second turn?” Answer: “A Cow Hitch.” The Clove Hitch and the Cow Hitch are close relatives with similar properties. You should not trust either one alone for critical applications.
Similar Knot: The Cow Hitch looks a lot like the Girth Hitch. It’s tied with a sling loop and goes by names like Strap Hitch and Bale Sling Hitch.
Names: The Cow Hitch, also called the “Lark’s Head,” comes from the French “tête d’alouette.” This name is a direct translation (ABOK # 5, p 11). The change from “Head” to “Foot” started in 1973. Bill March introduced it in his book, Modern Rope Techniques in Mountaineering. He likely intended to say Lark’s Head, but he made a mistake by showing it as a footloop.
Uses:
- Archery: To protect the bowstring from damage, tie a short line to both ends of it. This creates a “D-Loop.” Each end attaches to the bowstring using a Cow Hitch, which becomes more secure by heating each end to form a “Blob.” Some online forum discussions note that this can fail. Others have tried using a Constrictor Knot instead.
- General: You can use the Cow Hitch as an alternative to the Clove Hitch. You can use it to secure a lanyard to a rope. It is as likely to slip as the Clove Hitch but less likely to bind and be hard to untie. Even though it’s named the “Cow Hitch,” Ashley notes (ABOK # 244, p 44) that ranchers often favored the Clove Hitch for tying up cows. He described watching a cow tied with a Clove Hitch. The cow walked in a circle, which unwound and untied the knot. For this purpose at least, the Cow Hitch appears to be better suited to the task.
Pros and Cons: The Cow Hitch is among the fastest and simplest knots to master. Still, it has limited practical applications.
(Reference source: animatedknots.com)
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