Carl, hanging cheeks and poll pressure

[ester]

Did you watch the video link above Pigeon?

That is the trouble 'it has always been said/been told' but it is wrong . I'd suggest it is a different part of the action resulting in the chin tucking.

 

[teapot]

Not quite sure what you are meaning - the rope halters are great for leading stroppy/strong horses as the thinness of the rope provides a high degree of pressure.

But it needs to be tight enough across the poll to exert that pressure, if it's done up really loosely, surely it won't exert as much pressure?

 

[ihatework]

But it needs to be tight enough across the poll to exert that pressure, if it's done up really loosely, surely it won't exert as much pressure?

It will if you pull on it!!!

 

[teapot]

It will if you pull on it!!!

It stills need to be tight enough to create that effect though. If it was tied very loosely, the horse would need to pull back even more for it to work.

Certainly for the horse I'm thinking of, even when leading him, dope on the very end of a rope style, he was far happier, not submissive, just happier, plodding along like that, than he ever was being led in a normal headcollar or bridle, which makes me wonder whether it's not just about pressure... He was a quirky sod though.

 

[Tnavas]

Well it makes my horse tuck his chin into his chest, so I agree that there must be more pressure there than with the average snaffle. I'm not sure of the dynamics behind it, though was always told that hanging cheeks = poll pressure.

No pigeon, there is certainly no poll pressure, see my post early in this thread.

There is also an American study - infact two that prove beyond doubt that poll pressure does not exist.

Maybe your horse is happy with this bit and more accepting of the contact.

 

[Tnavas]

But it needs to be tight enough across the poll to exert that pressure, if it's done up really loosely, surely it won't exert as much pressure?

A rope halter does when you pull on it, there is immediate poll and nose pressure. When not actually being activated it exerts little pressure because it is so light in weight.