Headcollar, Bridle or Dually Halter

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Quartz

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What would you use for leading your horse in hand on a long walk? After a bolting/running off with me experience I am going back to basics and am going to start walking my horse on our hacking routes before I get the courage to get back on. Started today and all was fine, but we only did 10 mins before coming across and small problem of other horses getting him way to excited. Anyway only had his headcollar and lead rope and wonder what method out of the above is best? Thanks
 
A bridle will give you more control but if he wants to be a div he still will be. Someone on here suggested a simple dog choke chain for my pita warmblood. He would just take off when I was turning him out without waiting for me to take off his headcollar.
I just thread the chain through the square metal side bits of the headcollar with the rings hanging down and clip the leadrope on to the rings. It forms a triangle with your leadrope on the pointed bit. Stops any messing dead and nice and cheap too.
 
Id start in a bridle then go down to a dually. Dont use a headcoller as theres no pressure to tell the horse when theyre being bad. I would take a lunge line, as then if the horse plays up then you have a long line to keep hold of him and keep a safe distance yourself!!
 
mattilda said:
A bridle will give you more control but if he wants to be a div he still will be. Someone on here suggested a simple dog choke chain for my pita warmblood. He would just take off when I was turning him out without waiting for me to take off his headcollar.
I just thread the chain through the square metal side bits of the headcollar with the rings hanging down and clip the leadrope on to the rings. It forms a triangle with your leadrope on the pointed bit. Stops any messing dead and nice and cheap too.
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Sorry to sound dim, but how on earth does that work and what difference does it make? It sounds like it comes down in a triangle under his chin and you attach the lead rope to that instead of the ring that we usually attach to, is that right? How does that give more control, and I am really asking out of interest as I would like to try it. Thanks
 
Would it be worth teaching him to long-line so you have more control?

I'd probably stick with a bridle, but whatever you go for I'd definately use a lunge line so you can be out of harms way but still keep ahold should something go wrong.
 
Samantha008 said:
Id start in a bridle then go down to a dually. Dont use a headcoller as theres no pressure to tell the horse when theyre being bad. I would take a lunge line, as then if the horse plays up then you have a long line to keep hold of him and keep a safe distance yourself!!
Click to expand...

Would you attach the lunge line as if you were lunging? Ie. through one side of the bit over the head and out the other side of the bit?
 
Yep you got it. You attach the leadrope to the dog chain rings instead of to the headcollar. If the horse pulls the chain tightens beneath the chin. It doesn't hurt, well it doesn't hurt mine, put they realise that messing about is uncomfortable and don't do it. It's worth a try. Works like a charm on my bolshy lad and he's a big fella.
 
I really, really like a Dually but ideally you do need someone to show you how to use it properly to get the maximum benefit - otherwise, I'd use a bridle and a extra long lead rope (or possibly a chifney - but again, you need to now what you are doing with them) but I'd personally not use a lunge line, should the horse get loose and/or get leg caught in it.
 
I did consider a chifney with my lad...this was after he had managed to break one of my fingers!! They can do serious damage though if you don't know how to use them properly, and I don't.
 
I find that a preasure headcollar is very very good for cheeky / fizzy horses. Its just basically a halter made of thin rope, when the horse is misbehaving if you tighten the rope the pressure is applied very directly and as soon as he starts to behave again you release the pressure. (Instant release is essential for immediate reward) :)
http://www.getknottedropehalters.co.uk/products.htm << they are the ones i have used and they are really good!

I walk a fizzy pony for some friends and i put the pressure headcollar on under the bridle and when he starts acting up i pull the rope and he just stops and becomes very placid for me :)
Hope that helps you :)
 
mattilda said:
Yep you got it. You attach the leadrope to the dog chain rings instead of to the headcollar. If the horse pulls the chain tightens beneath the chin. It doesn't hurt, well it doesn't hurt mine, put they realise that messing about is uncomfortable and don't do it. It's worth a try. Works like a charm on my bolshy lad and he's a big fella.
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Echo the chain, horses DO respect them.

I use the chain on everything. Tried the Dually, the horses laughed at me, don't possess a chifney or any other 'wonder' gadget. Those rope halters (without RM's lumps and studs etc and hefty price tag) have no effect on my lot. Horses for courses though, what works for one horse and suits one person isn't necessarily going to be a fix for others, as always, a case of "Suck it and see"

Never have any problems, even with the stallion in the breeding shed. Mine know that when the chain is on, they might mess around still but they do it on a loose rein beside me:)

Over the nose for those that put heads up, under the chin for those that plough a furrow.

Tip: If the rings of the chain don't fit through the headcollar rings then put them in a vice and squeeze them into oval shapes, they'll fit then.

Question: Did I not read on here lately that all horses being led on the road must be bitted? Don't quote me, as I can't see how that works, lots of loopholes...babies, hackamores etc.
 
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For leading a horse you HAVE to put a bridle on , it is illegal not to when you are leading or riding as your insurance dosnt stand if u dont and you have an accident ...

Whereas if u did have a bridle on and you had an accident your insurance ( BHS ir watever ) would cover that.

:D
 
I'm finding this an interesting post as I've just had a session with a natural horsemanship professional as my youngster (4.5yo) has become so bargey, difficult to lead, handle, load etc and yard owner & I felt it had gone far enough and had crossed the line of dangerous.

She took us right back to basics today and basically explained my horse wasn't properly halter broken and didn't understand the area of personal space around me that he isn't to enter without invitation.

Interestingly she didn't want me to use the dually halter (glad I'd just brought one of ebay - not!) because she feels it is the last resort in pressure halters and should be left in reserve! She actually found my horse (which I'd told her was so rude & uncontrollable) very receptive. She recommends just the rope halter like Rachel suggests above - the key is knowing what you are doing with it & I think it would be worth working on it at home. My horse that wouldn't take a single step back for me at 1300 this morning by 1430 goes back at me wagging my fingers!!!!

I'd been hoping things would get better and instead they got dangerous! I guess what it might be worth asking yourself is what you aim to achieve with your walks and why? Personally I'd like my horse to respond at the softest touch so I got an expert to help me!
 
I use a dually on my strong horse and would not be comfortable using a bridle. The dually really works for her but any pressure halter properly used should work
 
A youngster on our yard is in a 'be nice' halter, a little tug when he is being silly, provided its fitted correctly usually keeps him in check.
 
I almost always use a simple rope halter for leading and find them far more effective than a headcollar.
However if I expect the horse to have its 'working head' on I use a bridle, to signal to the horse that it is expected to concentrate and WORK. I hold the reins in one hand under the chin, between my fingers, as if I were riding and the other hand holds the 'loop'. This allows me to steer the horse using aids which it recognises and still be able to hold firmly.
 
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