Leading with leadrope wrapped around the nose?

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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Who does this and why?

I have never had to lead my mare like this. But latley I've had a bit of trouble bringing her in. It wouldn't be an issue if it wern't for the mud (means I am struggling to find my own balance when she barges!)

She is usually fine to leave out on her own, but since she has moved onto her winter grazing (first winter at this yard) she is wanting to come in. She doesn't stress until I actually put a headcollar on her though :rolleyes: She just walks really really fast and if I give a slight pull of the leadrope she turns her whole head in and then steps into me. pushing me out the way. Again wouldn't be a prob if the groud was dry as I could just shove her back :p but now it is muddy, she pushes me and I slide away :o. Tried leading from both sides and its no better. I can't bring in any earlier due to work and my yard is a strict diy yard. She could behave a lot worse though. Not much of an issue and it doesn't frighten me in any way. Just more annoying (also I don't want to fall in the mud!)

So last night I got her in and wrapped the rope around her nose, she led in like an angel, she pulled once, I gave a slight squeeze and release on the rope and she didnt attempt to pull or walk sidewards once.

I remember a girl once saying to me how cruel she thought it was to do that to them. But The only time I added pressure was when she pulled on me.

Why do you do it? do you find it works?
 
We use it for a horse whom knows his own strength, yards near the roads and he can be a kicker. Much better to wrap his nose and not need to use it, than end up with a hoof in our faces wishing we did.
 
It puts additional pressure on the horse via the nose, and they really do seem to behave better, and have more respect for you. BUT it should only be done by someone who knows what they're doing (not saying you don't, just for other readers ;) ).

You may find a dually headcollar, or a controller headcollar helps. I have a thin knotted headcollar as my lad can be bolshy, and it works a treat.
 
I do this - not all the time just on "naughty days"

When I first got my girl she was very strong and bargy when led so I started doing this with her. She then learnt and settled down and is mostly good.

I still do it on occasion though, usually when she keeps trying to drag me off to snack on grass on her way in and out, or if I am leading her and friends horse and they are a bit keen. A small "No" on the rope soons sorts her out.
 
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We do it if our girl starts to get a bit bolshy and fiesty. If we're heading back to the stable on our walks she has been known to rear :rolleyes: and she drags a lot too for the grass, so better to have that, apply a little bit of pressure and have her listen than end up with a full blown rear or being dragged across fields!
K x
 
Shes usually an angel to lead. But when her friends are in, she wants in too! It really isn't that bad (apart from trying to straighten her up and not fall flat on my face in the mud)
 
ive often led my youngster this way, and if needed carried a whip to just touch his nose with if he really is being a plank (this is 17hh of baby that came to me with known issues)

alternitive is a dually.

tbh id use any method not to be dragged/spatted or plonked on my butt in the mud.
 
I've done this before with big horses that are sometimes fresh to lead - I sometimes do it to horses automatically, if they behave I don't put but if they're naughty/bolshy I don't have to struggle to get it on!

After a few times she may respect it and you won't have to use it again, no harm in trying it!
 
I have done in the past much better than fighting and teaching them they can mess about and you can't do anything about it. For example it's ideal the day the hunt has been through and the boys are bouncing around like 2 year olds when I go to catch them. If naughtiness is regular I agree a properly designed control headcollar would be better
 
I thread through the noseband bits on headcollar so it won't slip down but equally won't tighten unless they do something silly. I have a 17hh warmblood who can use her size against me if she's having a tantrum day (which I can usually spot before I even walk into the field, lol). Luckily they are now very rare, but like others have said, better to be safe.
 
I have found on 99% of horses it does the trick, it saves you being run off with, or janking at them which i think is worse - you can pull their neck out etc BUT with my little lad it sends him MENTAL - he is like a balloon on a windy day at worst so i can hang onto him - but he is the only horse i have found that plays up more with it than without it !
 
have a chain and rope leadrein that i keep for the big girl, it only gets used occasionally, usually in spring when she seems to forget all her manners:rolleyes: 9 times out of 10 even when i use it it doesn't come into play, the fact it's there seems to be enough of a reminder:)
 
I've done it short term to teach some manners when its been required. Never had one that needed it long term though. I work on the basis that as long as they remain at my speed, & nicely at my side, then within reason they can do what they like. Eg if they are too full of it to walk nicely, they can prance, do collected trot, whatever, as long as they stay where they should be & at my speed.
 
Used it again tonight, she was angel. She leads in fine but then walks infront of me, when I ask her to wait, she begins to circle and thats the problem. Too muddy and narrow for her to so that! Haha
 
Gingerwitch said:
I have found on 99% of horses it does the trick, it saves you being run off with, or janking at them which i think is worse - you can pull their neck out etc BUT with my little lad it sends him MENTAL - he is like a balloon on a windy day at worst so i can hang onto him - but he is the only horse i have found that plays up more with it than without it !
Click to expand...

janking... is that actually a word??? *ponders*


im going of to jank the oh... :eek::D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
I sometimes do this with some of the horses at work if they are feeling a bit fresh when being turned out/brought in. It does work as it gives you that extra bit of control. I find it is best to tuck it under just one side of the head collar though and unclip it before you start unwrapping it when turning out - as it is a pain to undo when you have a big fresh horse ready to spin round and gallop away when turning out! :rolleyes:
 
It makes my girl worse so l don`t do it, l have done a lot of ground work with her to respect my space and a wonderful instructor :) to help me. She was really bad when l got her she would jump on top off me barge me out the way and walk over me:( now she is like a diffrent horse.
 
Honestly there's always someone who thinks something is cruel, does my head in. Yes it should be done with pressure and release in mind but definitely not cruel (unless you think leading in a bridle or a horse wearing a bridle at all would be cruel), could someone tell the horses that dragging a human over face first into mud is cruel please?

My horse is an angel to lead at home but when I take her out in hand she does exactly that and turns into me which is horrible, I lead in a bridle, maybe I could try a rope halter but not quite convinced I'd have enough control on the roads!
 
I do this with horses that are bolshy and have always found it works nicely - my youngster responded really well after running me over and towing me about after just one or two pulls
Also used a be nice headcollar on her a couple of times and that works nicely too
 
When I first got my horse, when leading him in he used to pretend to look behind him and just turn and run back to the others, it used to happen so quick there's not much I could do to stop it, so I started putting the lead rope over his nose to add a bit more pressure, it really worked, think he only tried to do it a couple of times after that. We also used to have to lead one particular horse (big ba*tard to his friends) with the lead rope in this mouth, he would never pull like this but if you lead him normally he would go wherever he wanted, if you where in his way he would trample you, if you fought him he would rear and strike out, he really was a lovely boy!!
 
I have had to do this for years with mine - had him 17 years! He is fine to lead 98% of the time but some days he just decides he's off and, unless you're ready for him there's not much you can do! He got worse after spending a term at college when he was 6 and used as a working livery - the students had to use stallion chains to lead him to and from the field as he was so naughty! Think the fact he got away with it before they resorted to that was the start of him being bad - he can very quickly work out whether someone's competent or not!

He is worse in summer but I know him that well I can tell the 'look' when i know he's that way out. Stupid thing is he loves people, loves attention so even if he goes he never actually goes anywhere BUT in his mind he's won which isn't good.

I bought him an Eskadron chain headcollar which works really well - only problem is, if he sees you bring that to catch him he can decide to be a bit of a swine and not let you put it on! :)
 
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