Recommendations for control halters

Bertolie

Bertolie

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I have a 5 year old mare that seems to have forgotten her manners when being led. I have owned her for 8 months and she has always been a little bit strong when being led, see a patch of grass and off she goes. We have been working on her leading and she was getting a lot better, however now the horses are coming in at night, she has become quite bolshy.....tanking off, trying to grab mouthfuls of grass etc. She knows she gets her hay in the stable so is in a rush to get to it! My non horsey OH has been helping me bring the 2 horses in at night and has been taking my mare as my gelding is a wimp who spooks at his own shadow and doesn't particularly like men. I know I need to keep up the groundwork but in the meantime I need to get a dually, be nice or similar to help get us through the winter.

What controller headcollar do people use/recommend? Any suggestions appreciated.
 
I've got a dually and really rate it, but you do need to learn how to use it properly (you may know already). I would recommend a session with an IH person to get started. I haven't used any others so can't compare it.
 
Dually :) You have to do a bit of ground work with them to get them to understand pressure and release but its the only thing that worked on my fatcob. He used to just casually walk off/through people like they weren't there, and he would NOT load! He understood the Dually very quickly. He doesnt have it on anymore, but its still there in case he gets too big for his boots again!
 
I like simple cow halters from the farm store, very cheap and simple to put on in the dark. You can easily lead from either side and you don't need much practice to use them correctly. We have a few, different horses respond better to different levels of stretchiness. The Draft mare is better with one that is not at all elastic, while the others all are better with thinner (NOT thin) ropes with a bit of 'give'.
 
I would suggest trying with a simple rope halter first, then move to something to something different if that doesn't work
 
I had a Be Nice Halter but I think My boy just has an odd shaped face as I felt it never sat right on him so sold it on eBay last week and I just learnt to deal with him a bit more and he learnt I don't take any crap (He's only a baby so testing his boundaries) I think If I find myself with a spare 50 at some point I might pick up a Dually just incase I have herd so many good things about them/have family that love theirs and love that if you attached to the ring underneath you can use it like a normal head collar
 
Another vote for the dually. For all of them you kneed to know how to use them correctly but the dually is probably the most forgiving on the horse if the handler gets it wrong. (It just won't work...) some of the others available are downright nasty!
 
I use a kemp controller which I attach to my existing headcollar...it is thin cord and makes them easier to control. I don't use it all of the time but put it in my pocket and if she starts to pull me about I attach it and get control back....
 
splashgirl45 said:
I use a kemp controller which I attach to my existing headcollar...it is thin cord and makes them easier to control. I don't use it all of the time but put it in my pocket and if she starts to pull me about I attach it and get control back....
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Several of my customers use the Kemp controller with good results and you don't have to buy a new headcollar just use your existing one
 
It's all in the training -- horse and human. Horses shouldn't learn that they are stronger than humans. If they once discover that, they have to be taught that they are mistaken. That's when a professional is needed. But it's not so much which control halter is used as how it's used as force should always be minimal.
 
I find the dually cumbersome and heavy. I much prefer a simple rope halter (doesn't need to tighten up on the nose). Make sure you have a long rope, I like one about 10-12 foot so I don't trail it around too much, but it's long enough to get a good haul on if necessary.
 
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