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lolly10fi

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My horse is 16.3h warmblood so she is strong and im only tiny and when i lead her with leadrope she pulls her head and trys to eat the grass i have trouble pulling her head back up! I do ground work and spend a lot of time with her. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks :)
 
Don't pull, give one very quick, sharp pull & immediately release the tension, accompanied by a firm walk on. If necessary, give leadrope a few quick jerks, but always release inbetween, few people win tug of wars with a horse. If you have to even back up the 'walk on' with a tap of the end of the leadrope behind your leg on her shoulder.
For the record, duallys & a lr over the nose are not the same at all. Duallys are more like a stallion chain in terms of how much pressure they exert. Nothing wrong with using either if needed, as long as you know why & how they work.
 
littlelegs said:
Don't pull, give one very quick, sharp pull & immediately release the tension, accompanied by a firm walk on. If necessary, give leadrope a few quick jerks, but always release inbetween, few people win tug of wars with a horse. If you have to even back up the 'walk on' with a tap of the end of the leadrope behind your leg on her shoulder.
For the record, duallys & a lr over the nose are not the same at all. Duallys are more like a stallion chain in terms of how much pressure they exert. Nothing wrong with using either if needed, as long as you know why & how they work.
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...which is why I'd cut to the chase and just use a stallion chain
 
Or just be quicker than her. You know she's going to do it, so keep her head up, and bend her slightly towards you so that she can't set her neck against you to go for the grass. Stick your elbow in her neck, so that if she tries to turn her head and tank, your elbow becomes an uncomfortable reminder that she needs to mind her manners.

If I let him, Alf will walk out of his stable and dive for the grass. If I do the above with him, he hasn't got a hope in hell. If I haven't, I haven't got a hope in hell - he's an oaf!
 
I had the same problem - and like everyone else the problem was solved with a lead rope through the head collar and round the nose like so :

rope.jpg


I also spent a LOT of time stopping and starting, getting him to walk when I walked, stop when I stopped etc. He now knows that he can only eat if I stop, pat his neck and say "go".

You will get there it just takes time :)
 
FreddiesGal said:
I had the same problem - and like everyone else the problem was solved with a lead rope through the head collar and round the nose like so :
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Not sure whether you are aware, but having the leadrope wrapped round the nose that low is potentially very dangerous, as it's directly over the end bit of the nasal bone, which isn't very strong (ie; they can break). For the same reason as you wouldn't put a standing martingale on a drop noseband, please don't wrap a rope round this low and then pull on it. The consequences are horrid.

By all means wrap the leadrope round the nose, but not lower than about 1in below where the noseband is in this pic.
 
An old-fashioned cow halter costs between £3 & £5 from your local farm-stores. It is just as effective as a dually or other patented halter and cannot be used too low on the nose. backed up with a schooling whip, I haven't yet met a horse which does not respond well.
 
Make sure you're looking in the direction you want to go, not back at the horse and be very forwards.

If it was one of mine I'd take a schooling whip with me and give a smack as soon as they thought about doing it (timing needs to be spot on). But that is just me and I am obsessive about manners! However would rather give one sharp smack than get into a tug of war every time I want to lead my horse somewhere!
 
Auslander said:
Not sure whether you are aware, but having the leadrope wrapped round the nose that low is potentially very dangerous, as it's directly over the end bit of the nasal bone, which isn't very strong (ie; they can break). For the same reason as you wouldn't put a standing martingale on a drop noseband, please don't wrap a rope round this low and then pull on it. The consequences are horrid.

By all means wrap the leadrope round the nose, but not lower than about 1in below where the noseband is in this pic.
Click to expand...

I am very much aware, which is why I don't spend the whole time tugging and pulling on it. :)

I've been using it like that for a year and his shnoz is still in tact so I'm not worried.
 
Cortez- chains are what I'd use too if needed, but without knowing ops level of experience I would be reluctant to recommend one. More so a dually, at least with a stallion chain most people realise it exerts pressure.
Agree with auslander too re the leadrope.
 
FreddiesGal said:
I am very much aware, which is why I don't spend the whole time tugging and pulling on it. :)

I've been using it like that for a year and his shnoz is still in tact so I'm not worried.
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Why not just put it safely round the part of his nose that wouldn't snap under pressure?

Remember, people will be looking at this thread and taking advice on board, and some horses need a good tug to get them to listen. How would you feel if someone saw that pic, thought that was a safe and correct way to do it, gave a rude horse a hefty yank, and snapped its nasal bone?
 
FreddiesGal said:
I am very much aware, which is why I don't spend the whole time tugging and pulling on it. :)

I've been using it like that for a year and his shnoz is still in tact so I'm not worried.
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sorry i dont mean to critisize you, but im a slightly bit horrified how low on the nose you have that lead rope in your pic too.
It will work just as well threaded slightly higher up you know.

sorry, im sure my 2penneth worth is unappreciated but please think about it
 
Someone on here recommended a dog choke chain looped through the headcollar under the chin and then clip the leadrope on to the rings of the choke chain. Stopped my very rude 17hh wb in his tracks when he tried to bog off when turning out. He now walks on a loose lead rope and behaves impeccably. Cost me about 4 squid.
 
Auslander said:
Why not just put it safely round the part of his nose that wouldn't snap under pressure?

Remember, people will be looking at this thread and taking advice on board, and some horses need a good tug to get them to listen. How would you feel if someone saw that pic, thought that was a safe and correct way to do it, gave a rude horse a hefty yank, and snapped its nasal bone?
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I have tried that before and it makes little to no difference what so ever. 7 stone girl vs. Welsh Cob - you guess who is stronger!

Short of using a Chifney (which I have used before for a short space of time) this is the most effective way of making sure he is under control. I would much rather have the rope like this knowing I have as much control as possible, than have it higher knowing that if he wanted to he could easily pull away from me and run in front of a car, killing himself and potentially people.

Re someone "copying" me - I have clearly stated that I don't tug and pull because I am aware of the danger, so I don't see where the problem would be there. Fair enough if it was a beginner or a heavy handed person, but I am aware of how much pressure is "safe" so don't exceed that.
 
Don't use dog choke chains! they are WAAAY too fine and can cut into the skin either over or under the chin (don't like to use them under the chin anyway - makes horses throw their heads up). Stallion chains need to be used judiciously and not abused.
 
FreddiesGal said:
Re someone "copying" me - I have clearly stated that I don't tug and pull because I am aware of the danger, so I don't see where the problem would be there. Fair enough if it was a beginner or a heavy handed person, but I am aware of how much pressure is "safe" so don't exceed that.
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You should perhaps have 'clearly stated' that on the same post as the photo, not several posts down, in response to my comment about it being dangerously low.

If he's that strong that you are worried about him pulling away and getting hit by a car, why on earth are you leading him near traffic in a headcollar. Get a bridle on the little toad!

FWIW, I worked with stallions out in Switzerland, and learned very quickly that strength doesnt' come into it, it's speed and cunning you need to develop!!
 
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FreddiesGal said:
Re someone "copying" me - I have clearly stated that I don't tug and pull because I am aware of the danger, so I don't see where the problem would be there.
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i dont see the point of purposely introducing a danger so you have to be aware of it in the first place, but there you go. Your horse, your risk.

i dont believe for a minute there aren't better methods you could employ though.
 
oh my goodness, I honestly cannot believe the amount of posts here stating to start off using quite rough methods, when all the mare is doing is putting her head down to eat. At least try some less harsh methods first? If it was my mare, I would try to pre empt her doing it in the first place if you feel her head going down say no and turn her in a circle. Then walk forwards, then do it again if she goes to put her head down, I am sure she will soon realise that keeping walking is a whole lot less hassle than even trying to eat. Or walk with a small bowl of food, or some carrots and keep her attention on you. That will at least break her of the habit. My horses do occasionally grab a mouthful of grass when coming in, but as long as they continue walking with me I don't mind. I know it is different if they then refuse to budge though.

I have to agree with Auslander too about the rope over the lower part of the nose. It is unnecessarily low and it was not at all stated that you do not pull on it, someone else could do so and cause a hell of a lot of damage. There are other headcollars and methods which are much kinder and not dangerous to the horse.
 
Auslander said:
You should perhaps have 'clearly stated' that on the same post as the photo, not several posts down, in response to my comment about it being dangerously low.
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You've sort of answered why I posted several comments below yourself. It was in response to your comment. I can't respond to the comment without the comment being in place in the first place!

If he's that strong that you are worried about him pulling away and getting hit by a car, why on earth are you leading him near traffic in a headcollar. Get a bridle on the little toad!
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How else is he going to learn? (and IMO, he has to learn and be taught, rather than just having a bit in his mouth and not knowing why). That's like saying why hack a spooky and potentially dangerous horse when you could just ride it in the arena? He knows full well not to misbehave in a bridle, and I'd like him to show the same courtesy when in a headcollar, but how can I correct behaviour that he doesn't show in a bridle? I need him to display that behaviour in order to be able to correct it - which coincidentally is happening less and less.
 
FreddiesGal said:
You've sort of answered why I posted several comments below yourself. It was in response to your comment. I can't respond to the comment without the comment being in place in the first place!



How else is he going to learn? (and IMO, he has to learn and be taught, rather than just having a bit in his mouth and not knowing why). That's like saying why hack a spooky and potentially dangerous horse when you could just ride it in the arena? He knows full well not to misbehave in a bridle, and I'd like him to show the same courtesy when in a headcollar, but how can I correct behaviour that he doesn't show in a bridle? I need him to display that behaviour in order to be able to correct it - which coincidentally is happening less and less.
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Firstly - You haven't understood what I meant. Which was that the photo, being as it shows a dangerously low rope, should have been accompanied by a comment that clearly stated that you knew it was dangerous. That way, a novice owner wouldn't look at the pic and think "Hey, thats what I need to do to stop Dobbin carting me" and promptly snapping its nasal bone. Sorry I asn't clearer.

Secondly, I agree that horses should be taught to behave in a headcollar, but that training should not be carried out, especially on a horse that you admit is badly behaved in a headcollar, beside a road. I'm not a fan of leading any horse on a public road in just a headcollar, no matter how well behaved it is, and I certainly wouldn't be training a naughty one where it could potentially get away from me and be run over. It's basic common sense -although I expect this will fall on deaf ears!
 
Auslander said:
Firstly - You haven't understood what I meant. Which was that the photo, being as it shows a dangerously low rope, should have been accompanied by a comment that clearly stated that you knew it was dangerous. That way, a novice owner wouldn't look at the pic and think "Hey, thats what I need to do to stop Dobbin carting me" and promptly snapping its nasal bone. Sorry I asn't clearer.

Secondly, I agree that horses should be taught to behave in a headcollar, but that training should not be carried out, especially on a horse that you admit is badly behaved in a headcollar, beside a road. I'm not a fan of leading any horse on a public road in just a headcollar, no matter how well behaved it is, and I certainly wouldn't be training a naughty one where it could potentially get away from me and be run over. It's basic common sense -although I expect this will fall on deaf ears!
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Firstly, when this pic was taken I was not walking him around the roads - and unless I really had to, I wouldn't.

Also I would just like to state - he isn't naughty, just greedy!

Not on deaf ears at all :)
I can completely understand where you are coming from and why you are concerned, but at the end of the day I do what I see fit, just like you probably do some things I wouldn't agree with!
 
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