Riding on roads in a Parelli halter?

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jen1

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Was driving home from work this afternoon and I saw a girl riding a horse on the road in a Parelli halter. I was wondering if this is 'legal', I have heard that if you ride on the roads and there is an accident and the horse isn't wearing a 'normal' bridle, assume that means hackamores too, then insurance etc can be void? Do you think it's safe to ride in a halter on the roads?
 
Hmmm, not sure about the legal side of it but surely if you go out in a bit that your horse doesn't respect that's the same thing. But if they respect and listen to the halter the same way another horse would listen to the bit then I can't really see the issue. Each to their own.
 
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Hmmm, not sure about the legal side of it but surely if you go out in a bit that your horse doesn't respect that's the same thing. But if they respect and listen to the halter the same way another horse would listen to the bit then I can't really see the issue. Each to their own.

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I do not know 100% for sure whether this disqualifies anyone from being fully insured; I would guess it would depend on the insurance company and what is stated in the small print.

However I completely agree with Kate above. A horse who is trained to be ridden in a rope halter is just as reliable and controllable as one trained to be ridden in a bridle.

Oh and just wondering - how do you know it was a Parelli rope halter? Can you describe it to me please.
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and I bet she thought she looked 'cool'! She is an accident waiting to happen and will have no one to blame but herself-I doubt even the P team would condone her actions
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. Sad thing is, when these accidents do happen its the nearest and dearest who suffer the most and obviously any innocent third party. Im not sure about the insurance but I get the feeling that any insurance held by 'her' would be out the window
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. How old was she? Mairi.
 
I too would suspect that it would depend on an individuals insurance. Riding in a bitless bridle does not invalidate most insurance, so as long as there is good control, a parelli halter may not be exempt.
 
I have a feeling that it is illegal to ride or lead a horse on the road without a bridle on - a bridle does include hackamores...but not halters.
 
Can you provide the link to this please? I think it might be very interesting to many horses owners to know this, if indeed it really is the case. I suspect many many people will be invalidated if what you are saying is correct.
 
Dont know about the legal side but IMO some horses are less controllable in a bit than a pressure halter. Depends on each horse. Perhaps A dr cooks or something would be a compromise though.
 
I've seen someone riding down a busy A-road in one of these before: http://www.vifargent.com/images/L1-Tools.jpg (just a random google search) and have always wondered where the hell they stand in the event of an accident - a) because wonder if they insurers know (if they have them) and b) it's in the highway code that you must always ride in a bridle

Tia, rule number 52: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069853 "never ride a horse without a saddle or bridle"

Anyone know the ins and outs of this?
 
i have no idea about a link i'm afriad...i only know this because we had a run away that regularly arrived at our yard...belonged to a lady up the road from us who had to lead a black cob 200m down the road to its field...she only lead it in a head collar and let it amble along in the middle of the road...most days the pony would pull free and come galloping up the road for a visit..we asked her to do something about it as not only did it wind our horses up but one of our liveries crashed her car to avoid it on one occaison...so anyway we got in touch with the police who said it was illegal to lead a fully grown horse on the road with no bridle and same applies to riding.

sorry that was so long!!!
 
I am insured with NFU to ride in my rope riding halter. I've written them a letter explaining that my horse is trained to be ridden that way, and have a letter from that confirming this.
I have friends with horses that I wouldn't ride on the road with all their bits and items of tack, scarey creatures, but my pone knows his job and I think is safer.
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Edited to add, if I'm using my black halter and reins, people often don't even notice I haven't got a bit.
 
Firstly, that would be up to the insurers to specify what type of tack you have on your horse for ridden, ground work - I have never seen this specified, certainly not in any of my insurance policies (granted I left the UK in 2004 so things may have changed). Secondly, not everything in the Highway Code is Law but just advice; as in your example of rule 52, there is no Law relating to this.
 
I don't have a problem with people riding in a halter if in control.... but tinypony - if it is part of the highway code to ride on the road in a bridle then if an accident did happen could you not be held liable? (not wanting to critisise, just curious!)
 
Firstly please stop calling bog standard rope halters "Parelli"

I've had them for years before the P word became famous!

Secondly if my horse were trained in one, I wouldn't have a problem riding on the roads

I've ridden out in this one, but its nasty cross under head squishing variety!!
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When this discussion came up before someone said that the quoted bit of the Highway Code wasn't law, it was a guideline. As long as I'm insured I'd take my day in court I guess. I mean, where do you draw the line that defines a bridle? You could have a western headstall with a bosal noseband - is that a bridle? There is no bit. What a about riding in a mechanical hackamore like an English or German version? No bit...
Interesting eh?
To be honest, all except my pony have got beyond the riding in a halter stage, and tend to be bitted when going out, but I do like to ride in a halter from time to time. It makes a change for both of us.
 
It's in the highway code - both saddle and bridle must be worn when riding on road.

How many people do you see riding horse back from field with no saddle on etc I bet many aren't aware they are breaking the law
 
The Highway Code is an advisary, NOT Law. There are some advisaries within it which are Laws, but the one advising people ride in saddle and bridle is NOT a Law; just advice.
 
i've ridden on the roads with a pony wearing a Bosal.....

i also ride my little cob in a hackamore..

both are "bit-less"
 
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Firstly, that would be up to the insurers to specify what type of tack you have on your horse for ridden, ground work - I have never seen this specified, certainly not in any of my insurance policies (granted I left the UK in 2004 so things may have changed). Secondly, not everything in the Highway Code is Law but just advice; as in your example of rule 52, there is no Law relating to this.

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Yeah, still would be interested to know where you stood if you were the cause of an accident using a rope halter (and not the one cotswoldsj posted). As even with a hackamore you've effectively got breaks via pressure.
 
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I've ridden out in this one, but its nasty cross under head squishing variety!!


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Correct me if I'm wrong but at least you've got the chance of stopping/applying strong enough pressure in one of those.

What about the one I posted which is literally rope knotted together with no moveable pressure points as such?
 
Exactly! I wouldn't want people to find out too late that they are not insured. I put a post up so that people can check with their insurance companies to make sure they are covered.
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You don't need pressure points to stop a horse. I agree with Cotswolds, the one she's posted is quite nasty, all that thin rope being squeezed on the horse's head, not nice. It looks a bit like the "Pony Boy" version.
Some horses object to pressure on the poll and under the jaw, and go better in a standard rope halter.
Other things that could or maybe not be bridles... scrawbrigs, sidepulls, Dr Cook bridles (aaargh! Called a bridle but no bit!).
I'm putting my trust in my insurance company to know their stuff.
 
I would be very surprised if people were....Im sure you would need to actually speak to an underwriter about this but my understanding is that you are not covered to use halters and headcollars as opposed to rope bridles which are entirely different creatures!
 
I have no trouble whatsoever stopping my horses in a rope halter/headcollar/whatever. Doesn't make any difference to them whether there is a bit and bridle or a lead rope - they are well trained and do as they are asked, and no they don't fly away ever because they are thoroughly de-spooked.

If a horse wants to tonk off with anyone, they will. Some piddly piece of metal in a horses mouth will make no difference, because they are stronger than us.
 
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You don't need pressure points to stop a horse. I agree with Cotswolds, the one she's posted is quite nasty, all that thin rope being squeezed on the horse's head, not nice. It looks a bit like the "Pony Boy" version.

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I've only ever used the rope halters when leading a 17hh nutter as he tied up better in it and there was the odd time that you couldn't do anything about the way he went - and that's from the ground.

I don't get (bar having seat and legs aids obviously) how if you're on the road, open spaeces etc with just a leadrope and a rope halter - you've got a hope in hell of stopping if your horse goes? (I'm not talking bolting as a true bolter you cant stop anyway whatever's in its gob).
 
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I have no trouble whatsoever stopping my horses in a rope halter/headcollar/whatever. Doesn't make any difference to them whether there is a bit and bridle or a lead rope - they are well trained and do as they are asked, and no they don't fly away ever because they are thoroughly de-spooked.

If a horse wants to tonk off with anyone, they will. Some piddly piece of metal in a horses mouth will make no difference, because they are stronger than us.

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Ahh but yours are trained well
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I'm talking about the stereotypical nutjob, parelli loving, carrot stick holding eejit who doesn't actually have any control or horse hasn't got any respect for her. You know the sort - the "ahh twinkle never does that normally" as it spooks at the rhythm beads around its neck.

Just playing devil's advocate
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I can stop the horse because I'm trained that way and so is the horse. As Tia says, if you are really in trouble a bit of metal in the gob doesn't make the slightest difference. Hours of training and building muscle memory do however. It's just the way it is, hard to appreciate if you haven't experienced it, but I've been riding and training horses bitless for the last 10 years, so the wonder of it all has worn off for me.
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Just what I was thinking!! any horse is stronger than any person! I lead my youngster in halter. I will be checking with insurance company, maybe youngster will be different ruling? Don't see how they can specify what is or isn't bridle anyway, it would be impossible to say! Also, Parelli halters are rightly or wrongly exactly the same as parelli bridles - you just attach reins! So yes, can't remember who said it but even the p people would encourage riding in them!
 
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