Rope halters when travelling

[flat3]

I have looked but I can't find the answer to this in other threads!

My pony can be stubborn to load on the way home. She isn't scared or worried and is a quiet and chilled traveller - she just loves being out, about and noseying around. We've been practicing with a rope halter and I'm going to try using it to load to see if it helps. My question is; obviously you can't tie them up in the trailer with the rope halter so what do people do - have a normal headcollar over the top all the time? Wouldn't that interfere with the pressure release?

 

[quiteniceforacob]

I’d load them, shut the partition and switch the headcollar

 

[spotty_pony]

I know people who use them for loading but have another headcollar on top for tying the horse up in the trailer/lorry. They are fine for loading but horses should never be tied up to them.

 

[Caol Ila]

As above. I use them for loading but not travelling. I've had them underneath a nylon headcollar and tied with the nylon one.

I've also loaded in the rope halter, then taken it off and swapped to the nylon once the horse was secured in the trailer. I think this is the best way if your lorry/trailer is set-up for an easy switch.

You don't want to tie in one because if sh1t goes wrong in the trailer, you don't want that rope halter doing it's high pressure thing, which could make a bad situation worse. Nylon halters also have weak points, like the snaps and buckle and more if it's a breakaway one. Rope halters don't. You want those weak points for hauling.

 

[flat3]

Thanks for replies. I know not to tie her up in it - hence asking the question! Will go with her normal headcollar on top to try and minimise faff once she's in and leave her to her haynet reward ??

 

[skint1]

I think I would try and take it off. I once left my horse wearing hers in her stable whilst I went to get something, not tied up or anything... I walked about 10 steps and something made me turn around, she'd managed to get hooked up on the stable door. It was scary, really quite scary. She couldn't move, it dug into her face, we had to cut it with a knife. Never again.

 

[Nicnac]

I wouldn't travel a horse in anything other than a leather or breakaway halter so put over normal travelling head collar and remove once loaded.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't leave it on either I would put the head collar on with it then just take the rope halter off, I always have a tie rope hanging ready in the vehicle so you just clip the head collar to that as it saves time and faffing.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I travelled Faran in one for years. Only sue to it being the one headcollar he couldn’t remove in transit ? he was a little shit.

 

[flat3]

Thanks everyone

 

[Red-1]

I usually put it over the headcollar, load, click a waiting tie rope to the headcollar and whip the rope halter off.

I did travel one with the rope halter, he was in the habit of rearing in the box and made a couple of sunroofs. However, I only ever tied with the type of clip that would quick release in an emergency. It was not the best, but the horse soon learned not to rear and a normal halter was then used. A young friend bought me a glittery one, I seem to remember. He wore it with pride