rope halters

[caroline23]

i currently lead my cob in a dually, this allows me to control him somewhat, but he can still drag me if he wants to go somewhere, he has a VERY strong head and he knows it, and being small and light i find it difficult to lead him if he is feeling fresh

would a rope halter perhaps work better? as with the dually i find it doesnt release immediately and as it is like a normal head collar he can lean on it still, but with a rope halter its thinner and the knots might make him pay more attention?

any experiences appreciated, i am working on his leading but would like a little extra helping hand to help control him!

 

[Shavings]

my old 15'2 cob did the same put the head down and powered of like a train!
i used a "be nice" rope halter worked a treat, he tried it put a strong pull and he got a stock, tried it a couple of times after but with in a week he learnt his lesson!! it might help you to good luck let us no how you get on

 

[caroline23]

yeah ive heard of them but there seems to be a debate on if it is severe or not (cob is doing it purely through lack of respect, just knows his own strength) he can slop along at end of leadrope some days, but once something catches his eye (he is only 5 so curious about everything still) you dont have a chance! did you find you could revert back to normal headcollar after you gained his respect/manners or did you use it all the time?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We have always used old-fashioned cow halters, available from any farm suppliers. They work a treat, (much more effective than a head-collar). However you do also need to use body language to back up your message and if that doesn't work, maybe a schooling whip - to hold in front of the horse or to tap the chest, to remind the horse of its manners.
Several years ago we bought a Clydesdale mare, to be ridden by a 6'2" broad rugby playing novice. He used to lead her across the field at teatime. She led him a marry dance, rushing across the yard and dragging him through the doorway, scraping him off on the door-frame, most days. then when we sut the door, she slammed him into it. My sister swapped horses with him. Sis is 5'6" and weighed about 91/2 stone. The mare never even offered to play her up, she simply walked across the yard and waited nicely to be told that she could go into her stable.
Both of these people were leading the horse in a rope halter. The novice weighed much more than the experienced person. I don't think that the deciding factor is what you use but how you use it.

 

[Shavings]

i found after the first week i could have gone back to his older head collar, i didn't straight away as he was moving fields and knew he would get excited so he stayed in it for a month just in case he tried it but he went back in to a normal head collar after that and if he tried it again well mr be nice halter came out to play again haha

 

[caroline23]

just checked price of a "be nice" - they are expensive for what looks like just a rope halter! :O i've already spent £40 on the dually...any cheaper options?

 

[Tinypony]

A Be Nice (or Nasty according to some) has metal parts and a closing action. It's more complicated than a rope halter. If you decide to get a rope halter, particularly for a horse that is going to put pressure on it by dragging you about, it's a really, really good idea to get one that fits properly, not some horrible thing with a huge noseband and a metal bit on the end of the rope. A good article on fit here http://www.freewebs.com/lodgeropes/haltertechnicalarticle.htm
That is by a man who makes rope halters.

 

[maggiesmum]

Its not enough just to use a pressure halter, you have to teach the horse what pressure and release means. If your horse is walking through it then he doesn't understand that by walking politely at your side he can release the pressure.
Why not see if anyone you know understands how to train to a halter correctly or if theres a trainer locally, failing that both Kelly Marks, Monty and Richard Maxwell do instructional books/dvds which cover pressure & release, halters and general ground manners but as pearlsasinger said just going through the motions isn't enough, intention is the key, you have to mean what you say and say what you mean.

 

[caroline23]

he knows tht walking forward will release the pressure on the dually, he isnt keen on pressure on his head, but i guess thats why they work

 

[Tnavas]

I often lead th estrong ones in a lunge cavesson as you have the lead on the front of the nose where it has more effect on the direction of the head.

 

[Ali27]

I have got the Richard Maxwell training halter and it is brilliant! I found it much better than the dually! It also comes with a DVD showing how to use it! It is well worth the money and has changed our bargey chesnut mare into a well mannered pony who now leads and loads perfectly

 

[POLLDARK]

I use an ordinary rope halter, they are in effect a pressure halter & work really well. Also being totally adjustable I can lead the 16hh boy in, then the 14hh, then the 8.5hh in all with the same piece of kit. How good is that.

 

[Lotty]

I have got the Richard Maxwell training halter and it is brilliant! I found it much better than the dually! It also comes with a DVD showing how to use it! It is well worth the money and has changed our bargey chesnut mare into a well mannered pony who now leads and loads perfectly

Same here Don't know why but my mare respects the Richard Maxwell one alot mor than the Dually and I know how to use the dually as I've been on a course with Kelly.

 

[Ladyinred]

Don't know why but my mare respects the Richard Maxwell one alot mor than the Dually.

Because it hurts more.

 

[Winklepoker]

I used a rope halter for 2 months and touch wood, I doubt I will ever need it again. Brilliant results, harsh or not - you cannot have a horse trampling you down. I would rather cause pain dfor a short time than constantly restricting with medioke pressure and nagging on their heads in a regular headcollar.

 

[HihoGinger]

I use one of these on my boy. http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/kemp-controller-one-colour.html
He only needs it in the winter months as he gets quite bargy coming in at night. The rest of the time he's fine.
It's cheap and simple to use, and he respects it.

 

[Mare Stare]

I have a Parelli rope halter

It helped to load my mare easily. Normally she won't load at all.We've tried lots of different methods but rope halter + bucket of food and she (almost) walked straight in. I think they are great.

 

[Marydoll]

Mine is one of the most important parts of my kit, its not a magic wand though, you need to school your horse to understand its action.
I dont need to use it much now, but if i feel i need to, it works well.

 

[Snoozinsusan]

I use one of these on my boy. http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/kemp-controller-one-colour.html
He only needs it in the winter months as he gets quite bargy coming in at night. The rest of the time he's fine.
It's cheap and simple to use, and he respects it.

I used this on my bargy little mule. She may be little but would pull away and was very difficult to hold. Only needed to use it a few times before going back to headcollar. No problems since.

I also have dually and be nice and I use whichever suits the situation.

Advantages of the kemp-controller are that it's cheaper, fits onto headcollar or bridle, and fits all sizes.

 

[aintgotnohay]

wots wrong with a snaffle bit on a sliphead off a double bridle for leading or a good old fashioned chifney???

 

[Nocturnal]

I have a 17h 3yo which has learned that he can rear, spin and then bog off whenever he likes if he's being led in a normal headcollar. I put him in a rope halter that I was given by another livery - horse tried it on once, failed, and hasn't tried it again. Thumbs up from me, as I was about to stick the bugger in a chiffney.

 

[Cortez]

If you want to be in control, you have to use whatever it takes to be so - could be a rope, chiffney, bridle, chain over the nose, whatever. Horses CANNOT be allowed to bugger about; too dangerous.

 

[leskaneen]

Not read all posts so might be repeating-I buy 2m length of rope from our local market hall & make an old fashioned cow halter-costs about £2 and 10 minutes of time x

 

[Firefly*]

I love my rope halter and use a 12 ft leadrope so I could let her drift if I needed to and turn her back towards me.
I don't feel comfortable leading her in anything else now.

 

[brown tack]

I use a rope halter and a 12foot rope (hides)

Just because I got a new 3yr old youngester that had never had a headcollar on. And him being 15.3hh and a cobby type so wanted to get the upper hand straight away.

It has worked really well, but his trick is planting himself, so put on the pressure on the halter and he stepps up. Works well, then when I went to tie him up for the first time no issues. He pulled back and straight away forwards into the slack. (did use a lunge line thread though the ring first though, and I use a standard headcollar)

Some may remember my thread last week of him taking the p cos I was iil. Well as soon as I've got better back to being a total gem.

Thankgod

 

[eatmoremincepies]

I use both rope halters and duallys and help people with their leading problems. Rope halters can be good for cobs, they do put more pressure on and are "stronger" in that sense (can send a more sensitive horse over backwards in rough hands tho).

Tbh it's technique that makes the real difference, what you need to practise is getting and keeping your cobs' attention while leading, before he buggers off there will be small signs that his attention is wandering (I promise you), if you catch those you can nip it in the bud. If he does get as far as trying to go somewhere you don't want to, you need to have a long rope (longer than normal leadrope) and step out to the side where you'll have some leverage, pull his head round and then either circle him or back him up.

The dually will do the job if you can get the technique right, but you might find a rope halter a bit easier. Worth getting a hand from a Kelly Marks/Ruchard Maxwell person if you are having trouble spotting the early signs, can be hard to spot until someone shows you.

 

[Toffee44]

I have a home made richard maxwell headcollar that I use.

 

[Lotty]

Because it hurts more.

Sorry, but I don't use it to hurt!

As mentioned, I have been taught how to use them. The Dually puts pressure over the nose and sometimes I feel the release isn't quick enough. The Richard Maxwell halter puts pressure on the poll and releases straight away for the reward.

 

[Hollywood]

I have a 2 1/2 year old Knabstrupper filly who is 16hh and would never be without my Richard Maxwell halter with a lunge line (I sometimes us a stick to keep her out of my space) - I have used it since she was a yearling as I found it was the only thing she respected. I bought it along with his books and now she is very respectful and lovely to lead. My father, many years ago used rope halters on our young ponies, all were brilliant to lead - pressure and release is not a new technique it has been used for many years with great success.

 

[maggiesmum]

wots wrong with a snaffle bit on a sliphead off a double bridle for leading or a good old fashioned chifney???

Nothing if its used correctly, sadly i've been on the receiving end of a horse that had experienced rough hands with a chifney, personally i'd rather not use a bit for control, I much prefer to keep the mouth soft and responsive for ridden work.