Short lead ropes.

[1stclassalan]

I think this has the potential to be one of those ardent HHO issues!

I certainly have strong opinions on them but let's start off with someone else's view:-

Pale rider - I agree with short lead ropes - if the horse starts playing up on the end of it or spooking etc, you need to get out of the way without having to let go which could in itself cause more problems.

Now, if you have to leave the side of a horse you're leading - where it's outside front foot is falling - that's bad news. If said horse is playin up or spooking - it's a major flippin' disaster!

I'd guess that I'm much bigger than the average person on here and wouldn't let a horse I was leading have any rope at all - I'd hang on the collar. There's no horse in the world that can carry a human on their nose very far so eventually they'll give up messing about - you can also bring this about more quickly by reaching forward with the other hand and put it over their nostrils - again, no horse goes very far if they can't breathe.

If you can't do any of that, too weak, too small or don't want to - fine but don't lead any horse you think might run amok anywhere you couldn't let it go safely.

When standing by the horse front foot with your hand in the head collar, you are at a very good fulcrum point - if he tries to turn, you can bring your elbow up aswell and use his neck to magnify your pull though I used my left hand to carry the rope end slightly tensioned. By letting this advantage go and then some - to the end of even a 1Mtr rope - puts you in the firing line for a much larger swing and kick of both feet on that side. I still followed this procedure even after 17 years of bring my mare in - they can all have their moments!

 

[xloopylozzax]

Broken fingers or a loose horse.

I've done both (letting them have rope, of the lunge line variety; and grabbing the head) and they both have plus sides.

I have being dangled off the ground by head collars but they do come back down. You just risk them coming over the top of you.

I can't even make a definitive opinion on this!! Horses for courses!

 

[Polos Mum]

I tie my lead ropes up the old fashioned way (twisting them round on themselves) I leave a maybe 50cm long tail and I just lead them with this, I only untie the rope to tie them up.
I want them to walk neatly next to me and a short rope is fine for this, the odd time I've had to let go, possible I could have held them with a long rope, but equally possibly not and then they'd have been running round with a rope dragging between their front feet!!

I agree elbows work very well in keeping my personal space.

I guess if I was leading on a road or somewhere similarly dangerous I'd rather have a lunge line so I have plenty of room to get out of the way but still keep a hold on them (although disaster if you had to let go of that!!)

 

[Spring Feather]

I've no idea what the discussion was actually about but I never ever hold a headcollar when leading and it's one thing that I will tell people off for on my yard. Very dangerous! I never lead with lunge reins either, nor short lead ropes. All my lead ropes are 10ft long and do the job perfectly.

 

[PandorasJar]

Long ropes for anything liable to go up in a panic or take off. Gives you room to step out the way and keep hold or reel out and circle. Not used for leading at distance.

I've seen horrible injuries with a short rope and horse stamping on it so would always rather keep control or let go of a long rope likely to lay next to the horse than under fronts. Also easier to catch again to get off if necessary. If not a long rope, then I'll just have a short (6inch) rope on that can't do damage to horse if not caught again.

Short ropes for normal leading and older mare who is generally okay but rears occasionally as I can still keep hold and keep out of way but I know her and doesn't then take off or throw weight around up there.

I've broken my hand and have a metal plate in it now from a rear... However it happened with no pressure on the hand (was actually moving my hand on rope as I knew it was coming) and doc said was simply a bad luck position that I moved my hand against the rope into. So that makes no odds on my choice.

 

[Cortez]

I've no idea what the discussion was actually about but I never ever hold a headcollar when leading and it's one thing that I will tell people off for on my yard. Very dangerous! I never lead with lunge reins either, nor short lead ropes. All my lead ropes are 10ft long and do the job perfectly.

This is very wise ^^^, and I would agree 100%.

 

[PandorasJar]

^ agree with sf on headcollars too. I don't as am frankly terrified of having a hand caught in something if a horse goes. When I loop lunge lines or long leadropes I always then grab the loop in the middle so my hand isn't through them too.

 

[catkin]

I like long leadropes as you then have the option of leading 'short' or 'long' - it just takes a bit of practice to smoothly move your hand up and down the rope.

Two basic occasions when I find longer leadropes very very helpful are:
when bringing in through a gate where you can send the horse through around you before you relatch,
and trotting-up, where it's easier to keep the horse straight on a longer rope rather than having a tendency to curl towards the handler.

I guess it's all down to personal preference and training in the end.......

 

[Spring Feather]

When I loop lunge lines or long leadropes I always then grab the loop in the middle so my hand isn't through them too.

Not with lunge lines as I don't use them for leading, but with lead ropes when leading youngsters, same here, I never ever put my hand through the loop, always around the middle of it. Again I've seen quite awful accidents happen and this is another thing I harp on about when I see anyone on my yard leading youngsters with their hands through the loop. One girl I must have told time and again not to do it, sure thing, foal leaps off, rope twists on girls hand and almost took her hand off with it. She doesn't lead like this any more

 

[Fools Motto]

I detest long ropes for general leading about and tying up... maybe it is tying to the trailer/lorry on a long rope (so that horsey can graze), that sends me into seeing red! Hate it. Not to mention, now when long ropes and mud mix = horrid! Or one of us, me or horse stands on end of long rope. (yeah, I know it should be picked up, but not always possible when leading in two keen horses and you have cold fingers!).
I also walk our yearlings on a lunge line, can be a pain, yet can be a godsend - depending on how said yearling is behaving! And yes, I have had to let go of one naughty yearling, line trailing around her feet - I'm having a heart attack at the sight. All was well, BUT, in that instance a shorter rope would have made me have less of a heart attack! I would never have managed to hold onto her - whatever I was leading with. Once their head and neck are away from you, there sheer 'neck' strength means you lose! Yet, a bigger much stronger colt I have managed to hold on to, because I was close to him and had control over his neck.

It really is horses for courses, apart from the tying up long at shows/on yard to eat thing.. that is just asking for trouble IMHO.

 

[Ladyinred]

I've no idea what the discussion was actually about but I never ever hold a headcollar when leading and it's one thing that I will tell people off for on my yard. Very dangerous! I never lead with lunge reins either, nor short lead ropes. All my lead ropes are 10ft long and do the job perfectly.

Totally this ^^

 

[1stclassalan]

I tie my lead ropes up the old fashioned way (twisting them round on themselves) I leave a maybe 50cm long tail and I just lead them with this, I only untie the rope to tie them up.

Very good.

I want them to walk neatly next to me

Excellent.

they'd have been running round with a rope dragging between their front feet!!

Yes, I forgot to mention that I do appreciate the main reason that most people shorten up.

I guess if I was leading on a road or somewhere similarly dangerous

I'd never, ever, lead a horse on a road or somewhere equally dangerous - I wouldn't have done it twenty years ago let alone out in today's traffic!

I'd rather have a lunge line so I have plenty of room to get out of the way but still keep a hold on them (although disaster if you had to let go of that!!)

Oh how right you are! I'd only had my mare a few months and we were having a very pleasant bonding session - lovely weather, blue birds flying - that sort of thing - so bright boy here decides to give her a bath in Showgleam and then after a scrape down walk her about to dry. We merrily gambolled the entire length of the land - a good mile from the yard ( all off road) with her having a little graze here and there. I'd snatched up her collar which had a lunge line attached and should have changed it but didn't. Looking down at the distant yard shimmering in the heat, I thought "well dear, you can carry me back" and vaulted on. Now, I was quite proud of the fact that I could easily vault on and even in mid flight I could feel myself smugly replaying all the times I'd done it - what do they say about pride? She gave a little buck, I readjusted and dropped the flipping line!!! She looked down and thought it was the biggest snake she'd ever seen and took off - and I mean, took off - the first ten paces were pure air - I don't think she ever took me so fast ever again - me riding backback on Showgleam in shorts! I thought she'd tread on the line every step and the nearer we got to the yard the more I could feel the gate or fence posts cracking my knees or seeing premonitions of my flying form sailing between her ears to land on the concrete. Luckily, I managed to scissor her neck grab her headcollar and do a pretty smart vaulting dismount just short of the fence in a cloud of dust.

Later, I received a curt note from the Y.O. about unseemly riding and unbecoming demonstration upsetting other liveries.

 

[cbmcts]

I'd never, ever hold a head collar on something that's playing up! No matter how strong you are you'll lose a tug of war with a horse... I've also seen quite a few people stepped on if they try the elbow in the neck trick too.

I prefer a long cotton leadrope of a decent thickness (never a lunge line, I get tangled in them leading) often looped round the nose and a pair of gloves for me if required. You can step sideways out of the way if they go up and use yourself as a fulcrum to turn them in a circle if they try and tank. TBH though, I tend to use a bridle, control halter or even a chifney for ill mannered horses these days - as I've got older I really don't appreciate or recover quickly from injuries from being dragged out unnecessarily

I demand manners, I know I'm mean

 

[Pale Rider]

If you feel that you are going to use strength against your horse, or shetland for that matter, you're in the wrong game. In a tug of war you're gonna lose no matter how fancy you think you're applying pressure on the head.

If a horse is being lead, it's just like anything else he does. He should be respectful and walking with you, not pushing into your space. He should mirror you, stop when you do, go when you do. You should have a yard or so of slack rope between your hand and his chin.

If a horse rears with a short rope and you don't let go, he will clonk you on the head, when he drags you under him. If you have 12' of rope he can go up as high as he wants, you won't be dragged underneath him, but you don't have to let go.

Basically the longer your lead rope the safer you are and the more options you have, but training him to lead properly is the key.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Lol at a horse not being able to carry a human on it's nose, well you haven't met Max and when he is in full trot would be seconds before you lost balance while hanging onto his nose and ended up in a heap probably between his legs! Max is a rude 15hh cob who was rescued from the abbatoir by WHW... only way to stop him running off with you attached is to let him know you have him before he thinks about it by leading in a bridle or wrapping a leadrope tightly around his nose!

 

[PandorasJar]

FM. I don't lead long or tie up long, that's asking for trouble as you say. It is purely there if necessary. Leading two would be on short ropes as wouldnt ever lead two together without manners.

I have always been far more panicked on letting a short rope go. Only lost a long one once and didn't tread on it. Short rope when gone I saw repeating stamping on it at full pelt and had heart well and truly in mouth. Anything likely to take off and me not hold on to has a short (6inch) rope. Never ever a sua card leadrope

 

[PandorasJar]

^ standard, not sua card!

 

[YorksG]

The only time I use a long rope is if I am leading two, on a narrow track, then the old lady can go behind the other. I agree with elbows and short ropes, give you much more control, if necessary I 'ride' the shoulder, this has worked with everything from a section A to an 18hands shire. I do usually use an old fashioned rope halter.

 

[1stclassalan]

^ agree with sf on headcollars too. I don't as am frankly terrified of having a hand caught in something if a horse goes.

I wouldn't ask anyone to do something they were terrified of - because sure as eggs are eggs - it will happen if they are!

When I loop lunge lines or long leadropes I always then grab the loop in the middle so my hand isn't through them too.

Absolutely! Loops are extremely dangerous things - one of my dearest friends had one of her fingers torn off by a snagged loop - and this despite half a lifetime of dealing with horses ( and being awfully fond of telling other folk all about it and in her opinion ( if you don'tmind me saying deahh) what they were doing wrong. She still went around doing this even after her accident though I was tempted to wag my undamaged finger at her.

Then blow me down if she didn't have something very similar happen to her AGAIN! This time she was opening a stiff buckle to adjust a headcollar - the horse reared at the wrong moment and she was towed around the yard by her impaled digit.

Risk assessments anyone?

 

[amandap]

I've no idea what the discussion was actually about but I never ever hold a headcollar when leading and it's one thing that I will tell people off for on my yard. Very dangerous!

I agree and no matter what we think we are not strong enough to hold a horse by force if it really decides to take off.

That aside, fburton made a really good point in a thread a while back (regarding leading a stallion to the mare) that applies to all leading. This is completely my interpretation of his point btw... The more we try and restrain/control physically, the more a horse wishes to push against you (and feels trapped) so give them room and actively lead them as opposed to actively trying to slow/stop/control.

 

[PandorasJar]

More than likely. The only thing I've done it on was the Welsh a having a moment and I knew I could win and have more control than on leadrope (this was with broken hand so one handed :/)
Other than that I am not strong enough, not quick enough to get hand out in trouble and as you say would be thinking of that rather than the horse. The Welsh a was a case of do it or phone someone else to do it and I wasn't in the mood.

I do lots of stupid things around the horse so won't do preachy but I don't intend on doing something that involves me being dragged around! Although I'm more likely to hospitalise myself off the horse. Trailers (fractured cheek bone) and electric fencing are far more dangerous things in my hands than a horse

 

[It's Me Megan]

We had one girl wrap the rope around her hand, I politely suggested if she wanted to keep her lovely manicured nails that she stopped doing that....

 

[1stclassalan]

I'd never, ever hold a head collar on something that's playing up!

Neither would I by choice but as they all have the capacity to play up - I like my way - or should correct that to did like - sadly retired.

No matter how strong you are you'll lose a tug of war with a horse..

That's my view of a long line - the ONLY thing you can do with one is attempt at a yank or two - usually when at a distinct disadvantage. So you may aswell have a short one or none at all.

I've also seen quite a few people stepped on if they try the elbow in the neck trick too.

If you have - they weren't very good at it and shouldn't have been doing it! Done properly their feet shouldn't have even been on the ground at the point where they could be stepped on - let the horse carry you - all the one's that I met tired before me. Mind you, back then I could drop and hang from a steel cable and then remount it carrying full kit and an assault rifle - not much requirement for that in BSH stable management!

I prefer a long cotton leadrope of a decent thickness (never a lunge line, I get tangled in them leading) often looped round the nose and a pair of gloves for me if required. You can step sideways out of the way if they go up and use yourself as a fulcrum to turn them in a circle if they try and tank. TBH though, I tend to use a bridle, control halter or even a chifney for ill mannered horses these days - as I've got older I really don't appreciate or recover quickly from injuries from being dragged out unnecessarily

I demand manners, I know I'm mean

I'm not going to edit any of that because it's spot on - they should have manners but you'll be perpared for the worst.

 

[Elsiecat]

I've never considered this before to be honest. I'll ponder it tonight and get back with my thoughts

 

[Sparkles]

I've no idea what the discussion was actually about but I never ever hold a headcollar when leading and it's one thing that I will tell people off for on my yard. Very dangerous! I never lead with lunge reins either, nor short lead ropes. All my lead ropes are 10ft long and do the job perfectly.

This. I will never hold a headcollar, ever. I have a nice big scar left on my forehead to remind me never to do that again.

Leadropes break easy enough so I honestly don't think much damage is done left loose if they break free...at least never encountered it yet. I leave ropes on all of mine so they learn to step on it and not panic. Hell, even tie ropes on baby coblets feet to get him used to that..he doesn't panic, he'll just stand there till he's 'freed'.

 

[PandorasJar]

CS. One of my horses has poll damage from stamping on a short lead while legging it. You can physically feel a inch or so lump almost two years on. Headcollars and leadropes do not give that easily and I would never ever leave one to be trodden on on purpose.

 

[kerrieberry2]

I have a young gelding (questionable) who has taken to rearing and stiking out! I have just been converted to a longer lead rope after a month ago, he reared up vertical, struck out and smaked me in the face! had I had a longer rope then I'd have not been hit! hoping on to his halter wouldn't have kept this 550kg horse on the ground! being a safe distance from his rears have put me in a much safer position in the last couple of weeks! I have a lot of work on my hands and the further I can get from his striking out the better!

 

[coffeeandabagel]

I have found the clip breaks quite easily on cheap-ish lead ropes so if the horse pulls back or stomps on it thats the bit that will go.

My last boy managed to half undo a rope once and then got his leg over it - panic ensued until I shouted at him and he stood stock still in surprise. He did get a rope burn though - now I tie with the end pushed through the loop. But thats another topic altogether - how do you tie up and do you use a little plastic gizmo thingy.........?

I am soooo careful about ropes - it comes from my kayaking training - where theres a rope there's a risk - applies to horses too

 

[Littlelegs]

I like good manners, & a rope long enough for me to stand at the shoulder without any tension in the rope, & a loop of maybe 2' or so spare incase we walk opposite sides of something like deep mud, puddles etc.
If its something less well mannered I like a rope that's long enough for me to stay a few feet from the side of the shoulder & keep hold even if it does go vertical.
I'm fairly chilled about leading though. I expect them to behave if asked, but otherwise provided they respect my space & my choice of speed, & don't try towing me, I'm not overly concerned if they do more than walk. I'm not saying bad behavior is accepted, but basically if it doesn't hinder my walking, if one wants to prance alongside its fine by me. And I find they only really do that anyway when there's good reason & they are over excited. Which to me is preferable to insisting they walk calmly & having them explode through frustration.
Also ditto spring feather. I've been known to demonstrate to kids & teens the effect of me pulling the other end of whatever they've wrapped round them, then ask them to imagine something 10x heavier putting more effort in.

 

[Foxhunter49]

I think this has the potential to be one of those ardent HHO issues!

I certainly have strong opinions on them but let's start off with someone else's view:-



Now, if you have to leave the side of a horse you're leading - where it's outside front foot is falling - that's bad news. If said horse is playin up or spooking - it's a major flippin' disaster!

I'd guess that I'm much bigger than the average person on here and wouldn't let a horse I was leading have any rope at all - I'd hang on the collar. There's no horse in the world that can carry a human on their nose very far so eventually they'll give up messing about - you can also bring this about more quickly by reaching forward with the other hand and put it over their nostrils - again, no horse goes very far if they can't breathe.

If you can't do any of that, too weak, too small or don't want to - fine but don't lead any horse you think might run amok anywhere you couldn't let it go safely.

When standing by the horse front foot with your hand in the head collar, you are at a very good fulcrum point - if he tries to turn, you can bring your elbow up aswell and use his neck to magnify your pull though I used my left hand to carry the rope end slightly tensioned. By letting this advantage go and then some - to the end of even a 1Mtr rope - puts you in the firing line for a much larger swing and kick of both feet on that side. I still followed this procedure even after 17 years of bring my mare in - they can all have their moments!

This speaks to me of inexperience.

For a starter if you grab the halter chances are that you will have your knuckles on top, fingers pointing down, this can lead to them being trapped.

Secondly the person who wrote this has obviously never been at the end of a rope with a fractious young TB colt that thinks rearing is a perfectly acceptable way to behave.

As for a horse not being able to carry a human very far by its nose - I have seen a big heavyweight hunter 16.3 hands lift his owner who weighed about 25 stone, off his feet and smash him against a wall - from a twitch!

I have also had horses that have learned how to set their necks and go even if their heads are turned to the side. A horse can charge some distance with a person hanging onto their nostrils.

Personally I prefer the longer (10') and thicker ropes. I often bring in four or five horses together and so some need to be behind, the extra length allows for this.