Slightly random but....riding in a headcollar?

[bex1984]

For my usual various slightly odd reasons, I want to see what Murphy is like if ridden in a headcollar.

So, what do I do about reins?! Attach them to either side of the headcollar as though attaching them onto a bridle? Or use something else?!

 

[Lanky Loll]

When we used to ride in head collars we just used to clip the rope the side ring on the left and knot it in on the right so you could do the same with reins.

 

[Hedwards]

i did this with my old mare when she had some damage to the fleshy bit of her mouth, just fixed reins onto the side bits of headcollar - i was only walking though as i didnt want to put pressure on the wrong area of her nose

 

[duggan]

[ QUOTE ]
just fixed reins onto the side bits of headcollar - i was only walking though as i didnt want to put pressure on the wrong area of her nose

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That's it totally. Its ok for a quick walk up the road, but to workride in a headcollar is unfair to the horse IMO.
Only the slightest pressure will bring the metal of the headcollar onto the boney bits of the face, why put that kind of pain to your horse? Those smart people who design bitless bridles spend a long time researching the pressure caused without a bit, and how to sit the parts comfortably.
Those pillocks (my opinion) who compete in bog standard headcollars don't think a lot about their horses, or their comfort.
Riding with a bit isn't the only way, as countless riders will confirm who go bitless.
And to go back to the original post, now ive stepped off my soapbox.... I tie rope to one side and clip to the other. Or leave it as normal and teach the horse to neck rein! It can be great fun to play and a change from serious work.

 

[Aoibhin]

an old neighbour used to ride in a leather headcollar with reins attached to a thin leather strap that was threadded up the noseband ring on one side of jaw, went over nose & through the other side. i used to think how odd/wrong but havnig seen how many of the bitless bridles work think she was just getting in there early (she only rode like this & diddnt own a proper bridle)

 

[bex1984]

hmm OK: one of my main reasons for wanting to try it is he is pretty fussy about his mouth...I'd like to see if he is more forward without a bit (he is in a pelham and dislikes anything else...), so just out of interest wanted to try it without spending a small fortune on an actual bitless bridle.

Any other suggestions for a good way to do this? It's an experiment really!
He really doesn't need to be ridden in a pelham, he needs to go forward forward forward!!

 

[duggan]

you're in my area, bet i can get you one to try as a lot of our mates use them!

 

[legaldancer]

I think Liz Jones does this according to her book. She puts reins on either side of the headcollar.

I'd be careful about this as I got run away with as a teenager when riding a forward going pony using a similar method on a drop noseband. (Duh!)

Perhaps stay in the school!

 

[gekko]

Do it often with a lead rope as suggested above...and even more often using a rope type head collar with the lead knotted back on to the loop...like using a bosal...

As for those panicing about the risks involved, yep try it in an enclosed area, but a sensible, educated horse should be fine... I ride a lots of horses out like this, even our stallions at the beach... and some unconventional mounts..

 

[_April_]

I sometimes ride to and from the field bareback in a headcollar and I've been parking trailer at the bottom of our steep track and riding the last 5 mins home like that after competitions.

I clip the rope to one side and knot the other.
If I'm just going a short way I don't bother knotting, hold the clip rope and steer with my legs lol

It's good fun on a safe horse, I can canter across the fields - so long as I have a big tuft of mane to hold onto

 

[bex1984]

duggan - PM'd you

legaldancer - I would defo stay in the school, pony would get bored after a few laps and stop himself if all else failed!

He is a funny one because he can be so lazy on a bad day, and quite bouncy on a good day. He is unfazed by anything, but if he's not happy in his mouth he can be uncooperative (teeth checks always have to be up to date, and we've never made it out of the pelham because he gets upset about anything else!)

I had a jumping lesson where I had to give with my hands more, and he suddenly jumped better and was more forward - it seems slightly pointless to have a pelham in his mouth and no contact on the reins whatsoever tho!

 

[bex1984]

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It's good fun on a safe horse, I can canter across the fields - so long as I have a big tuft of mane to hold onto

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ah well we've got that one covered, Murphy's mane is at least 3ft long

 

[gekko]

....and yes, I KNOW she is cow hocked, I KNOW she is calf kneed, yep she is downhill and could do with some more length of rein, but her offspring excel in their field....the freezer.

 

[*hic*]

[ QUOTE ]
....and yes, I KNOW she is cow hocked, I KNOW she is calf kneed, yep she is downhill and could do with some more length of rein, but her offspring excel in their field....the freezer.

[/ QUOTE ]

What's making me giggle is your sig : Cleveland Bay, Warmblood and coloured Sporthorses on the other side of the planet!


That truly is a different coloured Sporthorse!

 

[gekko]

Nah colour is just a chestnut pinto....

 

[algy666]

Clip on the right, knotted on the left ... we (used to

) ride in from the fields bareback in headcollars in the summer.

 

[soulfull]

[ QUOTE ]
When we used to ride in head collars we just used to clip the rope the side ring on the left and knot it in on the right so you could do the same with reins.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I do too so much easier when bringing in. Shame not allowed to do it at new yard

 

[DappleGreyDaydreamer]

As far as being frightened about damaging the horse's nose with the metal parts on a headcollar, would it be safer to ride in a rope halter? I'm teaching my boy tackless with a neckrope as part of a trust exercise, and he's doing well, but I want to take his bridle off soon and don't want to damage him. Would a halter be suitable if adjusted correctly?

 

[Firefly9410]

I have ridden in a headcollar and it does not damage my horses nose. The metal parts are no more likely to cause trouble than when leading. I find a horse good to lead in a headcollar is also good to ride in a headcollar. If you find you cannot steer without heaving the horses head round you need to either learn to use your legs to steer or if you already do that you need a proper bitless bridle for more control. If you want a bit that is not a pelham, how about trying a hanging snaffle with the same mouth piece as the pelham?

 

[Birker2020]

For my usual various slightly odd reasons, I want to see what Murphy is like if ridden in a headcollar.

So, what do I do about reins?! Attach them to either side of the headcollar as though attaching them onto a bridle? Or use something else?!

I ride in my Dually and love it. My horse prefers it and goes lovely. I have hacked him out in it and jumped in it. I attach a rein to each metal hoop on the nose band. If you have a dually it might be preferable to a head collar.

Here is a video of me riding in the Dually. You will have to forgive how chavvy I look in my trackie top! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTWfHlttlcg

 

[bubbaloonie]

I also used to ride my elderly pony in her Dually (with additional sheepskin padding) as she had a tumour on her face that was irritated by a bit and normal bridle. She was brilliant in it and having always been fussy with a bit, seemed much happier to be ridden in the Dually. We knew and trusted each other very much, however, so I wouldn't try it on unless you are confident you'll be able to control the horse adequately.

 

[Dry Rot]

We have a bought-in 4yo Highland pony here who has clearly had problems when long reined. We suspect he bolted when being long reined by one of his (several!) previous owners and got a nasty jab in the mouth so was very nervous. Anyway, he was hopeless in a bridle, just panicking and hurting himself.

Once he had been taught to lead in a rope head collar, he was lunged in it as if on a long lead rope, then long reined. By this time, he was long reining quite well and it was not a problem. The reins were attached where the lead rope is usually tied with a long rein on each side through a lunging roller. He has now graduated to long reining in a bridle and is going well. (This has only taken a couple of lessons a week over five months!).

So, yes, I would say this guy could be ridden in a head collar after backing as he knows what to do. The training really wasn't difficult, just pressure on the opposite side we wanted him to turn, with a release when he complied. The experts will no doubt say we did it all wrong but so long as it works and doesn't hurt the horse, why not? It is all in the training.

 

[fatpiggy]

Do it often with a lead rope as suggested above...and even more often using a rope type head collar with the lead knotted back on to the loop...like using a bosal...

As for those panicing about the risks involved, yep try it in an enclosed area, but a sensible, educated horse should be fine... I ride a lots of horses out like this, even our stallions at the beach... and some unconventional mounts..

You shameless cow-squasher you, and get those legs back!

 

[LilacWillow]

I would recommend using a side pull or scawbrig attachment that you can clip on to your bridle x