To chiffney or not to chiffney this is the question!!

mattilda

mattilda

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OK so I have a 16.3 Hanoverian and he is a big strong lad with way too much to say for himself. His stable manners are perfect and he is a lively but good ride. However, he is a nightmare to turn out and bring in. If his field companion is not right at the gate he takes off headcollar leadrope and all. I cannot physically hang on to him he is way too stron g. Over the last couple of weeks he has started letting me get half way in and then takes off back to his field mates. I can't bring them all in, he won't stay in a field on his own so am now considering a chiffney but have never used one. Have had horses for over 20 years so quite experienced. Any ideas. comments or offers for a pain in the ass horse!
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Tried that still took off!! He lets me catch him no problem it's the trudging up and down the field to retrieve various bits of tack that's p*****g me off. Plus I'm worried he will hurt someone when they are covering for me.
 
On a windy day my mare will rear on her way to the field, obviously v. dangerous. I was going to go down the chifney route, but spoke to my local saddler and she suggested a be-nice headcollar. It has made my life a lot easier.

If the weather is bad I just put her in that and she won't rear. I suppose the difference is though that she doesn't pit her strength against you like your boy, she just acts like a balloon on a string!

Perhaps you could see if you could borrow one, as they are quite pricey if it doesn't work.

Have you tried using a stallion chain across his nose? That can be surprisingly effective.

Sorry probably teaching my grandmother to suck eggs!

I have only ever had to use a chifney on one horse and that was an arab stallion who had been used to cover. He was immensely light and well behaved in it, although became extremely difficult to bridle as he hated it. I just think it's an extremely harsh bit of kit and I would rather try the other things first.

Of course teh most important thing is that you don't get hurt while he is exhibiting this behaviour. Perhaps if you do go the chifney route combine it with a headcollar and two lead ropes so it only comes into action when needed. Might be a way of teaching your boy to respect the headcollar in the long term.

Good luck!

Jo x
 
I have to use a chifney on mine for the same reason, ( he's a 14.1h Sec D!)a bridle is no use at all, still too strong.
He only has it on for leading to and from the field ( about 1 minute) and sometimes loading if he's being a pain
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Put over the headcollar and lead rope, but make sure you have a short leadrope attached to the chifney just in case they tread on it!
He's putty in my hands with it on, and has never even tried to get away, have used it for the last 4 years on him with no problems.
 
I would try a pressure halter with a lunge line attached. Daisy has a dually and it has stopped those rude, bargy moments. If you've got a lungeline attached rather than a leadrope it is very unlikely they will be able to pull the whole thing out of your hands so they learn that pulling doesn't get them free. It's something to do with physics as well, if you hold the line right next to the horses head its easier for them to pull you over, hold it about 1ft down the line and its much harder.
 
You could use a chifney as well as your headcollar with a lead rope on each. That way, the chifney only comes into play when you really need it. Having dangled on the end of a lead rope with a stroppy 17hh once too often, I always now use one for loading although I almost never have to actually use it. Having two lead ropes means it's much harder to misuse it, if that makes sense? There is no point putting yourself in danger & it's easier to slip off than a bridle.
 
We have had a similar problem with a livery horse, as soon as you got him out of the field gate to bring him in he would stand up and pull away from you then he would gallop up and down trying to get back in his field. I asked the owner to buy either a Chiffney or a 'Be Nice Headcollar' she opted for the latter and he has been a different horse since using it. It is the more expensive on (£35) with the metal knots in the top of the head piece which sit along the poll so that you just give a tug and the metal work does the rest! We always used Chiffneys with the stallions and they never messed around with it.
 
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You could use a chifney as well as your headcollar with a lead rope on each. That way, the chifney only comes into play when you really need it. Having dangled on the end of a lead rope with a stroppy 17hh once too often, I always now use one for loading although I almost never have to actually use it. Having two lead ropes means it's much harder to misuse it, if that makes sense? There is no point putting yourself in danger & it's easier to slip off than a bridle.

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I agree. My horse has a similar habit of taking of when he feels like it and the chiffney with a headcollar works a treat.
 
Thanks guys. Will try the the pressure halter and lunge line but have a feeling he will still take off. He doesn't do it all the time but when he does I get soooo annoyed. I know the chiffney can be harsh which is why I haven't already tried it but am now getting to the end of my tether!! (Pun intended)
 
Chiffney's are fantastic things! I definitely wouldn't be without mine! however, the only trouble with turning a horse out in one that is likely to p*ss off, is that they are a bit tricky to get off quickly sometimes and can get caught around their teeth if they try to take off before you have got it out of their mouth. Does your horse like his food? If so, I have found that taking out a handful of nuts or some polos and giving them to the horse before letting him go works a treat.
 
My WB does this - when I used to use a normal headcollar/leadrope he would just turn around and clear off and I'd be able to do nothing about it. I tried a be-nice and a dually and various other pressure headcollars but none on them worked - he still tanked off.
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I used a chifney for a while and he was like a little lamb in that, but I didn't like using it all the time. I've found the best thing that works on my boy is a leadrope with a chain on the end. I slip it through one ring on the side of the headcollar and take it under his chin and clip it to the other ring.

I'm always careful not to yank it or anything, but when he tries to pull away, it tightens up and he stops dead
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- it works as well as the chifney
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I hardly need to use it now, I just have it like a normal leadrope so I can slip the chain through if I think he's going to be naughty.....
 
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stick a chiffney on him, a lunge line and carry Mr Blue Pipe.....

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Woman after my own heart!
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I so agree!!! Having handled many such horses over the years and being only small myself i have found this is the best way to make sure that no-one or horse gets injured.
 
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I slip it through one ring on the side of the headcollar and take it under his chin and clip it to the other ring.



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and in doing so, will render it totally useless.....
 
A chiffeny is like any bit - will not come into play until used - and they soon learn that it is not the most pleasant bit - although I do find the lead rope round through front of the headcollar for loading more effective than a chiffney - and both at once just does not work.
 
there is a horse on my yard that you need a chiffney to bring in - and his tounge is all scarred/marked from the dip in the chiffney.

a control headcollar or a bridle?
 
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there is a horse on my yard that you need a chiffney to bring in - and his tounge is all scarred/marked from the dip in the chiffney.


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you'd of thought the stupid thing would have learned by now to stop pulling,eh?
 
I bring Leonard in with a chifney for similar reasons, he knows when its in and is as good as gold, likewise he knows if its not in and is a total sod.
 
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I slip it through one ring on the side of the headcollar and take it under his chin and clip it to the other ring.



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and in doing so, will render it totally useless.....

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Er..why? My horse doesn't seem to think it's useless!
 

Chifneys get a bad press IMO. They are not too severe at all if you know how to use them properly and can be very effective.

at the end of the day YOU have to be safe.
 
Go with the chiffney it changed my horses attitude with immediate effect whilst loading, as she is always going to be stronger than me and she knew it!! and took advantage al the time. I put headcollar on then have the chiffney on a sliphead and pop that over the top.. and of course Mr green pipe is always on hand...
 
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I slip it through one ring on the side of the headcollar and take it under his chin and clip it to the other ring.



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and in doing so, will render it totally useless.....

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Er..why? My horse doesn't seem to think it's useless!

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i would say he doesn't need one then if he's OK with it in a mode that isn't the correct one?
 
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JMO7 - horse in question is a little simple
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he dosent pull as much, he just tries to bolt/buck/leap on you etc.

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aaah....noted.
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i'm not against chifneys, but have had plenty of good results with thug horse in a thin rope halter, combined with a long rope, and large whip/blue pipe. I'd probably try a thin rope halter job to start with, and then upgrade to chifney if it doesn't work.

I would accept thuggy behaviour any more though - so i'd do whatever it takes to prevent it


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I slip it through one ring on the side of the headcollar and take it under his chin and clip it to the other ring.



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and in doing so, will render it totally useless.....

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Er..why? My horse doesn't seem to think it's useless!

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i would say he doesn't need one then if he's OK with it in a mode that isn't the correct one?

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Well you're not really in a position to say tbh - you don't know my horse! Just because something isn't 'correct' in your opinion doesn't mean it doesn't work!
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