Turning out in a leather headcollar?

S

shadowboy

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My friend has now bought a new pony- she wanted to turn her out in a headcollar today- but i didnt feel it was safe- so i managed to negotiate her down to a leather one just for tonight to see how easy pony is to catch tomorrow.... obviously no headcollar is better.. but i am right thinking leather is safer than webbing right???
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Yes, espcially cheap thin leather ones, almost like a headcollar version of a foal slip.
See if she will buy a Fieldsafe one for turning out?
 
Good- i thought so- *had to think all the way back to pony club camp to remember* but glad my advice was corect- you have made me feel much better!
 
A leather headcollar at all times, not just turning out, is far safer and they needn't cost much more than a nylon one if you use the foreign ones available now from virtually anywhere.
I have lost count of the accidents I have heard about with using nylon headcollars, they are accidents waiting to happen IMHO no matter how careful you think you have been.
For this reason alone I will never use a nylon one unless I am actually there handling the horse; if I have to leave the box at all it comes off no matter if I've only stepped outside for a moment as that is all it takes for an accident to happen.
It's not only unsafe just for horses either; years ago a friend's mare went to stud in a nylon one; somehow she got it wrapped around the water inlet of the field tank (don't ask!) and was stuck solid. Luckily she didn't struggle too much until help arrived and with her legs thrashing about she caught the stud owner; he was off for the rest of that stud and showing season with a very badly broken leg and still has the arthritis to prove it!

It's a pet bugbear of mine but I make no apologies for pleading with all of you to never leave your horse unattended in a nylon headcollar; the cheapness of them isn't worth the heartache when something goes wrong.
 
one of my grass liveries has a headcoller on but has the throat clip undone and a piece of string insereted instead of the clip done up.
obviosly(sp) none is better bit this pon can be easier to catch.
 
When my youngsters were foalies, I was always told I was failing in their training by refusing to leave a foal slip on them in the field (they live out 24/7).
I was told I'd never be able to catch them.
But fear not - I did my own style headcollar/leading training and have two very easily caught horses (it never occurs to them not to be caught, and they come rushing whenever I go to the field).
Does your friend have to leave a headcollar on? Or could she be persuaded that training is the key?
S
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We kept our old pony on loan in a leather headcollar because she was a nightmare to catch. She did end up with a fluidy lump on her head though from wearing it all the time, so I prefer a fieldsafe as they are nice and light.
 
Leather is definatly best if you have to leave a headcollar on. Last year my horse was turned out in a nylon headcollar and ended up with 9 stitches as a result. Now she is never left with a headcollar on and has a leather one for when being led or tied up.
 
A leather headcolar is definately safer, preferably a nasty cheap and tacky one.
 
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