Turning out in headcollar

QR: The ones from the US are nothing at all like the leather ones we are used to seeing here, and the leather headpieces do break in an emergency as the holes for the buckle weakens them and the leather is much thinner and softer than would ever be used for any horse equipment sold in the UK. I have first hand experience of both turning out in these, leading fresh horses in them and tying up in them and the leather headpiece breaking BEFORE the baler twine which the cross tie was attached to did when the horse pulled back. Unless you've seen them and used them then it is unreasonable and unfair to say they are not as safe as the fieldsafe ones - I've used both and the US ones are a damn sight more practical for day to day use and break perfectly easily in an emergency (which this wasn't, but the horse in question wasn't the sharpest tool in the box!). If you're happy to tie to baler twine then rest assured this broke and the baler twine did not.
 
I turn mine out in a fieldsafe one, you do have to make sure that they fit quite snug though because they stretch, my new boy manged to get it off rolling the firstday we put him out and it took us ages to catch him. I always put a normal headcollar on over the fieldsafe headcollar to lead him in and out.
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i always turn out in headcollers as 1 can be a sod to catch and other can be quite head shy so it just makes life easier they are both normal headcollers and aslong as your paddocks and fencing a properly maintained i dont see why you should have any problems
 
joe_c, that's exactly the problem. Headcollars don't only catch on fences. Did you read the earlier posts? Horses can get their legs and feet caught in their own AND other horses' headcollars. No amount of good paddock manitence can prevent that. I'm only stressing this because I know first hand how easily a horse can die from being turned out in a webbing headcollar. Please, please don't take the chance. You are playing a dangerous game of Russian Roulette. Not quite the same thing but my horse came hopping up the field on 3 legs a couple of weeks ago. Thank god someone spotted him and rescued him! He had rolled and got a back leg caught in the webbing belly strap of his rug. I didn't think this was possible because I thought the straps would just rip off. But sometimes the horse gets legs trapped at such an awkward angle that they can't exert the force necessary to free themselves. Sunny was very stiff on that leg for a few days but it could have been much much worse. I am now paranoid about loose fitting rug straps. Please everyone, take on board the tragedies that CAN happen x
 
My riding school horses and ponies were always turned out with their headcollars on - the only problem I had was the ones who would play and pull the head collars off.

If a horse is getting his legs caught in his headcollar then the head collar is either not put on correctly or is far too big.

So long as their are no tree branches or outriggers that the horse could get caught in then it is quite safe to turn out in a head collar.

Only time I don't turn out with a headcollar on is when a mare has a foal at foot.
 
Yes, but you have worked with horses in the US where they treat you like you are a bit backward if you tie a horse to something breakable!
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SC - tying up to baler twine is a whole other subject and something I will not do.

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People at my yard think I am mad because I insist on 'splitting' baler twine when I tie up to it, so the lead rope only goes through 4-5 'threads' of the baler twine? This means it absolutely breaks every time, but it is a bit of a pain if you have a horse prone to tossing its head up, snapping the twine and walking away
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Yes, but you have worked with horses in the US where they treat you like you are a bit backward if you tie a horse to something breakable!
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LOL!! So true T! But also having worked on studs (sports horse and TB) in this country, string just is not seen on tie rings.
 
I must admit I rarely used to tie to baler twine. If the horse ties up then you shouldn't need it.

However I watched a horse snap a hind leg fighting being tied up after it got a fright. Since then I have always tied via baler twine. One place I worked at though had a sensible idea they attached several loops to the ring of the headcollar. Means that if your horse brakes away it's not trailing a rope that can possibly hurt it.
 
Thank you!!!!


have bookmarked this and will keep fingers crossed they get some bigger sizes in stock soon.
 
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