What would you do?

[ QUOTE ]
I think one day just going up/ down / up / down/ up/ down with them one by one with pauses and rewards for good behaviour should crack it aswell as the method mentioned above.

Don't forget your gloves!!
crazy.gif
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Won't make a blind bit of difference, imo.....
crazy.gif
crazy.gif



.
 
People are so quick to sugest chiffneys. I would not advise using a chiffney unless you are expereanced in doing so. Even experianced people use them as a last resort and only normaly on stallions. If used incorrectly or the horse still manages to get free a chiffney can break its jaw!!!!!!!!!! Have you put the rope over the nose or through the mouth (sounds odd but much safer than a chiffney) or use a stallion chain over the nose. I would suggest trying a bridle. You can get bit clips to attach the bit to the headcoller which is easyer than getting a bridle on in the dark. But like i said i do not recomend a chiffney.
 
I disagree here my boy is a heavyweight flighty 18.2 CBxTB and with his chifney on I can bring both him and my other boy in together no problem there is no way I could do that on a headcollar but the chifney is designed so that if he pulls back it encourages him forward and if he does go up it ensures he does not go up too far up or bugger off in the other direction much safer for all involved IMO
 
I think for every suggestion, there's going to be agreement and disagreement.

I just think that in the OP's described situation - dark, spooky horses, stressed owner, a chiffney is just a recipe for absolute disaster.


.
 
i would (might sound harsh)
1 put a bit in the mouth
2 i would use as chifney for the first few days
3 break the i am joined at the hipsyndrome
4 put some manners on them!! esp if you want to lead in together, but have to manner them individually first!
but if you want and like to be dragged and mashed continue as you are!
you are on a DIY yard you can trade favours or pay someone to do it for you. Best of luck!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think for every suggestion, there's going to be agreement and disagreement.

I just think that in the OP's described situation - dark, spooky horses, stressed owner, a chiffney is just a recipe for absolute disaster.


.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this, in the dark, with two horses acting up is not the place to be trying one of those out
crazy.gif


Sorry OP, but it looks like a new yard will be needed...in the meantime can you swap favours or pay another livery to bring them in for you?
 
QR - do you think that if you only had to lead one horse at a time you would be able to handle them? In which case I would look into hiring a freelance groom/another handy livery, to help you out. You'd only spend more on bedding keeping the horses in, and I very much doubt that it will make them any easier to handle.
 
Sounds like you've already decided to leave them in all week.

How truely horrendous for your horses.

You can bridle them without leaving reins trailing - it's called an irish martingale. Google it. A chiffney is a whole world nicer than being locked in a stable all week. DIY liveries can still make arrangements with YOs. You can ride one and lead the other.

You could even change yards.

But like I said, sounds like you've made up your mind already.
 
Mine is difficult to catch and pulls away if he feels like it. I find that the only thing that works is a bridle with a lead rope threaded through the rings and behind his chin. I do see your problem,though,because even with this mine can get away!
 
Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious but why would a bridle with reins (over the neck as for riding) be worse than a lead rope?

A lead rope stood on could break a neck (someone on here lost her horse this way a while back when it had been tied to something immobile w/out a break point, no?) but surely leather reins would snap easier? Plus they wouldn't normally be dangling would they?

I've been scared leading in two excitable types in the dark before. Agree that acclimatising them to going in 1-by-1 might be good. LOTS of repetition and treating when you have confidence/a friend/chocolate/whatever will almost certainly help. It takes time and patience and low expectations but horses *can* get used to all sorts of things. If you don't think it would be too dangerous could you arrange for them to be turned out in a field that is nearer the same road?
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Have you tried using a chiffney or lunge line when you bring your horses in??

[/ QUOTE ]

I half thought about a chiffney, but Id really rather not.
The problem with a lunge line is, theres just more rope to get caught up in and I just cant hold them both.

[/ QUOTE ]

I understand you don't want to use a chifney, but this is what Ive had to resort to with my cob, George. He's dislocated my husband's shoulder in the past, in his efforts to tank off.
crazy.gif
I'm not having that. George will use any excuse to bugger around and I'm not being put in danger by an animal much bigger than me when I have to lead him 100 yards down a road to bring him in and turn him out!

You just hold the lead line lightly so that there is no pressure in the mouth and then utilise pressure when it is needed. You can put a normal head collar over the top and use a rope on that and one on the chifney.

Sorry but if I was being put in any danger then I'd really consider either a chifney or at least rope over the nose.
 
Leaving them in all week will only result in more problems, I also think that a chifney in the hands of the inexperienced is a recipe for disaster and it could go horribly wrong.

To be honest, to be safe, you need to bring them in separately and in order to do that you have to break their reliance on each other, I agree with those that have said lead them in bridles and pay someone to help you, or, perhaps you could offer to turn out for someone in the morning if they will help you in the evening.

You do seem to have made up your mind to leave them in rather than face the problem, all I can say is poor horses.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Id love to leave them out 24/7, but I dont have enough grazing.
They are ridden every day, as we have a flood lit menage.
I have looked at a few other yards, but Ive not found anything suitable yet.

Ill give a chiffney a go tomorrow and see how we get on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can't you supplement their grazing with hay?

WRT standing on the rope of a chiffney (and for all everyone says they can break their jaw, who actually has witnessed this, ever?!) I think the short rope suggestion was fab, and I can also see some sort of contraption like reins but fastened to the chiffney lead ring being concocted, so again if you really had to let go the rope was around the horse's neck, not dangling.

Good luck with it all!
 
I'd just lead both of them with a chain across their nose, if they walk alongside you on a loose rope you won't even had to use it. If you don;t have a rope with a chain then clip their ropes on the side ring of the head collar and thread it through their mouth. If you're worried about loosing them then use a shorter rope.
 
control headcollar?

my 5yro is a little git at the moment going to and from her field and when i have another horse in my other hand in the dark, she wears her Richard Maxwell headcollar- solved!

i too, would not like to use a chifney but the control headcollar is a great piece of kit.
 
I woudl agree re not a chifney - don't think you need something in their mouths but I don't think using chains etc would cause the horser to go up. As said mine has always been problematic to lead and at college it took two people to lead him out and with stallion chains on! He never once went up, he just wouldn't go up whatever.

I think a horse that is going to rear to evade will do regardless what you use to lead them but most horses won't rear. A horse is either a rearer or it's not IMO. My horse too does the "oh, how terrifying" act in order to try get away when, in reality he's not scared of anything he's just a prat! Sounds much like these two horse. I find the chain headcollars or stallion chains are very effective, they only come into use when the horse tries something on so the rest of the time it's just like leading with a normal headcollar
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
do you bring them in seperately? or could somebody else bring them in while its light? sorry probably stated obvious and something you've tried already

[/ QUOTE ]

I cant bring them in separatly, coz they are the last two out and are unseparable. Also, the yard is totally DIY, so there in no one to bring them in for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think its safer to bring them in seperately TBH...better to have one pratting around in the gateway waiting for you to go back than have 2 horses galloping around in the dark.
 
[ QUOTE ]
WRT standing on the rope of a chiffney (and for all everyone says they can break their jaw, who actually has witnessed this, ever?!)

[/ QUOTE ]
What a silly thing to say i have never seen a horse with strangles so does that mean it doesn't exist!!! I lead my pony in a chiffney but it was the absolute last resort. Sadly Lucy knows her own strenth and i tried everything else (even had two big blokes piller rein her and she still got away) But i have delt with countless other horses that pull away and sorted them out with other methods mentioned above and never resorted to a chiffney. These horses need re educating in how to lead before this become normal and i'm sorry but if you don't have time to do two horses propaly or safely why do you have two?
 
[ QUOTE ]
WRT standing on the rope of a chiffney (and for all everyone says they can break their jaw, who actually has witnessed this, ever?!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Thankfully, never. However it's well documented as to the type of damage a chiffney could and can do. But as you say, a short rope is very good idea.
 
Are they getting hungry/cold in the field, which is causing them to spook and run off? I know mine gets a bit awkward if she thinks she should have come in earlier than I got there (which is the same time every day!). Might be worth thinking about the cause, as well as the solution.

I'd first try a controller headcollar, then a snaffle bridle (either on a slip, or a normal bridle but with a leadrope threaded through - like a curb chain - rather than reins), before resorting to a chifney. If you do use a chifney, use a short rope as suggested. If you can't find a short rope, cut down/knot an ordinary leadrope so it's shorter.

Anything you try should be tried out first in daylight, in a calm situation - in the arena if you have to - so that you and the horse are comfortable with what's happening.

Lead them separately if you have to, or rope in a friend to lead the quieter one. Or get there earlier - I altered my working hours to make sure mine comes in during daylight. As much as I'd love to not have to walk up the field morning and evening, I would absolutely not leave her in 5 days a week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top