cliche
Junior Member
Posts: 115 
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Post by cliche on Oct 8, 2013 8:52:23 GMT
My Highland has an endearing habit of trying to snatch mouthfuls of grass whilst being led. He is such a strong pony that it is difficult to stop him getting his head down, he does it whilst Im trying to shut the gate behind us (we have to go through 2 to get to his paddock). I do sometimes use a bridle to lead him and this does give me more control but Im wondering whether a proper control headcollar would be better, so that he realises Im in charge even if he has no bit in his mouth. Ideas please for a good headcollar, or am I better off just using a bridle?
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Post by gillwales on Oct 8, 2013 9:05:39 GMT
use a chiffney , easy to remove and can go over a headcollar. Better to be safe than sorry
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Post by stass on Oct 9, 2013 6:17:27 GMT
We use pressure halter on all youngsters until they respect that you are in charge when being led. You need to practise making them go back in it and once they realise that they have to do what is being asked they quickly change their behaviour. I would be very careful with a chiffney as used incorrectly they can cause damage to the tongue.
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wilbs
Full Member
Posts: 246
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Post by wilbs on Oct 9, 2013 6:22:19 GMT
Please don't use a Chiffney. Try a dually or a naturel horsemanship halter first and do some ground work with him. I fully understand how strong they can be. I sometimes just loop the halter rope round my highland's nose, which will give you the extra control you need when turning out to stop his head getting down.
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Post by gillwales on Oct 9, 2013 7:35:56 GMT
Im not talking about an anti rear chiffney, just a plain one which is a circle with loops for check pieces and a ring for the lead rein.
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Post by brt on Oct 9, 2013 8:14:23 GMT
I would suggest if you did use a Chifney, put it over the head collar and put a very short leadrope on it.
That way you can use the normal leadrope and headcollar to take him out but if needed you can apply pressure without the worry of him injuring himself if he gets away from you.
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cliche
Junior Member
Posts: 115
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Post by cliche on Oct 9, 2013 8:25:56 GMT
I must admit, I thought the chifney suggestion was a bit OTT, I didnt realise there are different types! Hes not bargy as such, simply a very greedy pony who the minute he sees an opportunity for a bit of nice grass will grab it, literally. He leads across the field beautifully, the minute I have to open a gate though, so am only half concentrating on him, he tries to get his head down to eat and once its down I simply cant pull it up until he has his mouth full. In a bridle, he doesn't even try so I know I can stop him and he is simply taking advantage of the situation. I was just wondering whether there was a headcollar that would give me more control without the need for a bit.
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Post by gillwales on Oct 9, 2013 16:56:20 GMT
I had a beautiful 13.2 show pony brood mare that you would not want to lead in a head collar when I first had her, tanked off with the vet and dragged him on top of the muck heap, despite my warning, she did change over the years but for the first 3 years I always used a bit.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2013 17:59:59 GMT
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Oct 9, 2013 18:12:24 GMT
My daughter made what looked very like a version of that with the addition of baler twine to a normal headcollar! Worked a treat.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2013 18:19:45 GMT
They are great , I've found I only need to use ita couple of times to gain respect then just put it on as a reminder when needed !
Def an investment to have in the tack room :-)
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cliche
Junior Member
Posts: 115
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Post by cliche on Oct 9, 2013 19:04:31 GMT
brookhouseeq, have just had a look at these on the link you gave, can you explain a bit more about how they work please ie, are they fairly straightforward to suss out or take forever to adjust and faff about with.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 6:41:49 GMT
No really easy put on and take off just the same as a normal head collar , then at the back where you clip the lead rope on there are 3 options , a ring as normal to make it a normal head collar and to use for tieing up , then 2 rings on the chain that give different amounts of control on the front of the horses nose
Works on a pressure release idea like the monty Roberts ones but much more effective in my opinion!
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cliche
Junior Member
Posts: 115
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Post by cliche on Oct 10, 2013 8:48:27 GMT
thank you
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Post by dsmum on Oct 10, 2013 10:39:11 GMT
I use a stallion headcollar but it is with padded leather over the steel bits - never pulls now!
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Post by ponytastic on Oct 10, 2013 16:01:53 GMT
use a chiffney , easy to remove and can go over a headcollar. Better to be safe than sorry Completely agree with this! |
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Post by aengusog on Oct 11, 2013 21:26:00 GMT
Your pony has learned to use his strength against you, and you have demonstrated to him how he can overwhelm you and do as he likes.
There are many types of headgear which may be suitable for your pony and his specific 'problem', but the answer lies in your hands and how you use the halter of your choice. You have to learn about pressure and release, and teach your pony to yield to pressure because at the moment he just pushes through it.
If you give a horse something to resist, he will resist it.
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Post by millieperfectpony on Oct 15, 2013 20:47:13 GMT
Dually headcollar
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Post by clipclop1 on Nov 3, 2013 18:02:11 GMT
I just use a chain under the chin of my fell stallion as he can be very strong in a normal headcoller but he knows when he has the chain on and my 12 year old sister takes him to the field no problem x
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Post by remianddodge15 on Nov 11, 2013 14:16:39 GMT
Definitely a dually!!! My cob was an absolute monster to lead - constantly trying to bomb off, rearing, leaping etc. Yet 10 mins in a dually and he'd worked out how it worked and is now very very polite to lead. I rarely have to use it now, but as soon as I feel him starting to get a bit bargey I pop it back on and he soon remembers his manners!!
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Post by hoochie on Nov 19, 2013 13:47:48 GMT
Get a dually headcollar
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Post by ashleigh19 on Jan 11, 2014 22:16:06 GMT
I use a dually but he's becoming resistant to it : (
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Post by waspblue on Jan 11, 2014 22:48:02 GMT
I have one of these for my highland too and it's just fab, has three different levels of control according to situation. Plus they are beautifully made and of excellent quality materials. |
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Jan 12, 2014 8:43:33 GMT
Remember it's not just about the bit of kit but about how you use it. If any of mine misbehave while being led they are stopped and reversed, repeating the process until they get the message that messing about is not required, and you are in charge and not them, and walk politely alongside you. If you start a pulling match with them they will pull back, and they're stronger than you are!
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Post by celticcob on Mar 13, 2014 13:50:32 GMT
I have a Be Nice headcollar, and I have used it very successfully with a range of horses: strong cobs, shire x, 17'2 ISH whi was a b***er to load but would load herself in the headcollar. its great, and the horses learn to walk calmly without any weight in the hand. You only need a week in it to ensure they remember their job. It stops them pulling forward or back. I cant recommend enough!
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Post by delfachhighwayman on Mar 13, 2014 14:12:51 GMT
100% agree with Chifney, all the faffing around with other bits of kit etc....
Natural horsemanship works on the premis that you are the leader, not the horse and, in my opionion, these ideas of waving ropes in horses faces etc, are much more damaging to a horses mind and sanity, then a quick use of a chifney!
I have had to only use it once on my horses and they learn straight away, if you pull up, it will hurt. The lesson is learned and we can move on....
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Post by gillwales on Mar 14, 2014 2:19:36 GMT
I do not believe in waving ropes in horses' faces at all, the quickest way to make them head shy! What this does prove is the importance of correct training from birth, please purchase youngsters who have been trained correctly and had the time invested in them, you may pay a little more however you reap the rewards in the long run  |
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 14, 2014 11:29:45 GMT
Seconded!
I have learned one useful way of using a waving rope though - not in a pony's face, but for those that tend to launch themselves off the top of a lorry ramp. If a rope is wiggled on the ramp in front of the pony it will lower its head to watch the "snake" and so can be led down the ramp at a walk, so will learn its OK to walk on.
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Post by aengusog on Mar 15, 2014 19:09:52 GMT
100% agree with Chifney, all the faffing around with other bits of kit etc.... I have had to only use it once on my horses and they learn straight away, if you pull up, it will hurt. The lesson is learned and we can move on.... Maybe you can move on, but the horse is being controlled by fear of pain in the mouth. How do you justify that? |
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Post by gillwales on Mar 15, 2014 21:07:34 GMT
100% agree with Chifney, all the faffing around with other bits of kit etc.... I have had to only use it once on my horses and they learn straight away, if you pull up, it will hurt. The lesson is learned and we can move on.... Maybe you can move on, but the horse is being controlled by fear of pain in the mouth. How do you justify that? [/quot why do you consider that a plain chifney will cause pain if correctly fitted? Do you use a bit to ride in? Even if an anti-rear chifney was used the port only comes into play if a horse rears, therefore if it does not rear it will not feel any pressure on the roof of the mouth. You must have had it incorrectly fitted or used it incorrectly, |
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