WARNING-THERE ARE GRAPHIC IMAGES USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES IN THIS BLOG!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMwccPT79pc&ab_channel=SuzannaJohnson
Halters are one of the most useful pieces of equipment that a horse owner has. A horse spends much of its life wearing one. But used improperly, a halter can be a dangerous thing.
Horses are often turned loose in their fields still wearing their halters. It happens everyday without any consequences and makes a horse so much easier to catch. Very often a horse owner is unaware of the inherent dangers in this scenario. Most halters sold in local stores are the traditional,nylon kind. These are very strong and take a tremendous and catastrophic amount of pressure to break.
Many owners are not even cognizant of the fact that another kind exists, or why it could be important. Anyone who has had horses for very long knows that if they can get themselves into a predicament, they will! Over its lifetime, a horse will often dream up situations that you never even knew were possible!
So what can you do, since wrapping a horse in bubble wrap is pretty impractical?
You can invest in a breakaway halter. We have put together a short video demonstrating the different types of those available, and it is even possible to make one yourself.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMwccPT79pc&ab_channel=SuzannaJohnson
Here we have included two graphic photos to show how non breakaway halters can ruin your horse.
(this horse lost its life due to a non breakaway halter)
Out of courtesy, we did not post the photo of the horse who broke its neck when its halter became entangled on a tree branch.
We also did not include the photo of the horse whose entire face had been peeled away when it was in a trailer accident wearing a rope halter.
Rope halters were designed as training tools, and WERE NEVER INTENDED FOR THE HORSE TO BE WEARING IF THE HUMAN IS NOT RIGHT THERE WITH THEM. Though trailer accidents do not happen to the average horse owner very often, they are a very real possibility. A horse should always be wearing a breakaway halter when being trailered to give it the best chance of a good outcome should an unfortunate accident occur.
This article helps Heart of Phoenix To grow a community of knowledgeable potential adopters, HORSE People and rational advocates, who are empowered to make great, safe homes for horses in transition looking for their new soft spot to land. As partners of the #RIGHTHORSE, we want to spread the word about partnership, safety, good horse care and equine adoption. Good Equine Care and education are essential to being a good partner and keeping your horse a good co-adventurer! As Right Horse partners, we want to do all we can to keep you educated, so you and your RIGHT horse thrive together!
CYeah I wish you would have warned before the blog!! Poor things.
They did, right under the title. 🤦🏻♀️
Hey, can you help me spot where the first photo originated from?
My sister rescued an amish horse that lives in a field with others. He is impossible to catch if he does not have a halter on. It is a real problem for the vet or farrier. He has gone through many Break Away halters, he gets them off every time. Now what? Is there a treat that he would cautiously take, one that can take the edge off?
you might consider a catching collar. They are kind of like dog collars and do have a breakaway element, and we use them for hard to catchers that get their halters off
Figure out why he’s hard to catch first. Painful equipment when he’s worked? A soreness issue exacerbated by work? Or just a “naughty” habit based on past issues? You can use any horse he’s hooked up with as a Judas goat, or since he’s in pasture , have a scheduled “treat time” where you come out for a few awhile until he comes to you. Don’t try and catch him until he initiates hanging out with you for a few times. Then slip a rope over his neck and lead him around a bit. After he’s comfortable with that , start puting the halter on, lead him around, take it off. This can take a bit of time, but I always tell my students that the most useful tool a trainer has is PATIENCE.
This sounds like a horse that you need to reestablish trust with and make things safe and comfortable for him before you do anythong else.
If you can get a breakaway collar on him, great! But if you’re close enough to grab a halter or collar, you’re close enough to quietly slip a rope on him.
Good luck!