So everyone uses a lead rope or some such. I prefer cotton lead ropes with a regular snap, though I find the regular 6 ft length to be a bit short at times. I lead horses a bit of a distance out to the pasture and back and into a trailer and to shows but, sadly, a lot to the vet lately. What is your preference in a lead rope in type (nylon, cotton or other) and length and why? If someone was to make a better lead rope, what would it be?
We use cotton with trigger snaps like you. Always 8ā long. I will NOT use a nylon shankā¦I have no fingerprints now from years on the race track where we used leather/chain shanks!! I like the poly braided shanks to leave by a gate (sun/rain) while horses are turned out, but I canāt find a source of those anymore!!
A "betterā shank??? I like the braided, parachute cord onesā¦when I find them.
I like softer cotton ropes, smaller around and longer also.
The softer ropes you have to be more careful tying with them, because they can be chewed on easier and if a horse were to pull, they get more tight and hard to turn loose quickly in a pinch than the stiffer ones.
For hauling and tying, we try to use the stiffer type rope.
Ours have bullsnaps, is what is customary around here.
They are less apt to break than regular snaps.
The 6ā cotton is ok for everyday handling, but I keep a 14ā soft nylon (almost like yacht rope) lead from a rope halter set that I put a heavy brass trigger snap on for regular halters that I like for hand grazing, ground work, etc.
I have despised bull snaps as long as Iāve worked with horses. I donāt like that they need two hands to operate.
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Canāt stand bull snaps. I can work them with one hand, but itās tricky, and I much prefer trigger snaps.
I like the thinner cotton ones, and usually use the shorter ones (6ā)? The longer ones seem to go on forever (way too much to double up in your hand), and I think are just asking for a kick to the face if the horse ends up going out to the end of it.
I like the yacht rope 10 to 12 feet.
It doesnāt get water logged if left on the fence or in the wash rack. I like that length so I can wrap it around a foal, or lead a couple horses at the same time.
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I like cotton with a trigger snap for leading. 6 or 7 feet is good for doing some ground work. I like bull snaps with a nob on them for tying and trailering. You can clip them with one hand with gloves on. They look like this: https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Bull-Buffalo-Lead-Rope/dp/B00PUWPW9W/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1493209537&sr=8-5&keywords=bull+snap
I think Iām the only one that likes a nice 10-12 foot leather lead with a chain or an 8-10 ft soft cotton lead with some substance but no chain. I always wear gloves year round when handling horses, it has saved my hands so many times. Unless Iām handing my pony or a horse that is 1000% on the lead I use a chain. I would rather have it and not need it vs the other way around.
I do like the easy open bull snaps on a cotton lead, but a trigger snap on my chain lead. Yacht rope isnāt heavy enough for my needs but I bet it would be a good option working with foals.
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I like regular cotton leadropes with regular trigger snaps.
My favorite are the super soft yacht type rope with no metal hardware- just the braided in loop- that are 10-12ā long. For something quick and easy, I like the nylon 8ā ropes with the heavy brass trigger snaps. No bull snaps- I hate those stupid things.
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I agree. I also find that theyāre a nice āweightā. It sounds ridiculous but I donāt like ropes that are too light.
I prefer cotton, 12-14 ft., 5/8 or 3/4 inch, with a āone handed snap.ā We have one ābull snapā with a small protrusion that the thumb can easily manipulate. But Iāve only got one and have never seen another. Itās already been used on two DIY lead ropes! 
G.
These are my favorites: http://dennards.net/cowboy-lead-w-brass-plated-bolt-snap-leather-tie-on-end/
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I love an 8ā or so thicker cotton braided leadrope with a trigger snap. Feels good in the hand, great length, easy to snap and unsnap
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Plain black nylon leadrope with a regular snap (I guess itās called a trigger snap? I had no idea.) I donāt 100% trust my horse with tying in unfamiliar situations, so if I need to tie him I use a blocker tie ring. Iād worry the heavier cotton ropes with the thicker part at the end wouldnāt glide through the tie ring smoothly.
10ā is a good length, although right now Iām using a 14ā rope (itās some kind of NH āmagical ropeāā¦it was $7 and I needed an extra rope, I bought it.). The 14ā is excessive.
This is my preference, too. 6ā is a little short, and 10ā is a little long for regular leading around home. Also, I prefer brass hardware to nickel-plated.
YES! None of those damn clamp things like on the cheap, common poly ropes. I picked up a couple of super soft, round-braided cotton ropes at a tack sale years back that were 10ā long and I love them. Iām down to one now, I used one as a dog leash last year and my GSD had an episode of explosive diarrhea all over the back seat that made it not worth trying to clean. I found a replacement at the feed store, braided in clip and itās nice and long but itās not cotton like my old one, itās that poly stuff most are made of these days. I donāt mind a bull snap, but I can work them with one hand. And I really dislike ropes with an integrated chain.
8 foot nylon or poly round lead rope w/ a regular ātriggerā snap. Bull snaps are too hard to operate and cotton ropes soak up water, fray and generally just donāt last long enough.
