Kerole, yes he is. I’ve only had success with the figure eight butt lead when I have help ie somebody leading the mare. I could never make that method work for me alone and bringing them in in the mornings was becoming a nightmare. I made a loop in a very long lead line then when pulled on it won’t tighten. I slide the loop over the mares neck and clip it to the foals halter. I use this to teach them to lead, because the mare is leaps and bounds stronger than either me or the foal so the foals only real choice is to learn to walk forward. They of course do resist but two things happen, the mare will stop for their foal which then calms the foal and they stop pulling and then feel the effect of the lead loosen and they feel more secure walking because they can stay next to mom. You have to find your length but I’ve found that if the lead is long enough to allow the foal to change sides from behind mom that’s a good length for me. I use the same lead though so that works for my ponies that wasn’t long enough for tucker bc Hannah is 16hh and longer than the ponies but that wasn’t a problem for them. I have the foals leading with me holding their lead after the third or forth time doing it this way. All my foals lead and can be caught now. I also use it to teach baths. I tie mom up outside on hot day as the water feels better then and outside isn’t as scary as my wash stall to a foal and hose mom first then start with the foals legs. They of course dance around but always end up next to mom standing for their first bath. And then I use it for the farrier. They learn to stand tied from it as well. The farrier was able to trim my two month old colt this way yesterday who is growing foot like a weed.
It saves the fight with the foal on your arms and back. They can fight you a lot longer and harder than they can fight moms resistance and it really doesn’t take long bc mom is always by their side reassuring them. Tucker was leading by three days old on his own.
This is just how it works best for me, as with anything there’s risks. All my mares put up with the rope around the neck. I’ve also used it to load a mare and foal but you do want somebody behind the foal guiding them on for this, although I have had to do it alone and it worked.
It’s been such a useful tool for me. You could cover the rope in sheepskin on the loop if you wanted to. But ive never had an issue with the mare getting a rub.
Also once we start leading on their own I use the loop to hold onto to lead. It doesn’t slide out of your hand (don’t wrap it around you hand or wrist of course) then I straight lead offers.
And jackyblue I hope I didn’t come off ungrateful or flippant, as I’m blown away by your precise evaluation and detailed post and can’t thank you enough for your time.
