I’m starting a baby horse under saddle and so far I’ve done all his work in a rope halter. He’s very respectful and responsive of the halter and I’d like to progress to riding him in it.
However, I can’t figure out how to tie the reins. I’ve looked up some videos and some instructions but some of them are not very clear. I’m looking for a couple step by step diagrams to help me out.
Also, do I have to make a lead rope portion? I don’t think my rope is going to be long enough. Thanks!
I’d get a sidepull. Y’all would both be happier. If you’ve got your heart set on riding in a rope halter, you might try a set of gaming reins clipped on where the cheek pieces meet the nose.
What I’ve done in the past is use reins and adding either rein hobbles or scissor clips to the end of your reins and attach those to the halter where the noseband and side of the rope halter meet.
For at least the first few rides I want the pressure coming from under his nose where he is used to it coming from so I don’t confuse him.
Here’s what I’m looking to learn how to do
https://www.facebook.com/116721012327/photos/a.117105237327.96690.116721012327/117105552327/?type=3&theater
For under chin pull, at least use a bosal that was made to work with mecate reins, not a rope halter. Mecate reins on a rope halter, plus green horse, sounds like trouble waiting to happen. Any rein pull is going to turn his halter all around on his head, so he will be scrunching his eye with the rope in it, shut. His pull feel is not going to be direct, nor even “under his chin”, because of that halter sliding around to stay with the pull from hands.
Sorry, mixing your variety of equipment is asking for problems, since they are not designed to “work that way” if you don’t do each of the DIFFERENT training styles using the whole package correctly. Mecate reins for doubling him around depend on having a stiff bosal, the heel tied up behind his ears with the light rope, so when you give him rein signals, he FEELS it, then feels when you “let go” and bosal drops back into place. You are not giving him good directions in a rope halter that slops all over his head and face with rein pulls, no signals with a clear understanding for him to follow. You will be unable to “double him back around” as is done with the beginner horse in a true hackamore set-up. May not be able to stop horse! Rope halter in the example is like talking with your hand over your mouth, across a room, but you can’t speak louder. CONFUSING to all.
I am hoping for your sake, horse continues to stay quiet and accepting. I suggest you go back and read some of the BASIC “natural” horse trainers, not the off-shoot trainers with their own agenda and “tack”. Dorrance, and those other old guys everyone learned from, then went on the Clinic circuit.
Starting horse can be peaceful and gentle, but you need other tools than a rope halter and that rein setup.
Why not just buy one already made the way you want it?
I’ve had terrific luck with Half Circle Ranch. She’ll make anything you can describe.
These guys are pretty good for that sort of stuff; http://www.buckarooleather.com/hobbles/category/31/headstalls/sidepulls/sidepull-headstalls.html
Lord, I know plenty of people who ride in the exact same set up I’ve described. You couldn’t pull hard because it would swivel but for a horse trained to respect the halter and rope you’re just fine. I’m not pulling, I don’t pull on the ground either. I pick up the rope and the weight of the rope turns his head and his body follows.
I want to learn how to do the knot myself because I already have the rope and I can go from lunging to riding without changing equipment.
Regardless, I found an excellent description, tied my knot, and sat on him for the first time last night.
http://www.halfcircleranch.com/Instructions/hack_tie.jpg
http://www.horsefriendly.com/hackamore2.html
for the record, some of my favorite NH trainers start their horses in the same set up.
Why not just teach him to wear a bit? He’s going to have to at some point, anyway. I thought snaffles were the thing done before bosals. The horse needs be given an understanding of what is happening so he progresses in proper stages.
[QUOTE=Sparrowette;7765754]
Why not just teach him to wear a bit? He’s going to have to at some point, anyway. I thought snaffles were the thing done before bosals. The horse needs be given an understanding of what is happening so he progresses in proper stages.[/QUOTE]
There are no “proper stages” now, with the new ideas in training. Everyone does “their own thing” when starting young horses. Whatever. Those folks are the ones who have to use what they created.
Why do you think there are so many “What do I do now” questions on COTH? Every discipline! People and horses have not done a program that covers all the details, needed steps in training a horse.
I rode this way for quite some time a while back. I just had an 11’ lead rope that had a loop one one end and a popper on the other. I dislike snaps generally, and especially on set ups like this as they can fail.
I attached the looped end of the lead rope like this, but only using one loop of the halter.
The popper end I tied to the other halter loop in a sort of a snell style, like this, but only two turns not the several shown here
all the knots were at the bottom of the chin.
I had no need for a mecate style rein on my rope halter, I usually rode bareback in this set up and disliked having to deal with the extra length. When saddled, I rode with a bosal and mecate set up and dallied the extra length, tucked it in my belt loop, or tied it up military style.
I don’t want him wearing a bit because I believe in starting the horse in a halter or rope halter and teaching him everything in that for the first dozen rides and then moving to a bit when he’s more educated. I’m not doing my own thing I’m following a fairly standard set of horse starting steps. He lunges in the rope halter, he leads and loads in the rope halter, he gives in the rope halter, he ground drives in the rope halter. He’s been climbed up on and over, sat on, and led around. I’m not sure how how that’s not giving him an understanding.
I have ridden in a rope halter with split reins clipped to the bottom portion of the halter, the area right above where you clip the lead. It worked okay. If he can ground drive with the halter then you shouldn’t have any issues.
This is the halter that Half Circle Ranch custom made for me.
My horse pulls like crazy, and the rope halter slides all over his face . This one will not slide!
I’d go with at least another chin strap if you’re going to use a halter. The Half Circle Ranch bridle looks pretty neat. My sidepull has a curb, throat latch and middle cheek type of strap to keep it from moving around.
You can ride a horse anyway that works for you… have ridden a horse with a rope halter in from the field… without any headgear. Heck even Ray Hunt rode first rides with a rope halter. However, he did not use it with reins… only as his initial control. I don’t know what type of rope halter you are using… stiff or soft, heavy noseband…loose fitting or tight. Guess if I had to put reins to a rope halter I would just attach where the lead attaches. Just remember a rope halter is designed and made for leading… and the pressure points to affect control doing that. Remember it has knots on the side which with a loose halter as opposed to a basal could affect how your horse responds.
I have started plenty of colts in a rope halter even though halters aren’t meant to be ridden in.
I have used the halter for the first couple of rides then switch to a hackamore or a snaffle depending on the colt.
Anyhow, I don’t worry about “reins” I use the lead rope as is. I use it as an inside rein and when I want to switch directions I flip it over his head for the other direction. Will also keep you honest in giving direction to the colt rather than panicking and get in a pulling match with him then dulling or teaching him to run through the halter or later the hackamore.
Another option is tying the end of the leadrope back to where it attaches to the halter if you want two reins.
Again if I am using the halter it is just for the first couple of rides then the hackamore or snaffle is introduced.
Exactly aces… in the true method of natural horsemanship… and I bet ur in a roundpen…must have been to one of Buck’s clinics.
[QUOTE=justahorsefellow;7770571]
Exactly aces… in the true method of natural horsemanship… and I bet ur in a roundpen…must have been to one of Buck’s clinics.[/QUOTE]
Actually no
Believe it or not I was taught using a rope halter in that fashion by a big name cow horse trainer I worked for, I have never been to a clinic let alone a Buck B. clinic.
Although I can and do use a roundpen it is great for the first couple of rides(much like riding in a rope halter) but I prefer starting colts in a square pen. I like the corners because a colt can get himself in a bind, sort of speak, in the corners then I can use the situation to my advantage and show him or make the right answer easy to get him out of it.
I truly have no issues with utilizing a rope halter to start a horse in. Have done it. Hop on a horse and rode to barn with a rope halter… heck as I mentioned b4 just jumped on their back and rode in… broke horses that is. Very comfortable if enjoytheride wants to start riding her horse in a rope halter. Like you have done so in the same fashion. Working with a horse is between horse and rider. Like all things the connection is always different…I bet if I could ask Tom Dorrence or Ray Hunt today…" They would tell me if works for you & your horse by all means go for for it". My biggest concern for attaching reins to the rope halter is the change it will cause in the pressure points… those points are there designed for leading… change the angle to pull and you will affect those points. Soft hands and a control area and there won’t be an issue. Wide open area… no control and a potential explosion… but all about the initial starting to begin with… as always. I am blessed with over 100+ years with 3 of us in the household… but were are all looking forward to attending a Buck clinic here the first of Oct (even my wheelchair bound father)…
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