How To Stop A Horse From Halter Pulling

 

From: Charlie Hicks

http://www.HorseTrainingResources.com

 

While many horses will stand tied under ordinary circumstances, let something unusual happen, and they will try to break loose. If the strap does not break, the colt will try hard to get away from the pain in the mouth and at the top of his head. If the strap breaks, he has laid the foundation for a “Halter Puller” and will break a strap every chance he gets.

 

“Halter pulling is a disagreeable habit and one that is easily acquired. This habit, like most others, is caused by improper colt training”, claims expert in horsemanship, Professor Jesse Beery.  “The majority of colts are only half trained, and “Jack Straps” are often used. I have seen great big, heavy, three inch wide “‘Jack Straps” used on ponies. The “Jack Strap” or any other device of this kind is merely a preventative and not a means of educating your colt not to pull.”

 

According to Professor Beery, “a great many horses that break straps are just as willful in many other ways and so give them a lesson of general subjection first, so they know who is in charge, and then try and cure the halter pulling.”

 

This problem can be further complicated as a horse can have the habit reduced to the particular spot or post where he has pulled before. It is not unusual to find a halter-puller that will stand perfectly still at every place but one, and if he is hitched at that one particular place, he will invariably break the strap. This is because he has associated trouble with that particular spot and be must be handled at that particular place if he is to be relied on at all times.

 

The cure as described by Professor Beery is to “put a heavy halter on the colt, take a half-inch manila rope, twenty feet long, make an ordinary slip noose in the one end, about the horse’s body, just in front of the hind legs, bring the long end of the rope between the horse’s front legs, through the ring in the halter and tie to a strong post. Be sure that the post is solid and will stand the strain.

 

Make a racket or do anything which will force the horse back in the rope. Since it is natural for him to get away from the pain he will spring forward to relieve himself. After two or three pulls the more racket you make, the closer the horse will crowd the post. This appliance, like all others, is to be used only for subjection and not to be left on as a preventive. The subjective treatment must be gone through with and the use of the appliances reduced to the ordinary method of tying before the treatment can be considered a success.

 

For more information about dealing with confirmed halter pullers, how to deal with a horse that has a problem at a particular spot or many other horse training problems visit http://www.HorseTrainingResources.com.