[fergiaj]

Lol, my pony just decided to do this earlier too! It was right after his bath and we were walking back to his stall when he started being really disrespectul by not stopping when I was stopped, and then when I asked him to back up he reared. Thankfully we were able to get the 100 ft to the roundpen and I made him WORK before he was allowed to stop. He was doing the same thing, trying to bolt every 10 steps, rearing and everything.

The only problem was I only had my 8ft leadrope so it was hard for me to keep him moving. My only advice is to try your hardest to get to a roundpen, it is an excellent area for you to establish what they are doing=bad, and now they get to work b/c of that. Sorry I can't offer better advice other than sympathy and stuff you already know : (!

[StarfireArizona]

Originally Posted by jhalton

what is the big deal about rope halters, may I ask?

I have always used the, um, other sort. I know there is something to do with "natural horsemanship" but seriously what difference does it make?

Rope halters are much more "convincing" to behave If they resist & pull on you it hurts ! The halter bites into the skin & holds their attention until they stop pulling..... I don't mean actually "bite" now....I just mean they really feel the thin rope pressing hard against the skin & it smarts. The knots on the face are also pressure points & help them learn to stop resisting & that's when they get the "release" of no more pressure.

The nylon halters come in many pretty colors, but don't help much with gaining respect.

[Argonaut]

I don't have a halter but wrap the lead rope around my ponies nose if she's being bolshy as that has the same principle.

[OA Minis]

I agree with tb trainer. A chain works really well. I have a huge appendix QH mare who gets very frisky when it's windy or cold. I know she is going to be full of energy those days so I put a chain on her. I don't use it unless she tries something. If she tries to move forward past me, she runs into the chain, so she does it to herself. I can usually take the chain off after a few minutes. Use gloves to avoid rope burns. A human can't win an arguement with a 1200 lb horse without a little help.

[firegurl979]

thanks for the advice guys. =D

[SKB]

Originally Posted by jhalton

what is the big deal about rope halters, may I ask?

I have always used the, um, other sort. I know there is something to do with "natural horsemanship" but seriously what difference does it make?

My pushy filly will push way more with the other kind of halter... She listens to the rope halter much better (although she is inbetween sizes so it's a bit big for her) As Starfire said... it's all about the pressure points, etc.