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THE ADVANTAGES OF A ROPE HALTER
There
are advantages to using a rope halter on your horse, made of thin rope.
The halter is light and comfortable while the horse is behaving, but the
thinness of the rope gives it some bite when the horse pulls back and it
gives more effective control with some horses.
I like
a rope halter much better than a stud chain. It gives some control over
the horse but it is much less likely to harm the horse like a stud chain
can.
The
thin rope may look weak but it is much stronger than your arms and the
horse is less likely to pull because it hurts the horse if he pulls.
It is
an excellent training tool if used properly.
They are relatively inexpensive and
they are popular.
Most of today's rope halters are made of braided synthetic
fibers that do not shrink.
They are easily cleaned, not usually affected by dampness,
not subject to rotting and mildew, and can be obtained in a variety of
colors and sizes.
Rope and nylon halters may be cleaned with soap and water.
They should be thoroughly dried. As with any tack, when not in use they
should be stored in dry areas.
I always like to remind
anybody that is training a horse to lead, in any halter, to always start
out with the least. If you start out with a hard 'tug', you will
always have to use a hard 'tug' to get your horse to respond to you. Start
out very lightly, giving the horse a chance to respond. If the lightest of
'tugs' is not enough, increase it slightly one step at a time until you
have gotten your horse to take that first step. Now, go back to the
lightest 'tug' and repeat until your horse has learned that responding to
the least is the best. ALWAYS leave off on a good note to build
confidence in your horse. |
