[RC] need something more than the Parelli hackamore - sherman
I was going to use one of those halters with rings & knots, someone
on ridecamp suggested that the knots confuse them and
can cause pain/punishment even when you are merely signaling them.So I just ride with the standard rope
halter, although I’ve been getting Sonny accustomed to the bit as well,
because he was a nutcase on his first 50 and ignored the halter for 25 miles. It
was not his rope halter though, but a flat nylon one as he’d whacked his
nose the week before the ride so I had to switch gear…we know not to do
that! His second 50 is coming up
the end of the month, we’ll start out with the bit being used, then if he stays sane, I’ll switch the reins to the
halter.
I think I would try the halter with the knots & rings IF I felt he
needed a bit more control all the time, rather than just switch to a bit all
the time.
I do use an S hack on 2 other horses, and it works well for them, but
they were well trained and had good breaks to begin with. They do still fight (but
not pull hard) to go faster for the first 10 or 15 miles of a ride. I think it’s
time to quit fighting them now that they are conditioned enough to go faster. I
realize that we’ve been wasting lots of energy trying to go too slow.
Kathy
After a friends recommendation I tried a sidepull
from sunset halters http://www.sunsethalters.com/sidepull.html .
It a basic rope halter with extra knots over the nose and metal rings at each
side to attach reins. I am using reins with the leather ties at the end
and absolutely love my horses response to this new
combination. I have used hacks, bits, and everything in between on him,
but so far this is my favorite. He is very responsive, and is lightening
up every ride. Plus the price cannot be beat!!
