disneyhorse
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I don't use a halter when hitching??? I am getting confused by this thread as it goes on.
Here is what I do when hitching ALONE:
First, put on saddle and crupper. Then breastcollar/traces (traces either tied up or looped across/through backstrap).
Cart is somewhere out in the open, on level ground, where I will hitch (not in an aisle or near a fence where it could get caught on something if horse panics).
Then, halter is put around neck and bridle is put on, lines run through terrets.
Horse is ground driven to where the cart is. Horse is driven up to the ends of the shafts and asked to stand.
On the driver's side of the horse (with lines still in my hand) I pick up the shafts high above rump and run through shaft loop on my side. (Easiest with minis and ponies, you can lean over the horse and fix the other shaft loop...). Drape lines into seat of cart, so they run the whole length of the horse and are never out of reach. Go around front of horse (always next to lines) and fix other side of shaft loop if shaft not through.
If possible, for safety, it is BEST to have a header for your horse while hitching, particularly if it's a green/young horse. My horses are first taught to stand still, they should stand absolutely still while hitching. They should know WHOA.
I am not one for hitching a tied horse. It creates a false sense of security and can get yourself into trouble should the horse panic. I always hitch and drive with the assumption that my horse (no matter how broke) is going to panic and flail around... and wonder what precautions I have taken just in case.
That said... If you want to leave a bridle on and tie the horse up (unhitched) without a halter, here is a trick:
Take a small metal ring (about the size of a keyring) and buckle it through the noseband/cavesson. You then have a ring to tie to. This only works with sturdy cavessons, not those tiny little show ones that could break easily. This also works for lunging and leading, without lines on the bridle.
Andrea
Here is what I do when hitching ALONE:
First, put on saddle and crupper. Then breastcollar/traces (traces either tied up or looped across/through backstrap).
Cart is somewhere out in the open, on level ground, where I will hitch (not in an aisle or near a fence where it could get caught on something if horse panics).
Then, halter is put around neck and bridle is put on, lines run through terrets.
Horse is ground driven to where the cart is. Horse is driven up to the ends of the shafts and asked to stand.
On the driver's side of the horse (with lines still in my hand) I pick up the shafts high above rump and run through shaft loop on my side. (Easiest with minis and ponies, you can lean over the horse and fix the other shaft loop...). Drape lines into seat of cart, so they run the whole length of the horse and are never out of reach. Go around front of horse (always next to lines) and fix other side of shaft loop if shaft not through.
If possible, for safety, it is BEST to have a header for your horse while hitching, particularly if it's a green/young horse. My horses are first taught to stand still, they should stand absolutely still while hitching. They should know WHOA.
I am not one for hitching a tied horse. It creates a false sense of security and can get yourself into trouble should the horse panic. I always hitch and drive with the assumption that my horse (no matter how broke) is going to panic and flail around... and wonder what precautions I have taken just in case.
That said... If you want to leave a bridle on and tie the horse up (unhitched) without a halter, here is a trick:
Take a small metal ring (about the size of a keyring) and buckle it through the noseband/cavesson. You then have a ring to tie to. This only works with sturdy cavessons, not those tiny little show ones that could break easily. This also works for lunging and leading, without lines on the bridle.
Andrea