First of all, Welcome to the group.Interesting. See this is the first go with having horses at home prior to this my mum had her QH boarded out so halters had to remain on, some even insisted on it in the barn. So we slightly altered it being the minis are at our home to halters only worn outside during turnout.
Clearly an issue we need to re-evaluate.
First of all, Welcome to the group.Interesting. See this is the first go with having horses at home prior to this my mum had her QH boarded out so halters had to remain on, some even insisted on it in the barn. So we slightly altered it being the minis are at our home to halters only worn outside during turnout.
Clearly an issue we need to re-evaluate.
Before I got into minis and had a place of my own; I boarded 1-3 saddle horses at various barns over the coarse of 13 years; every place required halters OFF when turned out or in stalls. Halters hung outside the stalls. And, I still don't leave halters on anyone; even the couple that can be difficult to catch go without, I just plan for more time to catch them when necessary.
My horses always come running when shake the feed bucket. I make a big deal with new horses that when that bucket rattles, there's going to be feed or treats. Chances of catching a loose horse running free by the halter are remote. mine always come running when they hear that bucket rattle. Then I slip a lead strap over their neck and once I have them put the halter on. The lead strap is "sneaker" and they know they are caught once it's on. I've had horses act stupid when I try to put a halter on, so a lead strap is first with runaways!I'm going to be the odd one out here. I never leave halters on in the barn because that's where mine will lay down and I don't want a foot caught in a halter on on a bucket etc. However, I have an ideal pasture set up where there is no place that they can't be seen and, at least right now, nothing that they can get caught on (fence posts too high). I also have a situation where I don't have a big herd to watch. My horses are trained that they never get out of the stall without a halter so they are anxious to put it on. I seen too many in my lifetime loose because a fence gave way (big horses) or a gate left open etc. and unable to catch them because they're scared - that's when the accidents happened!
That's what I was thinking too. In my experience if I can't get close enough to a horse to put a halter on him, then chances are I am not going to get close enough to grab the halter on an already haltered horse. An oat bucket does work great for catching loose horses. Even if several horses get out together & some are hard to catch--there are always some that I can catch, and others that can be caught with oats. Any remaining loose in spite of the oat bucket can be herded into an area where they can be cornered/caught even thought they aren't wearing halters. If a horse gets out and gets spooked and runs--no one is going to get close enough to get hold of his halter.Chances of catching a loose horse running free by the halter are remote.
This goes back to training, I guess, because my horses can act like idiots without a halter even in the stall. My gelding and mare want to play a game of keep away. I've actually ended up on the floor trying to get an arm around my old gelding in the stall (I had mane he pulled me right off my feet). So I don't enter the stall - they have to come to the gate and slip the halter on to get out. The minute the halter goes on they know they need to listen. I can't really explain why this is except that I know my QH was this way also which leads me to think it must be something in my attitude that trains them this way.Chances of catching a loose horse running free by the halter are remote.
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