I choose to have minis now at this point in my life as they are loving and docile little horses. I do not have one single horse on the farm that is hard to handle and I hope most all of you don't either....but you should never judge or "never say never" until you find yourself in a situation that you then need to try to outsmart the horse....not necessarily try to hurt it. A stud shank can be used by an "experienced" handler and never cause one bit of pain....just as a diversion of their attention.
Bolding mine. Exactly right.
I have had to deal with two minis that I ended up having to use a stud chain over their noses for. And it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with THEM. It is all well and good to say you would
never do this or that - until you are in a situation that may require that. The one mini stalion I had to deal with many years ago before I moved here was rank and a danger to himself and others - horses as well as humans. He needed a firm, fair correction and he blew off everything except that chain. After a while, he no longer needed it for day to day activities but ALWAYS needed one for breeding. ALWAYS. And you had to watch him like a hawk or he might snake his head around and grab you. Before you ask, no - it was not my decision to breed that one.
If someone cannot handle a miniature horse without the use of a stud chain, something is very wrong and its not with the horse.
Marty - to be fair, generalizations like that are not always true - or fair.
Not all minis are the calm, quiet horses they are advertised to be.... and I think this is where a lot of owners get into trouble. They think minis are all peaceful and mild - and let them turn into spoiled, nasty twits at times. I am happy that you have yet to encounter one like that. They're out there.
I have handled breeding stallions on Thoroughbred and Warmblood farms. One Dutch Warmblood was 17 hands of idiot - his owner thought it was "cute" the way he roared off the trailer and reared and struck out and tried to grab you. I was the lucky one who got assigned to him. He found his manners with quiet, firm and fair handling. Do I like using a chain across the gums for control on such a hot, aggressive horse? No - but I am not going to let that horse be a dangerous, obnoxious jerk, either. Once he had his boundaries set, his personality began to change and he no longer needed anything more than a chain over his nose for breeding. Another Standardbred stallion I worked with was an evil beggar who would happily take your head off. I NEVER handled him without a chain over his nose and a dressage whip in my hand. I never had to use that whip - but he knew I had it. Strangely enough, I was the only person he trusted and liked.
A stud chain used
correctly and fairly in the right hands is just another tool that can be used if needed... like a twitch, a crop, a driving whip etc. Just a quiet reminder.
But all that being said, I have no idea why you would need one to teach a young horse to lead... but as the OP was rather vague, I am not sure what was going on...