Another Brick In the Wall: Trainers Eschewing Rope Halters
01. Dec, 2009 
15 Comments
My friend Eileen, who owns James and Madison, né Windsong’s Justa Handful and Justa Royal Sojourner (respectively) by my stallion Windsong’s Justa Firestorm, sent me an article that speaks volumes to the growing trend of close examination of the natural horsemanship trend. Every trend, even those so ingrained that certain features become permanent features of their general landscape, has its heyday and passes over eventually. I have been a rather careful critic of much of natural horsemanship as it is practiced by the average horse person, and I have to confess to being thrilled that Eleanor Van Natta, author of the blog, Sage by Nature, wrote a Nov. 25 article in horsecity.com entitled, A Face-Off With Rope Halters: They’re Knot So Natural After All . The cute title gives an indication of one of her objections to the ubiquitous natural horsemanship-type rope halter.
typical rope halter
Rope halters are very lightweight, which is nice, but the knots that are positioned in various places and number are very harsh and severe on the sensitive face of the horse. Rope halters can certainly demand a horse’s immediate attention, but is communication through pain really what we are after? When was screaming more effective than whispering?
She goes on to wonder how many amateur horse owners and trainers who enjoy the rapid results they get with the rope halter can get the same results without it. She also wonders whether they are aware of the potential fact that the “release” or reaction of the horse is due to pain or anticipation of pain rather than obedience and responsiveness.
Just about every user of the rope halter is a victim of flashy marketing or the persuasion of someone who should know better. I know I was. Virtually every trainer and riding teacher I ever had used them–except Wizard Liz, who, in her typical Yankee fashion, “could see no real use for those silly things.” Unless used by exceedingly capable hands (think John Lyons), the potential for causing harm and teaching our horses that the halter is a control device rather than a communication device is too great.
She says,
I kept finding as I scanned and Googled the internet … that the rope halter was an effective means of communication (except for a few horror stories in forums of horses tied up in rope halters or the halters left on them for extended periods of time). But are you simply communicating that you can inflict pain and discomfort on this animal with minimal effort? I had been convinced by natural horsemanship books and videos before buying my halter that the horse is teaching himself with these halters because of the release from pressure. The word pain was never actually used the words used were “discomfort” and “pressure”. A horse is so sensitive as to be able to feel the landing of a fly that weighs less than the weight of a few average sized raindrops. I have made many mistakes with my horse over the years, but perhaps not respecting the lightness of a fly has been one of the biggest mistakes of all. I am a big believer now that there is something inherently wrong with putting something on that sensitive face that can inflict pain for the sake of control and all the while calling it “natural”.
In addition to the dangers caused by ineffective use of the halter in training and the design of the halter itself, there is the plethora of inexpensive knockoff rope halters with poor workmanship and incorrect proportions. Together with inexpert handling, a cheap halter from the local tractor shop might as well be an instrument of torture. Yet the untrained student of natural horsemanship is thrilled with the immediate results. The horse moves backward off the cue from the leadrope and halter lickety-split.
There are some really good rope halters out there along with the bad. The ones I used are made by The Halter Lady, who uses the finest materials, and only makes custom-fitted halters. If you want a halter with no knots on the noseband, that’s what you get. She also makes sidepull halters. I used to love hacking in a sidepull.
Another objection to training with a rope halter is that it makes it awfully easy to pull a horse off balance with just a small correction. The lead rope attaches either permanently or with a snap to a spot just under the jaw. Causing the horse’s head to tilt in this way is definitely not natural. You won’t see a young horse do this in the pasture. Proponents of the rope halter will tell you that it’s pressure on the poll that makes the thing work. But it’s really a tug under the chin. Watch it happen–the head tilts to one side first. Then the poll gives. Folks who start young horses exclusively in the rope halter and lead often have trouble teaching their horses to get and stay in balance for this very reason.
I am glad folks are starting to see that, along with the good things it has brought to the world of training horses and riding them, natural horsemanship has some faults. We need to examine everything we do very carefully.
Later this week, I will describe the Tellington TTouch concept of haltering and leading, and how I finally came to accept and embrace it in lieu of the rope halter. It wasn’t an easy conversion for me, either. Eleanor, I share your pain.
website
Is it the tool or the handler?
Any tool can have harsh results in harsh hands.
Likewise, lightness from the so-called harshest of tools flows from light hands.
Gin
I have no objection to the tool WITHOUT those knots on the nose. I’ve had them made nicely by the halterlady.com so that there is no danger of pressure points being irritated by accidental misuse or too much pressure. But those ones by Clinton Anderson with FOUR knots for added pressure are just inhumane. That’s not lightness. Don’t you agree?
Hi Kim, I have only seen the Clinton Anderson ones in pictures, but I do agree – that seems unnecessary! I make my own – the same as the halterlady, and they are cheap, light and handy, quite comfortable for my horses… for my use. I thought about this today – they work for me. I work well with them. I think it’s not the tool, but the handler. Likewise, with spurs, leverage bits, etc. Perhaps for folks assuming rope halters are “natural” and therefore, only gentle, we should remind them that they, like any tool, can be harsh and cruel if used improperly. Know your tools. The best of horsemen can learn to use any tool with lightness. Rather than rely on a tool, rely on a touch. (oh, I like the way that sounds!)
Gin you make several very important points. The media brainwashing that has gone through trainers and into horse people has “taught” that rope halters are somehow natural. No halter is natural. And gentle is as gentle does.
You have come up with a catch phrase that certainly could be used to teach. Ever thought about a change in career? Marketing or advertising?
On your previosu article about the rope halters, I posted my comment of not being a fan… these are too destructive in the wrong hands and there are way too many wrong hands.
Can you imagine a horse pulling back in one of these things while tied to a trailer? Can we say… garrot?
Horse,
I had that happen. Another horse whose forgiveness I must ask daily.
Well, I was with someone who tied their horse up with a regular halter and leadrope and then they left to get us lunch; while gone the horse ended up (somehow) tying itself around it’s throat and would have choked to death except for me and my student who sawed it off.
Horses will always find a way! Don’t beat yourself up about it – horses don’t hold grudges and forgive quite easily.
HI
Every tool can become a torture device. It is perfectly possible to bloody a horses face with a snaffle bit or a rawhide hackamore.
Rope halters, stud chains and other training halters are all shortcuts, in some sense. Traditional training often emphasizes control, rather than creating a willing horse who wants to perform.
Regarding tying, I’ve stopped tying to anything solid, I’ve seen too many bad accidents involving rope halters and nylon halters where the fence broke before the halter or lead rope did.
Still, I like rope halters. I use the parelli style ones, which I think are similar to The Halter Lady ones. Then again, I do not use much pressure or force at all when leading or training, so there’s not that big of an advantage of a rope halter for me. I like their softness, that they are light weight, and how easily they fit under a bridle.
“Folks who start young horses exclusively in the rope halter and lead often have trouble teaching their horses to get and stay in balance for this very reason.”
I’ll argue against this. I think it depends entirely on the trainer and training methods.
Interestingly, there are some schools of western training that scorn the use of a halter, especially for a young or green horse. The horse’s head is very sensitive and some advocate a neck rope for leading, tying or training. The horse can then be very light and soft in the hackamore later on, if he has not learned to pull and push against the halter.
I enjoy doing much of my training at liberty. I find this keeps me honest. We often use halters and ropes to MAKE the horse do things. At liberty, I have to find ways for the horse to want to participate, I have to keep him calm, interested and engaged.
Just some thoughts. In general, I agree completely with you and the article, I think too many rope halters are used with excessive pressure and are probably unpleasant for the horse.
Mary
http://stalecheerios.com/blog
Mary
As usual, you get me to thinking, and remembering how careful I have to be with my words:
“Folks who start young horses exclusively in the rope halter and lead often have trouble teaching their horses to get and stay in balance for this very reason.” Notice I said, “Often.”
Re:”It is perfectly possible to bloody a horses face with a snaffle bit or a rawhide hackamore.” I’ve seen both. The one and only marketed gizmo I like from Clinton Anderson is a tie up ring that allows a horse to pull back safely. It’s a crutch, and a learning tool, and a safe thing to have.
“There are some schools of western training that scorn the use of a halter, especially for a young or green horse.” It’s interesting how easy it is for a horse to learn to push or pull against anything used early on to “control” him. Your use of liberty work would be the ideal. But most riders are not so gifted or experienced. If you are a novice, you have limited options in groundwork, and limited skill in applying those options. Therein lies the danger. Believe me, I’ve been there.
Thank you for the lovely post. I found it shortly after reading yet another letter, quite harsh, the third from a staunch rope halter supporter (who also happens to sell them…), so it was refreshing and dare I say, heartwarming. I am being accused of being too nice and nurturing, having no horse experience, and promoting a dangerous idea. But I like my ways just fine, and so does my horse (and she matters way more than the letter writers). And she even respects me.
Eleanor
Sorry you got a nasty letter. I find that the most vehement defenders of a cause are the ones with the most to lose. You have nothing to fear but the potential for pain in other horses, and your weapon of choice is education. Therefore not need to be vehement and strident.
I’m so glad to hear from you and your happy horses here. I’m looking forward to a long bloggy friendship.
Hi Kimberley
The use of rope halters, I agree, is a topic very worthy of close scrutiny.
Frequently therapists find problems in the poll, and in particular horses that pull back, but it is equally likely that rope halters are not helpful in this department.
There seems to be confusion over issues around poll pressure in general. Ray Hunt, preponent of (generally) a gentle method of horse training, still made the mistake of tieing horses up before they adequately taught to come forward from poll pressure. Ray then used a plastic bagged on a stick, and the horse pulled back, before eventually standing. “Some die”, he said and that “you must tie high” (to minimise damage on the poll and spine, supposedly. So I guess we can all make mistakes.
I find that once horses are taught to come forward from pressure in hand, they can then be transitioned to tieing up. There is a great tie-ring promoted by Clinton Anderson http://www.downunderhorsemanship.com/products2.cfm/ID/665/name/Aussie-Tie-Ring-2-w–Mag-Lok—Stainless which allows the rope to slip if the horse applies excessive pressure – very humane, and useful for young ones and also if tieing up to feed (in case horse brings head up under rope.
Given the many nerves all over the horse’s head and nose, it is worth reconsidering the use of rope halters, and to consider one’s gear. Often (but not always!), we find that the ‘old masters’ did things for good reason. Therefore perhaps the lunge cavesson may be more humane than a rope halter in many instances in training.
Obviously, a horse shouldn’t be left unsupervised in a rope halter, and he should never be turned loose in or transported in one.
Keep up the good work!
Hey there HA,
I recently started to wonder about Ray Hunt’s advocacy of the high tie. Seems insane.
I adore that Clinton Anderson product (said so in a recent response someplace) but can’t find it. I think that rather than use an overpriced product, we can show the horses what we want in a different way easily, though.
I know that I could have used that tie ring with my mare Maira when she twice pulled back out of cross ties and ran off out of fear of a little boy zipping through the barn on a tricycle. That was the foundation fear that started the BAD DAY when I had my worst riding accident. I haven’t ridden since because of injuries. Clinton Anderson, my number one model of aggression and dominance in horsemanship, would have actually saved the day!
I agree with you, and thank you for writing the article, that the use of rope halters should be reconsidered, especially in the hands of novices.
Great post. Somehow I missed this one. I am out of the “natural” horsemanship loop enough that I didn’t realize rope halters were part of that whole idea.
The cowboys and cowgirls I know who use them consider them severe, and not to be used on youngsters ever.
I bought one for two reasons: a cowboy was watching me work with a horse that was a tank and a bully, used to intimidating people and getting his way. I was teaching him to ground tie (give his mind something to do while enforcing manners.) The mafia boss was doing moderately well.
Cowboy said “why aren’t you using a chain?” I said “It would only make him harder to handle. He’s a challenger. No chain is going to intimidate this guy. Boring him to death would work quicker.” (I meant this seriously.) Cowboy said “The girl’s got it going on.”
He reached into his truck (farrier) and tossed me a rope halter. “I’ll show you how to fit it. You gotta be extra careful with it, but he’s one smart dude. You’ll only need it for 10 minutes tops.
And he was right. I never pulled on it, yanked on it, or did anything aggressive. Mafia Boss moved a hoof, I tapped the hoof lightly with a dressage whip until he picked it up, and made a suggestion of a backing up movement with the lead. The halter used in this way gave a finer tuned feed back than a flat halter.
I am positive I did not hurt the Mafia Boss. And I am positive that halter could have done real damage and been incredibly cruel if used in the way you use a regular halter, or without being correctly fitted (this one had adjustable noseband so you could move the knots)
We talked for a while after that. He said he would never start out teaching a horse to ground tie in a rope halter, but with some horses, there can be a moment where switching out can help them “get” exactly what you mean.
I asked why he had one. He said “I had to take it off a guy who was killing his horse and didn’t have a clue.” Keep it in the truck for emergencies. Sometimes if you have a freaked out injured horse, they don’t feel nothing and something like this can get their attention enough that you can help them.”
I bought one. Never used it again on the Mafia Boss – didn’t need it. I fleece padded the thing and use it as a bodywork halter because it’s so light, and doesn’t weigh down on the poll *unless you pull on it*. Not on every horse. Just the ones unlikely to act out. And if there’s a horse that is injured and out of body, it might be good to have around if time is limited and you just have to get the bleeding stopped NOW. Again: not all freaked out horses would respond positively to it, some would freak out more. You have to know your horse, what you’re using, and why.
I LOVE the tie ring, BTW. Genius. Overall, I’d say thumbs down on the rope halter, though it’s worked well for me in very specific circumstances. There’s just too much misinformation.