ANTI TRAINING EQUIPMENT.

by John O'Leary Horseman.

I'll be brief and frank. Use any of these pieces of equipment and you will NOT have an effectively trainig horse and in most cases will be -un-training them.

A letter:

Hi,

I have been reading articles on your site now for some time and find them very informative.
My problem is this:
Around 5 weeks ago I was give a thoroughbred mare, rising 7. She was raised for the track, but was never raced.
I have found her to be very sweet.
I have worked on the ground with her, had her shod, immunised, lunged with and without the lunge rope in the round yard. She backs on command, steadies from trot to a walk on command and halts when I say Whoa. She does all of this very calmly and without objection
I have been on her back in the saddle in the round yard and down the driveway a couple of times. She appears to be confident in me, comes to me when called and is very obliging.
HOWEVER!!
Yesterday, I popped the halter on her and walked her down to the arena, where she has been once before.
She seemed a little uncomfortable and distracted, so I tried to bring her attention back to me, halting, backing etc. After about 4 minutes, she went CRAZY!!
She ran around me, snorted, backed way from me, would not listen and suddenly reared, bucked etc until I could no longer hold her. She then ran off, bucking furiously etc. I had her luckily shut in the arena and the yard surrounding the arena. She charged off to the fence/gate and began running up and down with my other mare (who did not help). I could not get near her, and gave up for my own safety, finally she calmed down after about
15 minutes. I managed to hook the lead rope onto her halter again (I had removed it when the opportunity arose previously) and take her back into her paddock. She was completely saturated and slightly unsettled. When I went close to her paddock she would come straight up to me and sniff me/nuzzle me and appear to calm down.
Would you be able to help with the causes/suggestions as to why she did this?? Should I send her to a breaker - or perhaps you??
Thanks in anticipation.
Mary

 Before I answer this one, can you get back to me and tell me what halter and what lead rope you had on the horse at the time? Ta

Hi,
You asked me to advise which halter I was using...unfortunately, not my rope halter...
I was using my leather halter with a normal 4-foot lead rope. This weekend I will try with my rope halter and long rope.
Do you think it may be that she is on season? I went up to feed her last night and she came up, had a mouthful of meadow hay and walked off, not even a hello! She appeared a little unsettled I am in south Australia, ---------------. Would you recommend I send her off to be re-trained/broken? If so, how would I arrange it with you, or do you know of someone closer?

Many Thanks

Mary

Some major Saddle Chains are diminishing the quality or the design of some training products, showing scant regard for effectiveness over profit.

SaddleWorld Halter 3 months old, purchased as Cob and now doesn't fit Warm Blood horses properly. Dangerous due to sipping into mouth and breaking jaw.

There are many good cottage Industries selling properly designed equipment. I recommend that you use them.

LEAD ROPES

http://www.lodgeropes.has.it/

HOBBLES

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/saddlery_sales.htm

This is a tool of torture and not training equipment. It is anti-training equipment.

For a real one go here:  Quality Australian Leatherwork.

http://www.deadringer.com.au/

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Mail: horseproblems@horseproblems.com.au