Rev. 03-28-13

KBR Horse Training Information

Exercising Body AND Mind

Training Case Study
with
"Magnificent Max"

  STRESS FREE HALTERING
with the SLIDING NECK LOOP

Important Note!

Some of these sequences were photographed decades ago before we participated in a helmet safety study. The results of the study were impressively conclusive. Since 1998 we always wear approved helmets when training and handling horses.


While using the sliding neck loop we spent some time handling Max' face so he was no longer hand or head shy. We also spent a few minutes teaching him to target objects and touch them with his nose. Now it was time to make a "quick halter" out of the loop.

The first step is to shorten the hand loop by drawing up the running end of the rope.

Taking up slack in the hand loop
With the hand loop shortened, I ask Max to touch it with his nose.

Then I rub the rope all over his muzzle so he is not disturbed by it.

The idea here is to keep the horse relaxed through the process. If he gets nervous and backs away, I can let the hand loop enlarge itself by pulling back on it, restoring the sliding neck loop until we're ready to try again.

The next step is to slip the loop over Max' nose.

I want to move quietly but not sneakily. Similarly I don't want to brush against his nose too hard, nor be out so far that I tickle his whiskers. This is a matter of reading his response to what's going on.

While doing this I can reduce the size of the loop by taking up on the running end with my other hand, located under his jaw.

Now we have a "quick halter."

By taking up slack on the running end of the rope, the nose band settles nicely around Max' nose. As long as I maintain some very light pressure this device will stay in place.

Since the nose band can tighten if the horse pulls, I want to make sure that it is well up on the bridge of the nose and not down by the delicate nostril area before working any horse with the quick halter.

The next section will deal with placing a rope halter on Max while he's wearing the quick halter.


Continue to Putting on a Rope Halter

If you are not familiar with the Sliding Neck Loop, please click here for background information.


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KBR Horse Training Information, © 1997 Lamm's Kickin' Back Ranch and Willis & Sharon Lamm. All rights reserved. Duplication of any of this material for commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. This prohibition is not intended to extend to personal non-commercial use, including sharing with others for safety and learning purposes, provided this copyright notice is attached.
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