Halter Hazard

[Paintedlady]

I just heard a horrible story! A lady I know her friend has always had her horses haltered in pasture with no issue, but the other day she came out in the morning to discover that one of her horses had sufforcated (sp?) to death because her got his hoof caugt in the halter! She does't know if he was trying to get it off or what, but how devestating!

[JezzaBella]

If a halter is large enough to fit a hoof in it, it's much too big. Horses do some nutty things to themselves out there, my lil bs paint got into this casting phase a year or so ago. Cast himself against stall doors and fences all the time, scared the bejesus outta me but I think he learned his lesson. I'm glad he's small enough for me to pull him over myself.

I don't like leaving halters on them while turned out, but some horses are just too hard to catch.

Not sure how a horse could strangle itself like that tho, if the hoof got inside, it'd be in the bottom part... putting lots of pressure around the poll. I can imagine a horse flipping out like that and breaking stuff tho.

[Paintedlady]

Not sure, but it scared me! I have a little paint who manages to get out of the smallest halter I can safly put on her. I have no idea how, never actually seen her do it. but I imagine she has to use her hooves.

[Gallamist]

If the halter has enough room to get a hoof in then it's not fitted properly. There should not be that much room in the halter.

And really a horse should be turned out with a break away halter on if they need to be haltered in the pasture....I know not everyone does it tho...I have been guilty of turning out with a nylon halter on.

I wouldn't think it could suffercate (sp) but, probaly broke something or had a heart attack from struggling to get loose....

Sorry to hear tho.

[scooter84]

So sorry to hear about the horse. I don't understand why anyone would leave a halter on a horse when they are not being used, halters grow into their noses they can get caught on a fence or other objects. If you have a horse thats hard to halter why not work with the horse or put it in the correl until you have taught it to stand and be haltered properly? Thats just my opinion on it and i do not want to offend anyone. So sorry again to hear about the horse.

[myhillbilly]

A friend of mine back in Manitoba who had a National level champ Arab came to the barn to find him dead. He had his halter caught on a fence post. The vet figured he broke his neck. He had a leather halter on, basically thought it was safe cause leather snaps if hauled on enough..I've lost some good leather halters as a result of pulling. The halter did show signs that it was about to snap off, but too late. Seriously, there are NO reasons to leave halters on..We can all learn from sad stories.

[JezzaBella]

So sorry to hear about the horse. I don't understand why anyone would leave a halter on a horse when they are not being used, halters grow into their noses they can get caught on a fence or other objects. If you have a horse thats hard to halter why not work with the horse or put it in the correl until you have taught it to stand and be haltered properly? Thats just my opinion on it and i do not want to offend anyone. So sorry again to hear about the horse.

My mare does stand to be haltered, in confined spaces like a paddock... In the field not so much... No, it's not growing into her nose either. We have a paddock connected to the field I lure her into if someone forgets and takes her halter off when she's turned out or she looses it. Then she can be caught after a bit of lunging. Without that paddock there I dunno wtf I'd do.

[Paintedlady]

I have a horse that is a "treat" to catch when he isn't haltered. as soon as he's caught he's a doll. But he knows when he isn't haltered and keeps just out of reach. He's a 13y old, very well trained in every other way, this seems to be his vice. But, I change up halters on him so he doesn't have marks, and I have a very open pasture, and barbless wire.
This story has made me think about how to do it differantly. And i guess it was the horses back leg, he was scratching his earand the back hoof slipped into it.

[Breanne]

I have 4 horses and NEVER EVER turn them out with a halter on....especially a nylon halter. If you must turn your horse out with a halter, go spend the 40-50 bucks and get a leather one! With a leather halter they have a great chance of breaking it if caught up. A nylon halter very rarley breaks (hence death)! Actually last week I had my mare and foal out in a smaller pasture and the mare did have a halter on her as I just threw her out and was going to go get her again....literally 5 minutes it was on and she caught it on the fence and broke the halter (leather). I am a firm believer of leather (not so good for halter breaking tho - use nylon for that). I have just seen too many wrecks and do not want it for my horses. Not only can they fight and fight and fight, they too can damage the spine as well due to pulling!

Good luck, don't be scared, use a leather halter if you must halter but treat training works extremely well too! All my horses now come to me full gallop from the back of my 40 acres with a whistle....I sure is exciting to see!!

[Whipple]

I saw a great article in a magazine awhile back. It shows how to turn a nylon halter into a break-a-way. All it takes is a bit of string. And it is very sturdy otherwise. I'll see if I can find it.

[Gallamist]

I seen that one too...was years ago tho in a Horse and Rider magazine...

[Whipple]

That sounds about right, it was probably something I spotted in a library copy, and I do love H&R

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