Basic Equine Handling, Restraint and Training
Original Editor - Ansi van der Walt Top Contributors - Jess Bell, Kim Jackson, Tarina van der Stockt and Olajumoke Ogunleye
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Handling[edit | edit source]
Halters are also known as head collars for horses. They are the piece of equine handling equipment a physiotherapist will most frequently require and use. It is advisable to always have a halter on the horse’s head for the safety of the therapist and/or handler.[1]
Types of halter include:[1]
- Standard halter
- Usually made from either leather or webbing
- Loose fitting, no pressure
- Basic means of restraint
- Rope halter
- Exerts slightly more pressure on sensitive areas of the head than a standard halter
- May be used where slightly more control is required
- Pressure halter
- Made from rope
- It has a sliding mechanism that causes the halter to tighten around the head when pressure is exerted by the horse or the handler
- Chain halter
- Usually used for stallions
- This halter enables the handler to exert a strong pressure on the horse's nose when strong control is needed
- Chifney
- A metal mouthpiece that can be attached to a standard halter
- It provides the handler with additional control when needed as it allows the handler to exert pressure on the sensitive bars of the mouth
- Used especially to discourage horses from pulling back and rearing
