Why can't you ride your horse in just a halter?

laura jeanne

laura jeanne

Active Member
Jan 7, 2004
3,759
3
38
USA
Visit site
My little horse is so laid back and so far we just ride in the arena. He is in a hackamore so there is no bit but a chain under his chin.

I don't see the point of a bit or a chain if the horse is responsive to proper riding with your seat and legs and the weight of the reins. Of course I really don't know anything about bits and how they work but I'm just wondering why they need all that stuff especially when you are only riding in a contained area.

I hope to take him out on a ride on the paths around the property today- yes, we'll be in the hackamore.
 
Hi laura jeanne,

I dont think you need all that stuff. I ride and jump my horse in just a halter. We can go trail riding along maind roads with just a halter and bareback. You just need to be confident that your horse will respond when you ask him to do something.

Give it a go and let us know how you get on.
 
Thank you! I just realized tho, that my horse has a rope halter and I don't know how the reins would attach. I think the lead rope attaches o(or is part of) at the bottom of the halter under the chin. I will look at it today and see.

I'm glad to hear that you can do this - it seems reasonable to me.
 
My old share horse used to go out on hacks in his parelli rope halter, his owner used to tie the long line to itself and use that as "reins". Loads of fun :D
 
I wouldnt hack out in just a halter though, maybe in the arena or if he is ridden up to his field etc.
 
I ride one of my horses out in a leather sidepull, the equivalent to leather headcollar and she is perfect. We do hacking, schooling, jumping and have done an endurance ride.
If im feeling lazy I ride all of my lot in a headcollar, I have clip on reins so just clip then to the side rings.
I do the same with a rope halter aswell.
 
A regular leather or web halter doesn't sit as securely as a hackamore etc. It has a tendency to slide around the face, which can actually be more uncomfortable--and confusing--than the chain under the chin for the same type of rein use. You can replace the chain with a chin strap (about $4 or so from Weaver Leather) which can make the jaw effects a little softer on the horse.

There are some good sidepulls out there that are almost like riding in a halter, only they are secure on the face. There are also harsh ones, so don't just assume that because something is called a "sidepull" it's not severe.
 
I can ride fatty in just a headcollar or rope halter but it's not as exact as a proper bitless or a bridle with bit and I am quite a lot less likely to get my own way when she develops opinions and isn't about to listen to seat aids.
 
Without wanting to rain on your parade, would insurance cover you for hacking out in just a headcollar/halter if there was an accident?

I personally wouldn't hack out any of ours in anything but proper tack, but have been known to mess about in fields bareback with headcollars with the best of them :D
 
Galadriel - how tight should the chinstrap/chain be adjusted on a hackamore? I always assumed it would be similar to a curb bit, i.e. it won't apply any pressure until the shanks are about 45 degrees rotated, until then it just helps stabilise the "bit".

Otherwise I think it's a trust thing - the horse may be trained to respond, but whether the horse does or not depends on how much he trusts you at any given time. For a well trained horse in a familiar, contained environment I don't think there's a problem at all with riding off a headcollar (and it can be very useful for teaching the rider how little the reins actually do ;)), or riding with no reins at all! Whether I'd take them out and about like that is another question entirely :p
 
Tangle said:
Galadriel - how tight should the chinstrap/chain be adjusted on a hackamore? I always assumed it would be similar to a curb bit, i.e. it won't apply any pressure until the shanks are about 45 degrees rotated, until then it just helps stabilise the "bit".
Click to expand...

Sure. It shouldn't apply any pressure when there's no tension. But the curb strap still keeps the headgear more stable than a simple halter does.
 
There is no reason really to have a bit, it's just one of those things you need to get to real haute ecole as there is so much more finesse in communication with a bit. But since 99% of riders do not have the finesse in their hands there is no point!

Folk are coming round to the thought that a bit isn't the safety thing it is.
 
all my horses can/are ridden in halters both in and out of the ring. They didn't all come to be like that but they are now.

I use a bit for 1)refinement
and because all my 4H shows require bits.
and i never ride in anything but a snaffle, whichever type my horse pefers. when i need a bit.
 
You can ride your horse in a halter if you really want too...

I ride the ponies up to the field in their headcollars, and have done a few times in the school, but I wouldn't want to do much more than that really, I wouldn't trust them not to misbehave. But that's my personal choice.
 
Yes, the rope halter does slide around. I think it is a bit too big. Does a side pull look like a halter except for and extra ring on each side of the mouth? If so, I tried him in one of these but he didn't seem to like it as there was much head shaking going on. I wouldn't use a halter out hacking.
 
You can adjust a rope halter by loosening the knots and pulling the rope through until it's where you want it. You can also tie your own :) to get it just right.

A good sidepull should have more to it than just a couple of rings; here's a nice one that I've seen in person while visiting this store:
http://www.saddleuptack.com/webcat/items/item1003.htm

In the pictures you may or may not be able to see that the bottom of the noseband isn't just a plain band like on a webbing halter.
 
Wow .. just had a look at that side pull .. I like that! When I (Eventaully) get my new horse .. I might invest into one of them for jumping (Can't use them for dressage comps unfortuantley).

Sure .. you can use a halter for anything .. just not competing. I have ridden my old mare in just a halter .. we went out hacking .. was great fun! But she was responsive, and well trained to voice (we grew up together, and know each other like the back of her rump). I have ridden Missy in a halter - was great for stopping (one rein) .. she learnt quickly.
 
I've hacked out on Sugar in just a rope halter and Parelli line and she did fine with it. However, I think that a properly fitted bitless bridle would probably be more comfortable for the horse than just a halter. I used a Dr. Cook's and Sugar loves it. Some horses might prefer a bit, but mine is much more relaxed and responsive without one. I think it's probably just a matter of personal choice--for the horse as well as the rider. :)
 
Im breaking my filly in and although I do ride her in the bridle, I find she is much better in the halter (rope halter). If your horse goes well, why shouldnt you use one??

You might be able to see how I've done the reins in this piccy....

They are just knotted underneath.
 

Attachments

  • riding13.jpg
    riding13.jpg
    42.5 KB · Views: 41
newrider.com
Top Bottom