Bridle Horse
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010While tacking up, is it safe to put the halter around your horse's neck when putting on the bridle?
I've always slipped the halter around my horse's neck when moving to the bridle, to keep her from wandering away from the hitching post. Recently though, I was told that this is unsafe, as a horse could harm itself if it were spooked or startled. Do you do this when tacking up? If this is incorrect, what's the proper way to do so then? I always thought this was correct.
I do this too. I think it's fine.
Horses are big, strong animals. They should be tied in a quick release knot that will come undone if they pull back anyway. Persides, even if the horse wasn't tied correctly the halter would break before the horse could get close to breaking their neck.
DO tie the horse in a quick release knot though, then you don't need to worry. At my pony club we tie the rope to twine so they can break the twine if they panic.