It is best to always use a nylon or leather lead rope.
If you’re using a cotton lead rope, and the horse pulls away from you, you will lose the first layer of skin on your hand. It’s a quick way to erase your fingerprints.

The lead ropes pictured above are ideal.
When you buy a new lead rope, there usually won’t be a knot at the end of it. Tie a knot at the very end of the rope. This way, if the horse pulls away from you, you will have that knot on the end to stop the rope from completely slipping out of your hands.

Whatever you do, don’t use those rubber doughnuts at the end of a longe line or lead rope.
Doughnuts are trouble. It’s a rubber circle on the end of the line that is shaped like a doughnut. They are dangerous even with the most well behaved horses. One black eye and I’m sworn off of them forever.

If your horse is just learning how to lead, or maybe just needs a refresher, you should use a nylon or leather lead with a chain. This chain on the lead rope is sometimes referred to as a stud chain or lead shank. I always keep both on hand.

When you are first learning to use a lead shank, be very careful.
Do NOT yank on the horse when using a chain, pull down to apply pressure. I saw a horse that had his nose broken from a woman who wanted “to teach her horse a lesson”. The horse was bad because she didn’t know what she was doing.

Do not be afraid to use a chain, but please use common sense and don’t abuse your horse with it.

How to use a lead rope with a chain:

1. When using a lead rope with a chain, thread the chain through the lower side ring of the halter on the left side. Pull the chain all the way through so that you have a lot of slack chain to work with. Do not let it be tight! This irritates or hurts the horse if you are not careful.
2. Next, you can either go up over the horses nose, or behind the horses chin (but in front of the cheeks). I usually switch it up to keep the horse sensitive to this. Some horses hate it on one side and not the other, be sensitive to that. If your horse tends to rear, definitely go over the nose.
   *A general rule of thumb:
   The chain over the horse’s nose pulls the head down; the chain behind the chin will make your horse lift his head.
3. Then, threading from the inside of the lower side ring on the halter to the to the outside pull the chain through as far as it goes. Again, be careful!
4. Last, using the snap, snap the chain onto the top o-ring on the halter. Make sure the snaps closing side is facing the outside and not rubbing on your horses face.

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Be sure there is no tension on that chain. You will use tension when you need it, but none when you don’t.  Experiment to find which is the best lead rope for your particular horse. One day one type of lead rope may be the best, and the next day it is the other.   If you are able to lead your horse quietly and he doesn’t pull on you in any way, the nylon lead rope is the one for you.  Keep both kinds of lead ropes on hand and be prepared because that’s horses!

Tags: lead ropes

5 Comments to Lead Ropes

HHR Urgent
January 19, 2006

hello can you please help us we resently had a horse get kicked right squre in the nose it broke her nose and caused some somewhat alot of bleeding we hade a vet come out to see her and he gave us some medicashion to give her can you think of any other things we can do to help her?

Deanna
January 19, 2006

I so sorry to hear that. It’s so unfortunate.

I am not a vet, but what I can suggest is that you keep your horse away from other horses until she is completely healed.

If it were my horse, I would keep her confined to a stall and hand walk her as often as possible.

Being confined to a stall her legs may swell, so be sure she is hand walked.

Again, if it were my horse, I would put some nice Timothy hay in the stall for her to graze on if it’s not too painful. This will keep her from getting too bored and hay won’t cause founder.

I would think for her to try and eat grass would be very uncomfortable if not impossible.

I would also watch the swelling, and I’m guessing the medication is an pain reliever and/or anti inflamitory, which will help a lot. Did the vet say anything about ice? A light flow of water from the hose for 20 minutes on the swelling could provide relief, if she doesn’t tolerate it, don’t push it.

If you see any changes, don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian immeadiately!

Again, I am not a vet, but watch your horses expression and reactions and report any changes in her behavior to your vet.

I hope this helps, and if anyone else reading this has had a similar experience, please feel free to offer suggestions.

hrr, keep me posted on her progress. I’m sure she will be good as new after this difficult time.

HHR
January 19, 2006

she seems to be doing ok today the inflashion went down so she seems better we have her in her stall and we walk her every morning thanks for your help

HHR

Deanna
January 27, 2006

You’re welcome.

I’m glad she is doing OK, it’s been over a week now, so things should getting better, right?

Anonymous
November 1, 2007

We have a horse and I wanted to know what is the best way to get the lead rope on the horse and get him to walk with me in the field? Also what type of lead rope should i use? I know about grooming,feedind,shelter, and all that but now i’m trying to learn how to walk my horse for the first time. If you have any answers or suggestions please email me at buddahbear05@yahoo.com

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