Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Tack and Horse Equipment - Get Down Rope": “How would you use a get down rope if you use a bridle and a bit? Should I keep the halter on and have the headstall go over it when I’m riding? Thanks- Sydney”
Sydney, yes you can keep the halter on when your bridle up your horse. You can coil the lead line and tie off to your forward saddle strings,…the ones on either side of your saddle swell,..or you can figure “S” the lead rope and tuck into your belt so if you dismounted, the lead rope feeds out of your belt. Be careful as it would be easy to get the lead line caught up around you and if your horse spooked, you could get dragged.
I use nothing but rope halters. They are a bit easier to put under bridles. I also found a very small diameter halter that I routinely used underneath a bridle, but I reckon someone liked it more than I did and now can't find it. I have also used much thinner rope than a traditional lead line.
You can always un-snap or un-tie the lead rope, then coil it up and tie to your saddle strings on the rear portion of your saddle skirt – I normally do this. While I am in the saddle and have a need to lead my horse on the ground, I can un-tie the lead rope, then dismounted then tie to the halter eye ring to lead with.
I think as I got older I wanted more simplicity and I took to riding my horses in hackamores which give me a place to easily hook a lead rope to. I very seldom ride with a get down rope attached to the hack or a halter as sometimes it gets caught up in the brush I ride through.
Hope this and the video helps you. Safe Journey.
Hey Range Rider, I remember you from a few years ago when you guided me on a Oryx depredation hunt in Southern New Mexico. I remember you telling me my .308 was marginal for Oryx and you were right. My wife was the lady who sent you those pictures in the mail of you and me with the Oryx I shot. I like your site, even though I don't own horses anymore, but am thinking of getting a Mule for back country hunting. What type of knife you are carrying? Do you prefer a fixed blade or a folding knife? Why so? Clem in Rio Rancho.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your information. It is very understandable. I have never used split reins, only one rein hooked together. How do you hold and use split reins?
ReplyDeleteI have used a good old Roy hack for years, just much easier to get on in a hurry, especially on a new or tall horse. Can be as severe as a bit, or more. Rope halter underneath [also faster and easier]. My lead is braided onto the halter, so I don't have the options you show, so I drape it on the fork and tuck the long end somewhere safe, usually in the straps of my horn bag. Besides, I need that for working cattle or a lazy horse, like an Aussie whip, I guess. I sure like the belt idea for stormy situations, which I am about to enjoy on my colt. Since I use a camera a bunch, I have found the standard English reins with a buckle in the middle to be perfect. Can hang them on the horn and shoot, and if I get hung in some brush, just unbuckle. You can even cut them and reset the buckle. In thick brush, I get the buckle ready to open in a hurry. As I just heard a Texan describe your country, brush as thick as lawyers in hell.
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