How To Use Horsemanship Tools

Fortunately, natural horsemanship does not require many expensive tools and equipment: a quality rope halter, a 12 or 14ft line, and a horsemanship stick with an attached string are all that is needed until you progress to much higher levels.

These items are essential for communicating with your horses. Using thick webbing halters and short lead lines can complicate communication and make the process more difficult. Instead, choose tools that help you connect and communicate effectively with your horses.

Once you start to use these new pieces of equipment, you will probably be a bit clumsy with them at first, like we all are, so getting used to handling them will be your next lesson, and it's best if you do this without your horse to begin with. It might feel a little foolish, but it's worth it as you don't want to be poking his eye out or getting tangled in ropes, etc.

HORSEMANSHIP STICK & STRING

This is sometimes called a Carrot Stick or Training Wand. This item is not to be confused with or used as a whip. It has been designed to be much stiffer than a whip and acts as a pure extension of your arm to allow you to guide your horse from further afield, so as not to put you at risk by allowing you to be able to interact with your horse from a safe distance and be as long as he is with its use.

Try to practice with your stick and string using both hands. Pass the Horsemanship stick from one hand to the other to get a "feel" for it, and keep doing this until it feels so natural. Now use it to flick the leather popper end of the string onto a mark or object somewhere near the end of your reach—try to hit the exact spot at least 10 times using both hands. Wrap the string gently around a helper if possible and ask them to rate the "feel" out of 10. 1 is being whipped by you and being scared of it (lol—I hope not), and 10 would be that it felt soft, gentle, and your body language was non-threatening or too direct—see belly button info in lesson 1A—try to have your stick in "neutral" when you're not using it rather than having it high up, which can be perceived as threatening at first to your horse. Also, using it in a rhythmic way helps to calm your horse, so try practising this too.

Natural Rider Rope Halter- available in all sizes and a wide choice of colours

QUALITY ROPE HALTER

First and foremost, I strongly advise against using cheap nylon halters. These harsh and rigid materials can dig into your horse’s skin, strip away his precious hair, and even cause painful rope burns. Instead, consider investing in a true Natural Horsemanship rope halter. Crafted from a specially designed horse braid—a luxurious, soft yachting rope made for equestrian use—these halters strike the perfect balance between strength and comfort.

While they might need a bit more of an initial investment, quality rope halters really outlast the cheaper ones by decades and make for a much nicer experience for your horse. Plus, they’re not just gentle; they’re also super effective! The carefully crafted knotting system communicates clearly with your horse, applying gentle, intentional pressure that helps discourage leaning. This promotes softness in your horse and encourages better communication between you both.

Once your horse has learned not to lean into the halter, you’ll discover that this is the gentlest and most comfortable choice out there, providing a soft and light touch against their face. Opting for a high-quality rope halter not only makes your horse feel more comfortable but also strengthens the connection between you as you practice the beautiful art of horsemanship with both grace and respect.

Before you put the halter on your horse, show it to them first and let them sniff it. This helps your horse feel more comfortable. Be open and honest about what you are doing. Also, avoid flicking the headstall part of the halter over their neck, as this can scare horses and create problems for both of you. Instead, place the halter around your horse's neck and ask them to lower their head so they can put their nose into the halter for you. Then, tie it as shown in the diagram below.

How To Correctly Tie A Horse Rope Halter

Horsemanship Lead Rope- made by Natural Horse NZ- available in wide selection of colours and two separate widths

12FT LEAD ROPE

We often see people using shorter ropes on their horses, which can lead to problems and make the horse feel claustrophobic. It’s better to give your horse more room by not trying to hold too close to their face and leading without about a 1-meter distance, which helps them to feel more comfortable. This distance is also safer for you; if something startles the horse, you’re less likely to get trampled.

This is another reason why we prefer to use a 12-foot (3.6m) lead rope for our horses, and we use 14-foot (4.2m) ropes for our bigger draft breeds. This ensures that the horse has plenty of room to move, making them feel less confined.

The thickness of the rope is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer lighter lines that are easier to handle, so we offer a medium weight of 10mm thickness as well as a heavier 14mm option for those who prefer a more traditional natural horsemanship size.

We offer 2 different rope widths for our leads and reins to accommodate personal preferences

Snap Choices on Natural Rider Lead Ropes

LEAD SNAPS

Again, choosing a lead snap is based on personal preference. We offer three options with all of our Natural Rider Leads: a fixed snap, a removable snap, or a looped end, so you can select what works best for you.

Showing Max Modelling Our Mediumweight Leads

USING YOUR LEAD

We encourage all horse owners to desensitise their horses to ropes to build trust and help them get used to having ropes around them, on their bodies, and around their legs. It’s important to first let the horse sniff and even mouth the rope (with supervision) to get familiar with it.

Gradually, you can progress to draping the rope over their body, legs, back, and head without causing them stress. The goal is for them to feel that the rope is just their lead and not something to be afraid of.

On a safety note, it’s crucial to consider that ropes can become entangled with horses daily, and serious injuries can occur if not used mindfully. Therefore, when using a rope halter, we recommend never leaving a horse in a halter unsupervised and to always use a breakaway tie device. This will snap in the event the horse gets caught on something, reducing the risk of injury.

Rope Halter Safety Breakaway-To Reduce The Risk Of Injury

We suggest using one of our Natural Rider Safe Tie devices when tying horses. These teach the horse that they are not trapped, positively impacting their mindset and reducing the risk of injury from a pullback.

Natural Rider Safe Tie Device-Reduce Injury Risks When Tying-3 Tie Options

We also ask owners to avoid making loops with the lead rope or reins. This is to prevent your hands from getting trapped. Instead, fold your rope in your hand so that if the horse pulls or it gets caught, it will simply unfold without injuring you in the process.

We hope this will help you to get the best from your tools.

Natural Horse NZ