Headcollars on the field

[thinkingaboutfostering]

What are people's thoughts on turning out in headcollars? I have recently moved my horses onto a DIY livery and they are now insisting on all horses being turned out in headcollars. Personally I hate the idea but wanted to see what other people thought. The livery have brought in this rule since I moved the horses onto the yard as a result of a couple of break outs. I wouldn't have moved them there if I had known about the rule previously. I have bought some 'field safe' headcollars but am still unhappy with the idea.

I wouldn't like it. None of ours wear headcollars in the field. If there's a problem with horses escaping from their paddocks the yard owners need to sort out the fencing.

Heacollars on in field a big no, no- too dangerous. However, if they are insisting then get a fieldsafe one or but a break point in yourself with baling twine or something similar that will 'give' if horse gets caught up in it.

We never leave head collars on in the field - especially as we have trees in them..

If we had to we'd do them up tight so they are less likely to get caught up..

If there's a problem with horses escaping from their paddocks the yard owners need to sort out the fencing

This. Even if a horse doesn't get caught up, it's still wearing something on its head for hours and hours each day. Big potential for rubbing and sores. I'd question why, even if a horse does get out, they can only catch it with a headcollar on it already. It's all being done for human convenience, not for the welfare of the horses and that in itself would concern me.

Far too dangerous. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

I would only use a headcollar in a field for something tricky to catch, and it would have to be a field-safe one. Or as some else said - make your own by inserting your own "break point" with some baler twine.

An absolute no-no would be one of those nylon jobbies that simply don't break if they get caught. Leather headcollars will always break under pressure (as I know to my cost. Every leather headcollar I own has been broken at least once! But that's why I insist on using them.)