chifney- good or bad gadget?

Trio

Trio

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Jan 5, 2007
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The New Forest
Having a few issues with Archie - he gets very excited when he comes out of his stable in the morning and apparently is hard to control and starts going up- mini rears.
Now, i can't be there in the morning when he's getting turned out in the week and i don't want someone getting hurt by him when he gets a bit manic.

He's fine on the weekends when i turn him out but he knows me well now and i have had issues with this in the past - rearing and boxing at me. I thought i'd sorted this problem but obviously have only managed to sort it as far as the way he is with me.

So the point to this is. what about using a chifney to turn him out in so that the girls have more control if he starts playing up. Having not used one before not really sure on the merits of them- do they make things better or worse ? It really would be a short term fix until i can sort out this problem properly - just dont want anyone getting injured really.
 
I would just try turning out in a normal snaffle bridle first to see if that gives them any extra control. chifney's can work well if used correctly but are very strong bits. I used one on my friends mare for a while as she becoming dangerous to bring in from the field and it worked well and she respected the bit. If a chifney is used make sure the lead rope is always attached to the chifney ring and the headcollar, never clip the rope straight onto the chifney.
 
A chifney might end up injuring your horse, there are plenty of safer alternatives such as pressure or controller halters which are less risky IMHO. I'd also be doing a lot more leading work with him in whatever you end up using to get him used to listening, do enough of it and it should transfer to other handlers.
 
My horse can be a git to lead so I use a chifney as well as a headcollar and always clip the rope to both. They are strong and need to be used correctly, but at the end of the day the handler's safety is important. You just need to make sure he isn't tied up with it, like someone at my yard does with hers!
 
On racecourses it is against the rules to lead a horse around in anything but a chifney until they are tacked up. This is a safety rule that is strictly adhered to from what the head lad at a local national hunt stable told me.

IMO best to err on the side of safety for a short time until you are able to work through the problem. :)
 
I have a pony who is so strong when going to the field or coming in. I use a chifney on him and have had no problems. I would not be able to lead him without it although I have heard that they are not very nice to the horse.
 
Personally I'd ask them to try a normal bridle first - get a cheapy one just for leading, take off the noseband & tie the throatlash to the cheekpiece so that it's quick to take on & off.

If you do ask them to use a chiffney then I'd suggest you specify who's to handle him & ask to see that person using a chiffney. Some people have very strange ideas about how to use a chiffney & IMO shouldn't be allowed near one :eek:
 
Hullabaloo said:
My horse can be a git to lead so I use a chifney as well as a headcollar and always clip the rope to both. They are strong and need to be used correctly, but at the end of the day the handler's safety is important. You just need to make sure he isn't tied up with it, like someone at my yard does with hers!
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:eek:oh my god she ties the horse up in a chiffney???? Jeeez does she realise they can break the jaw?? :eek::confused:

I had a chiffney for Rodney as he used to bolt off whilst leading him, rear and drag people. A bridle wasn't making a difference and after a few different attempts at stopping him.. i was recommended the Chiffney, which should only ever be used by an experienced handler. Little gentle tugs on it, are enough to stop the horse if they start playing up. Rodeny learnt very quickly thankfully, and i was able to stop using the chiffney after about 4months. ;)
 
As with many items correctly used a useful tool. I fetch my old girl in in one in winter as she is a loon and has nearly had me over on my crutches, tried the corrector, the dually, etc but her exhuberance and bad manners just seem to get top side in winter. so put on chifney and she is an angel to lead. Never comes into play, so I prefer to play safe. She was like this when I got her at 14 so a little late to change, and perfect in many other ways. Safety first is my motto, tho echo the others in saying try other alternatives first, starting with a bridle.
 
Yann said:
A chifney might end up injuring your horse, there are plenty of safer alternatives such as pressure or controller halters which are less risky IMHO. I'd also be doing a lot more leading work with him in whatever you end up using to get him used to listening, do enough of it and it should transfer to other handlers.
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A chifney should never injure a horse :eek::eek:and I would strongly suggest if it has its been used wrong:mad::mad:.

I personally use one if Im feeling poorly as unfortunately my girl gets bulshy and takes the mick!! I have however only actually "used" it twice and now whenever its in her mouth she an angel. I have dealt with a lot of horses that have needed a chifney and although I know pressure and controller halters work they didn't work on any of these horses.

However I would suggest trying things slowly and if you've never used one have somebody around who has, as if your not careful when using the pressure they can become useless for controll. So please make sure whoever is using it knows what their doing and understands how to use the pressure or you could make the situation worse. That said I have no problems with people using chifneys, they are a great gadget if used correctly:D:D, if not they can become cruel and destructive.
 
hmmm, well never used one but i have ordered one and if i need to use it will get some instruction first!!
I have got a bridle sorted now instead of a headcollar so will give that to the girls and see if he still plays up with them. Annoyingly he's fine with me so i can't see what it is that sets him off .
thanks for the tips.;)
 
Trio said:
Annoyingly he's fine with me so i can't see what it is that sets him off .
thanks for the tips.;)
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I'm not saying they are doing anything but if he's not showing it to you maybe closer investigation is needed before introducing a gadget. If my girl is behaving strangely I hide (from her) and watch the goings on, this way I can assess if it can be sorted simply and also it can help come up with a solution!!
 
Trio said:
Annoyingly he's fine with me so i can't see what it is that sets him off .
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Can they run through with you exactly what they do in case they have a different routine? Or Madaz_Maddy's idea of hiding somewhere to watch is a good one - explain to the girls first though so they realise it's Archie you're spying on, not them. Would one of them shadow you to see if they can spot any differences?

Sometimes it just boils down to respect & some horses being "one person ponies". If that's the case your best bet would probably be to get one other person handling him in a firm but fair fashion.

I hope you get something sorted out, it's frustrating when they behave with you so you can't do anything to fix the problem.
 
He is definitely a one person horse and i spend a ridiculous amount of time with him;). when i turn him out i'm very calm and go straight to his stable and get him out so he doesnt have time to get worked up.

When the girls do it they do them in turn and so he sees others going first and gets all fretty.

I dont worry if its one of the more experienced ones or the YO as i know Archie wouldnt dare do anything with them but a couple of the younger ones could get injured as they're worried about being too lary with him if he acts up- tricky situation but i will sort it.have got a bridle at the ready and we'll try that first if needs be and then the chifney if he is still being a donkey about it all.:D
 
I have used chifneys at work when we've had the vet in to test the broodmares etc & one mare has it when the farrier visits. I don't like the gadget as a rule as some horses seem to be worse wearing one. Several times i've had to unclip the chifney. Maybe that's because they're pampered TBs :rolleyes:
At the weekend we had a mare with quittor & she was in pain, the farrier tried to get in to release the pressure. She did not repect the chifney when the farrier jerked it. In fact while i held her she reared several times - not a pleasant experience. I let the rope go slack each time as i knew she'd hurt her mouth badly otherwise & she clearly doesn't do pain! I noticed her tongue was bleeding (i hadn't yanked on it). She either bit her tongue or the chifney cut it.
I prefer pressure halters such as the dually (worked brilliantly on my bolshy youngster).
I would suggest the bridle then try a pressure halter, if there are inexperienced girls on the yard it's not worth the risk using a chifney.
Am trying to get my boss to consider pressure halters as i could do groundwork with these mares more effectively.
 
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