What do you do with your Chain Shank when its not necessary?

[JLC7898]

I have a beautiful lead for one of my mares that has a Chain Shank on it. She doesnt need one but the lead is so beautiful. How do you configure the chain on a horse that does not need one? Do i just hook it on the ring of the halter like a normal lead?

[PalominoMorgan]

Use it as you described or use a lead without a chain. I have heard horror stories about doublling the chain back on itself making a loop under the halter. Never happened to me, but have heard of horses getting a foot stuck in there while hand grazing. Yikes. I tend to not buy leads with chains for that reason. I do have some for in hand classes and if you run the lead thru the halter as you would for a halter class it doesn't come in to play unless the horse steps out of that comfort zone. As long as the chain isn't so long that you have to hang on to it I would just use it as you described. (I hate holding the chain on the off chance the horse spooks, spins, or otherwise pulls metal past my fingers.)

[Jumphigh83]

Actually I NEVER don't "need" a chain shank. If I need it, it is there. If not, great. You don't HAVE to shank them but if you need it, (spook, shy,bolt) it is there. I cant STAND watching horses drag their people around with a rope lead. Not only dangerous but unnecessary! By the time you realize, oops!! you needed the chain, it is too late. They are 1000/1800 pound animals! Use due diligence and they will never let you down by being ignorant!
PS if they walk politely they never meet the chain....

[JLC7898]

Thanks! I was slightly embarassed to ask, but i figured better to ask and know then to do something dumb because i was afraid to ask.

[aiken4horses]

Save the really nice lead shank for shows, where you might need the chain, or take it to a saddler and have the chain removed so you can use it everyday.
I don't have chains on any of my daily lead ropes, everyone was taught manners and respects my space.

[gloryeyes]

PS if they walk politely they never meet the chain....

I'm a huge fan of the "just in case" chain. I have some fantastic memories of last winter in FL: otherwise calm fellow out for a handwalk, instantly transformed into Snorty McFreakout. Thanks, WEF! Gotta love earthmovers...

[shakeytails]

I just loop the chain back to itself, or put it over the nose and not use it. If I intend to hand graze something, I just grab a rope.

[mjrtango93]

Another fan of the chain in case, escpecially at shows where you don't know if something is going to get loose, or the flying plastic monsters are going to eat you. I have very well behaved ponies that never have chains on at home, but at shows they all get them.

[EqTrainer]

I'm a huge fan of the "just in case" chain. I have some fantastic memories of last winter in FL: otherwise calm fellow out for a handwalk, instantly transformed into Snorty McFreakout. Thanks, WEF! Gotta love earthmovers...


:yes:

[purplnurpl]

I've heard stories of horses getting their feet stuck also.
My imagination freaks me out with that one.

I always use them at shows. But I never buy a lead with it already attached. I'm quite particular about my chain length.

[ExJumper]

I'm a huge fan of the "just in case" chain. I have some fantastic memories of last winter in FL: otherwise calm fellow out for a handwalk, instantly transformed into Snorty McFreakout. Thanks, WEF! Gotta love earthmovers...

I am used to using a chain every time. I wrap it around the noseband once. That way it doesn't risk falling under the chin or into the mouth and unless the horse is naughty, it doesn't come into effect at all.

It's the same reason I carry a crop into the ring every time I show even if I don't think I'll need it. I want it to be there the one time out of a thousand that I might need it. I don't have to use it the other 999 times.

[VCT]

DO NOT loop the chain back to itself. I have a boarder/student who I repeatedly told "That is very dangerous and a bad idea" who had the habit of looping the chain back to itself. She is a long time and experienced horse woman. Well a few months ago, after years of the woman having this habit and nothing bad happening... the horse got his foot through the loop, freaked out, reared, sat down on his haunches and rolled onto his back. It all seemed fairly gentle ie. he didn't like rear/flip and slam onto the ground... but he still BROKE ALL HIS WITHERS.

It's NOT worth taking the chance. Just don't do it.

[kookicat]

Agree. I cringe when I see looped chains. You can wrap it in black/brown vetwrap to cover the chain, and just use it like a normal lead.

[dannysmom]

I have never posted before, just lurk but this topic scares me!!

I too have told my boarders never to loop the chain and one woman didn't listen. :( The horse stepped through, panicked and flipped. No broken bones but the horse was off for several weeks due to muscle soreness.

Please don't loop the chain!

[Kementari]

It is also not safe to have 2+ feet of chain between you and the horse - you simply don't have control if anything happens (or you are holding onto the chain - and I'm not sure which is worse, safety-wise).

Either use a lead with a shank and USE the shank, or use one without. It is easy enough to get a shank replaced with a snap.

FWIW, I can count on one hand the number of horses I've needed a shank on in my life - and most of those were just precautionary. I have a couple of spare leads with shanks, in case I need one, but my horses respect a plain ol' halter and lead just as well as they respect a shank. It's a matter of good, solid groundwork.

[ExJumper]

FWIW, I can count on one hand the number of horses I've needed a shank on in my life - and most of those were just precautionary. I have a couple of spare leads with shanks, in case I need one, but my horses respect a plain ol' halter and lead just as well as they respect a shank. It's a matter of good, solid groundwork.

None of us who use (or at least have) chains all the time are using them to replace "good, solid groundwork." But something happens that over-rides the good, solid groundwork and you don't have a chain in place, it's already too late. And there is ALWAYS something that can happen to short-circuit a horse. Even one with good, solid groundwork.

In theory, if my horse has good solid ground work I can lead him in and out with nothing but my hand on his halter. And no one is suggesting anyone do that, yet people seem to imply that the use of a chain results from a lack in training which is presumptuous and kind of rude to those of us who like to have the security that a chain provides. I have no problem if you choose NOT to use a chain, but please don't imply that we are using chains because we all have rogue horses with no manners.

Horses are big and I am small. Horses are prey animals and I am fragile. It is not hard to scare even a well-trained horse.

[Kementari]

Well, it is clear that I trust my horses more than those who always use a shank. It is also a fact that I can't remember the last time one of my horses pulled away from me in hand, whether through disobedience or fear (though there was the time I tripped, dropped the lead, and my yelp spooked the filly... :lol:) Now, that may just make me oblivious and lucky. ;)

Seriously, though, horses ARE large prey animals. And if one of them is very frightened or determined to leave, it doesn't matter WHAT you have on their face - they're gone. I don't think shanks are cruel or anything (I'll use one if I have a horse who is prone to ignoring me or outright disrespectful - or breeding), I just think that if a well-trained animal is scared/adamant enough to pull away from a simple leadline, they are also going to get away from a shank. Clearly, YMMV.

(And the difference between using a lead vs a halter and a shank vs a regular lead is that if a horse DOES freak out - as they all will on occasion - with either a regular lead OR a shank, you risk losing control of the horse. If they freak out with just a halter, you risk losing your fingers. The former certainly CAN be bad, but 9 times out of 10 isn't the end of the world. The second one pretty much always sucks... :eek:)

[mjrtango93]

[QUOTE=Kementari;3676210]
Seriously, though, horses ARE large prey animals. And if one of them is very frightened or determined to leave, it doesn't matter WHAT you have on their face - they're gone. I don't think shanks are cruel or anything (I'll use one if I have a horse who is prone to ignoring me or outright disrespectful - or breeding), I just think that if a well-trained animal is scared/adamant enough to pull away from a simple leadline, they are also going to get away from a shank. Clearly, YMMV.

QUOTE]

I don't generally have to have it to keep them from getting away from me at shows, but more to regulate the speed, and to also keep Sir Owen from waving at the crowds and displaying his belly button when someone else's horse gets loose. We all know that just because your horse is good doesn't mean other peoples are as well.

[sisu27]

If I wasn't terrified of those that loop it around and hook it onto itself before...yikes!

I HATE it when people suggest a chain properly over the nose is cruel. Only as cruel as the human on the other end and less cruel then getting loose and hit by a car or something. For those of you that think I am cruel..my dog wears a prong collar too. He is a gentleman but he still outweighs me, much like my horse.

[Texarkana]

I almost lost a finger once by looping the chain through the bottom ring of the halter. If I hadn't been wearing gloves, I probably would have lost my finger.

I looped the chain while turning out a normally placid broodmare. Right when I had my hand on the snap to turn her loose, the mare spooked and reared. My finger got caught between the two sections of chain. It pulled my glove and my fingernail off as she went up. Ouch ouch ouch ouch... but I'm glad it wasn't my whole finger.

It was just one of those freak accidents that you probably couldn't repeat if you tried... but I'll be darned if I loop a chain again.

[galwaybay]

What difference does it make if it has a chain or not.. just use it. I've never seen one that has 2+ feet of chain. I don't think I would ever bother looping it around. I can think of many reasons to use a chain shank 1) Pumpkin won't load 2) Pumpkin can get out of her show stabling...(I just had to do this a couple of weeks ago) 3) I need a blanket bar for my temp stabling - I can rig my shank 4) Sparky-dog is visiting the barn today - hmm this will keep him closer to me and preventing him from eating poo... :lol:

[Dispatcher]

Mine are hanging nicely in a room with the rest of my stuff!

[gloryeyes]

It shortens the amount of chain you have to deal with. But yes, it is incredibly dangerous.

[GoForAGallop]

But yes, it is incredibly dangerous.


Looping the chain is only incredibly dangerous if you're the idiot out grazing your horse. If I am leading a horse out to a pasture, there is never going to be a situation where he can get his foot through the loop, and therefore the chain is not dangerous at all.

Anything is dangerous when you pair it up with an idiot. Cars, guns, pencils.

[Janet]

Use a detachable chain.

I certainly don't want to have to feed the chain through the nodeband just to lead the well behaved horse from the stall to the grooming stall.

But I will use the chain when we are "going for a walk", with a greenie.

[VCT]

Looping the chain is only incredibly dangerous if you're the idiot out grazing your horse. If I am leading a horse out to a pasture, there is never going to be a situation where he can get his foot through the loop, and therefore the chain is not dangerous at all.

Anything is dangerous when you pair it up with an idiot. Cars, guns, pencils.

NOT TRUE. Saw it at a barn I worked at when I was younger. Horse being led out with chain looped back, got spooked by dogs running by, started acting up, reared, pawed/struck out in the air while rearing, got foot through the loop, ended up falling down. Thankfully was not seriously injured. It's just a plain BAD IDEA.. no matter what you are doing. And there is no need for it, ever.

[TheOrangeOne]

I loop but I twist the chain around itslf so that there isn't any part that they can get their foot through.

[poltroon]

I have a detachable chain so that I only have it on when I need it and it's wrapped on the halter.

I personally don't like chains, because I worry about my hands getting caught in them, and I think it is challenging to set them up on a halter so that they release when you release pressure on the shank. On the other hand, sometimes you do need that extra: I have a friend who dislocated her shoulder when her horse yanked hard away from her.

A couple of years ago, I learned from a friend about rope halters and the various differences in stiffness and weight. (I had grown up with them as just being cheap substitutes for a nylon halter, hard to use, and I hated them.) Now when I have a horse that is being a bully, I have a stiff rope halter which I find works better for me, because it is much easier to get a clean release of the pressure. When my daughter's shetland was pulling on her, I felt very comfortable setting them up with a rope halter, and feeling that it was a very safe tool for both of them. I would not have been comfortable giving her a chain.

[philosoraptor]

Actually I NEVER don't "need" a chain shank. If I need it, it is there. If not, great. You don't HAVE to shank them but if you need it, (spook, shy,bolt) it is there. I cant STAND watching horses drag their people around with a rope lead. Not only dangerous but unnecessary! By the time you realize, oops!! you needed the chain, it is too late. They are 1000/1800 pound animals! Use due diligence and they will never let you down by being ignorant!
PS if they walk politely they never meet the chain....

But isn't it possible there are horses who can be trained to walk politely without needing the chain around their nose at all ? Without being unsafe or dragged around?

I think the OP is asking how to attach a lead with a chain when it's not needed to be put over the nose.

To OP: I'd just hook it to the halter. You can loop it through the halter and hook clasp back to the start of the chain, to keep the chain part from being to long. Honestly though, it becomes a heavy thing that swings and annoys me, so I leave the chain shank behind and just us a regular lead. It gives me a better feel.

[pk1027]

I just hook it to the bottom ring like a non-chain shank and go about my business. Never actually occurred to me that there would be any other way to do it :lol:.

As far as looping it through and hooking it back to itself... danger aside, what is even the point of that? I never got it.

Agreed, looping it around just seems absurd...

Always just attached it to the bottom, never really thought anything of it.