Horse chewing on neck yoke?

[Demented Donkey Dame]

What an interesting thread, with some great info!!! I had this problem only worse. One of my donkeys would pick the neck yoke up in his mouth and pack it. What I discovered was the collar was to large and was rubbing him. He has chew marks in all my neck yokes but now it is from telling me it is time to go. I’ll stop and let him rest, when he is ready to go he grabs on to the neck yoke and I tell him it is time to boogie down the road.

I especially like the side check info. I finally broke down and purchased the side checks that go down the back with the two straps that hook to the ring on the breeching. I really like them. My donkeys want to get their heads down and rub on the neck yoke. Yes, I have had a bit shank get snapped into the slide snap. Really happened in a terrible place and the Luck of the Irish was with me all the way that day. The boys can still get their heads down but not all the way to the ground. I have redone the bridles to get them fitting more comfortably and the wanting to rub has also stopped.

In my case it was equipment not fitting well that started Luc chewing on the neck yoke, his team mate picked up on the bad habit. Now it is a way of communication with the one donkey, Luc, who has his own way of talking to me. The new team does not do that…unless I hitch one of the other donkeys up with the new team. They teach each other their bad habits!

I just changed out my snap as I am so afraid it will happen again. I put two snap shackles on in place of the snap. I no longer am afraid of the bit shank getting snapped in and I have an extra snap shackle should anything break on one of my road trips.

I just past driving the teams over 400 hours and we are working on 700 miles. I took some scenic photos of where I drive and posted them in my last few blog entries is anyone is interested http://www.2012teamdonk.wordpress.com

[Rod44]

Replace your snaps with buckles. I had my horses catch their bit snaps on the neck yoke a number of times. Luckily no problems but changed to buckles to be safe.

[Demented Donkey Dame]

I wished I would have thought of that when I was trying to decide what to do, sounds like a good suggestion!

[grey]

Yeah, the catch-22 with anything that is quick and easy to do up is that it is also quick and easy to undo or do wrong. I use clips/snaps in a few key areas (with certain safeguards and precautions taken with regards to the kind of clip/snap used and which way the hardware faces), buckles everywhere else. I feel that using clips/snaps at the bit is borrowing trouble. Buckles are far safer. Kidney links AKA carabiners are one thing I will never, ever use anywhere on a horse.

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