Clinton Anderson's "Tools"

Do you NEED CA's tools to get the job done...NO

Are CA's tools nice and effective....YES!

I've been owned by horses for 23 years and I've never been one to go with the "rave" products from anyone. I rarely got/get new stuff and if I did, it was because it was on sale, some how fixably defective, or a few times I was lucky enough to find something "amazing" at a yard sale and the person just didn't know the value of what they had. "Score for me!"

I took my daughter whom saved her money for "something special" to a CA Walkabout tour about 5 years ago. At that tour she purchased a halter, lead and handystick for her horse. Spent every dime she'd saved.

I was skeptical. I had tried many different styles of rope halters, I didn't have any success with them, they stretched, they frayed, they didn't seem to be very effective in my opinion. I didn't know what all the rave was....until I used my daughters CA Halter and Lead.

I have been completely converted! They are REALLY nice! It took us 3 years and finally we had a halter and lead for EACH of our 4 horses and then last Christmas, someone broke into our barn and stole 2 sets, my daughters and my husbands, mine was "hidden" under some dropped hay and obviously not seen and my ponies set was at a friends house.

I've been "making due" with the one horse size we have left but fully intend on replacing them in the near future.

I'm thinking who ever stole them either knew their value or knew how amazing they are to use...They didn't take anything else, none of the knockoff rope halters, none of the other lead ropes, none of our saddles (and I have a nice crates) Nothing else was taken. Thankfully! :)

If you decide to buy a set, they ARE nice and in my opinion, totally worth it. But you CAN get the job done without them.

As for the handy stick...that's one tool I rarely use. It's cumbersome to me, we have a standard and child size one. However if they were stolen, (luckily they were in our house) I wouldn't be so anxious to replace them as I am the halters and leads.

Several years ago at a walkabout tour that I took my husband to, I bought a bridle/bit/mecate rein set. I've been very happy with it...I love the look and feel and quality of it, however if it had been stolen (phew) I'd have been upset, certainly...but I wouldn't be as anxious to replace it as I am the halters and leads. :)

There is a place online, sunset haters, I got my halter, lead, stick, etc from there. I find that they have exceptional quality. I use 14' line, I use it for training and regular use (I'm all about multi purpose, I even have rope halter that has attached loops to convert to a bridle) . They aren't cheap, but they have way more options if you are looking for quality, durability, feel and strength. I don't know how they hold up to the ca stuff. They have multiple types of rope for different feels, so I would suggest researching the rope types. I got my lead as a 7/8 (I believe) using one of the softer, heavier types so its not prone to rope burn and transfers energy well.

I bought the halter, lead rope, lunge line, and stick. I don't use the stick. Never have. It's in the barn and my son runs around smacking flies with it. I could never figure out exactly how to make it work.

The halter was really nice but one day when I must have been tired or in la-la land I actually forgot to take it off when I turned him out. (I never turn out with halters). He chewed it off over night....

I bought one the same color that works just as good (can't remember where I got it, tractor supply maybe?).... I do like the heavier lead and lunge but you can make it yourself w/ that boat rope or whatever it's called...

Professional's Choice Rope Halter - Halters from SmartPak Equine


You don't need his stuff to get the results but I really found his methods useful for what I needed help in....

There are less expensive training halter and leads that is "close" to quality of the CA set. Its a Professionals Choice training halter and lead combo. Runs around $39.00

I will say about the CA training halter and lead combo's are well made and well worth the money.
As for the training stick, well a nice knock off is just as good or buggy whip IMO. In fact I prefer the buggy whip myself :) I do however own the training stick because it was a gift from a very good friend.