Halter Correct

This article is an explanation on how to fit and tie a rope halter properly to your horse. I want to explain the “how and why” we tie rope halters properly on our horses, we do this to provide proper function and to create the absence of pain and the absence of dangerous situations. Along with this article are some images that are included to show the proper placement of a rope halter and the proper way to tie your halter, also included is an image of a mis-tied halter also showing improper placement. In addition are included some images of the horse’s skull and facial nerves to help provide visual information on anatomy of horse’s head.

The rope halters that I like to use are made from a medium weight, semi-firm in stiffness material so they do not move around on the horse’s face and provide immediate contact in all the correct places on the head to be able to control horse with minimal but effective pressure to the facial nerves. The halter rope should not be too thick or to thin (around 7mm-8mm), thin halters can provide pain, rope burn and too much pressure on the facial nerves and loose halters are sloppy and don’t stay in place on the head which provides inconsistent techniques where as too thick of rope will not provide adequate pressure and have the same effectiveness as a web halter.

The two most common mistakes that I see are 1.) the proper way of tying the halter to the horse and 2.) the correct placement of the rope halter on horse’s head. Below, in image #1 you can see the proper tying and position of the halter on the horse’s head, image #2 is an example of an incorrect fitting halter, image #3 is of the facial nerves of the horse and image #4 is of a horse’s skull showing the bones and structure of the head.

                       

Good Fit – Nose band is high on the bridge        Bad Fit- Nose band sits low on the 

of the nose, Throatlatch is behind the jaw,          face, no contact with facial nerves 

and head piece is just behind the Poll.                and Throatlatch is across cheeks and 

                                                                                      jaw, head piece is correctly placed. 

This image shows where the facial nerves lie under the skin and show

the proper lines of pressure and knot placement of halter.

This photo of the horse’s skull shows how thin and fragile the Nasal Bone

is and how sharp the edge of the jaw bone (Mandible) is. From this picture

you can see how the edge of this sharp bone can cause pain when pulling

on a halter that crosses the cheek and jaw-line and how a low-fitting halter can possibly injure the nose of the horse.

These next set of photos show the progressive steps to properly tie the halter on the horse.

1.

Pull Loose end of the Halter through the eyelet like in picture bringing the remaining end towards the rear of the horse.

2.

Pass end behind and under eyelet and thus creating a loop with the slack. It is important to note that this loop is made under the top bridge of the eyelet and not above which would then not allow the knot to come untied once weighted.

3.

Pass end of rope through the newly created loop and pull tight.

4.

Make sure that the halter rope is not twisted and the halter is snug and correctly fitting with noseband and throatlatch.

5.

Noseband should sit just above the halfway point between the eyes and end of the nose. Throatlatch knot should be placed at the junction of the neck and head while the sides of the Throatlatch should sit snugly behind the jaw line. Tuck loose end into the halter behind the jaw and Happy Trails!

6.

A correctly tied and fitting halter!