| A halter is usually the first piece of tack ever put on a | | | | away halter that way injury is prevented and you |
| horse. Halters should be introduced to foals and | | | | won't have to blame yourself. |
| weanling's in the early days of their domestication and | | | | It is important to check that your halter fits your horse |
| handling. Halters make handling your horse much easier | | | | properly and is cleaned regularly to remove dirt. Tip: |
| and really are an indispensable piece of tack. | | | | When putting your halter on your horse there should |
| Halters come in basic shapes and a few different | | | | be enough room between the throat latch (usually the |
| sizes, but the colors offer each owner a sense of | | | | part that your buckle up) and the horses jaw - room |
| uniqueness for their horse. Halters are made of fabric | | | | enough for a hand - to make sure that it is neither too |
| like nylon or leather. Halters do not have bits and | | | | tight nor too loose. |
| therefore do not offer the control that a bridle does, it | | | | Every horse owner would be wise to invest in two |
| is not recommended that your ride a horse with only a | | | | halters so that you always have a backup if one is |
| halter. | | | | broken. Halters have metal fastenings, but this does |
| A halter consists of a noseband and headstall that | | | | not make them indestructible. I was once grooming a |
| buckles around your horse's head enabling you to tie | | | | horse in her stall, she was a feisty mare, yet |
| him up or lead him. Lead ropes are connected to a | | | | somewhat insecure and pretty fussy. I had her |
| metal ring on the halter. Halters fit looser than a bridle, | | | | secured to a ring by a short lead rope. |
| but there is still the possibility of the skin being rubbed | | | | One minute I was brushing her body and the next |
| by the fabric. | | | | minute we had both jumped and spun in her stable. |
| I really see no need to leave a halter on a stabled | | | | Who knows who reacted first, but I do know that she |
| horse unless he is green or very young. A horse used | | | | had gotten a fright and broken free; the metal ring on |
| to being handled is easy enough to approach in a | | | | her halter broke in her hasty and abrupt movement. |
| stable to have his halter put on and taken off when | | | | Did I have to waste time searching for a halter in the |
| needed. | | | | owner's yard, not to mention the worry over having to |
| If your horse lives out in a pasture you may benefit by | | | | explain how the halter got broken... |
| leaving his halter on him, but it honestly does not help | | | | Always buy a good quality durable halter and have |
| your horse. Your horse may be easier to catch, but | | | | another for backup. Remember it is not what the |
| the chances of him getting his halter caught or | | | | halter looks like that counts, but that it works for you |
| snagged on fence post or tree branch is very likely. | | | | and your horse. You really do not need that beautiful |
| If you turn your horse out on a daily basis for a couple | | | | flashy leather halter if your pocket can only afford a |
| of hours with his halter on there is still the risk of injury. | | | | standard nylon halter. |
| If you leave your halter on you should buy a break | | | | |