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Rope halters

4K views 13 replies 12 participants last post by  appy rider 4 life 
#1 ·
I may be getting a rope halter from ebay, but all my horse loving life I've been around nylons and cloths. So, if you like rope, could you give some tips, suggestions, anything at all i might need to know?
 
#2 ·
They are especially helpful in any kind of training.

The thinner the rope, the bitier it is.

Don't ever leave them unattended, tied up or hauled in the trailer in a rope halter.

They do not give/break and the horse can suffocate or some other serious damage.

You also have to remember that because they don't give as much as the web halters that any pressure you put on them they will feel much more, so be gentle and only use as much pressure as the moment deserves.
 
#3 ·
It took me awhile to figure this one out so I will save you the trouble:lol:
Here is a site that shows how to tie one to your horse.
If you do it any other way, you run the risk of having it get so tight it has to be cut off. Also the left over rope needs to be facing away from your horses eye
 
#8 ·
Yay Vidaloco - the RIGHT way to tie! Last time I saw a youtube vid attached in a thread on this question they actually did it the wrong way! You reckon tying any other way makes the knot tight? I've never seen that, but I've seen them fall off plenty of horses when they were done up the wrong way.

I add my count to thinking rope halters are good. Training, riding & otherwise. They are strong and simple, no hardware to break, completely washable, I think they look better than many and they're cheap to boot(I make them for around $7AUD).

I also add my count to those who advised against using them to tie firm - in a trailer or otherwise, and not to leave them on a horse unattended tho. They are strong enough that in case of accident or the horse pulling back, it's likely the horse or other equipment will break before the halter does. I use a 'tie ring' to avoid tying firm. I think these sorts of gadgets are a great safety measure no matter what kind of halter you use.

A couple more tips... avoid halters that have extra 'pressure point' knots over the nose or poll. Fit the halter so that the nosepiece is well up off the delecate area of the horse's nostrils. If you buy a halter who's loose ends aren't sewn together, put a couple of stitches in them - more convenient that way. While you're at it, put a few stitches through the entire fiador knot(under the chin) and stitch the loops you attach the lead to together - the fiador has a tendency to loosen & come undone over time, especially if you're using those lead loops separately & it's a ****** to retie, so eliminate the possibility before you start.
 
#9 ·
More tips to not do dumb stuff I have done-
Hang on to the loose end of the tie when your taking it off or on. Some halters have metal nibs on the end and its really easy to have them swing around and smack yourself or your horse in the eye.
Make sure the back fits under chin and behind the cheek well. If it won't go behind the cheek its too small. If it hangs down too far on the nose its too big. They do come in different sizes. Some brands make the horse size huge other way small.
Tuck the loose end of the tie under the cheek part once you have it tied. It keeps it from flopping around and getting in the way.
Thats all I can think of at the moment :D
 
#10 ·
Great advice so far. I want to add that I see a lot of people with them adjusted way too low. They should be in the same place as the nylon halter - a couple of fingers below the cheekbone - and I will say because of the extra "bite" a rope halter has it's even more important to get it right and not have it down on the soft nose cartilage. I think sometimes the problem is if you are new to tying the knot (or it's green fussy horse you are trying to get one on the first time...haha) you won't get it tight enough the first time, and may have to adjust it up mid-session.
 
#11 ·
I would like to second the "no extra knots" comment. I think if a rope halter is considered to have more "bite" then it should be treated as a training tool similar to a leverage bit. A web halter, while easier for a horse to lean on, is more forgiving of beginner's mistakes, and I would compare it more to a snaffle bit, in that it has more potential to be mild.

I get so annoyed when people say "he can't lean back on those knots on the poll or nose, etc", well, no, it HURTS! I feel any horse that's truely halter broke, doesn't need the bite of a rope halter to feel the cues, and will respect a web or leather halter as well as narrow rope one. For beginners, the buckle of a classic halter is easier to figure out, and beginners should hopefully (in an ideal world that usually doesn't happen, I know) have a horse that's halter broke and it doesn't matter what kind they want. My bubby, still has trouble with that knot on the halters, and his are forever slipping off, etc, so the web is just easier, and actually ends up being safer in that instance.
Also, I love my web halters. I use a kind that wraps under the jowls so they can't rub off, and I like the "feel" I get with them. I compare it with a cheap,nylon rein (rope halter) and a heavy leather rein (web halter). The leather just provides more "feel" to the bit, or a good lead rope, vs a not so good one. The rope halters feel more like they let the lead "flop" and the web ends with a solid bump when I need to tug on it. When you go to put on a web halter, the noseband tends to stay open easier, a rope one is flimsy, so it tends to close up, (but I order quality ones with nose wraps, that help with that some), so it's just easier overall to apply a classic halter, IMO.
I do use rope halters, they are easier sometimes to adjust to many different horses, and if you have a puller, they don't break. But they are much more apt to hang on something, and I just like them for training for respect,but ultimately, I prefer the web, personally.
 
#12 ·
Honestly, I love mine. My horse would always rub with the nylon halters, but now I have a rope halter and he doesn't rub anymore, and I can leave it on under the halter, just in case. I wouldn't do that with the nylon because it makes him uncomfortable.
 
#13 ·
I love it for teaching. Taught my weanling to lead/trot/stop in one in VERY little time with no fuss and no hard pressure/yanking/etc. He respected it every time and never learned to lean back and pull. Had to love it!!

Also use if for teaching lunging or lunging a horse that tends to pull.

I always like switching back to a regular halter, however. I don't want to HAVE to use a rope halter!
 
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