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Rope vs. Web Halters

6K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  drafteventer 
#1 ·
Hi, I was just wondering on everyone's views on rope halters vs. web halters for working a horse (riding, lunging, long reining ect). I've heard quite abit, but would like to sort it out. Comments, thoughts, knowledge and opinions please?

Thanks heaps for your help
 
#2 ·
A knotted halter is pretty hard for a horse to ignore. One must never yank on a horse when wearing a knotted halter, pull, yes, but not yank as too many face nerves can be damaged. Once my horse is fairly respectful in a knotted halter I switch to a flat nylon or leather halter. I won't ride a horse in a knotted halter because of the knots. The weight of the reins keep the knots pressing into the horse's face.
 
#3 ·
Rope halters are sorta like curb bits; they produce more pressure with less motion and can be used for refinement. I like for this purpose. With a flat halter, the human has to pull a great deal to get the same amount of pressure that a mild pull creates in a rope halter.

This is where the curb bit similie ends, because after a horse is respectful in a rope halter, I usually go back to a flat halter for every day use. At this point I only use the rope halter for training purposes, not just walking around the barn. When leading, there shouldn't be any pressure on the halter anyway. The horse should follow, not get pulled after me or constantly pulled back. They should have more respect than that.

I always use rope halters for lunging, no matter the horse. I sometimes ride in a rope halter and sometimes a flat halter. A green horse's first ride is in a rope halter. I train horses to tie in rope halters with a blocker tie ring, which is a bit of a controversial move.

Basicly, the flat halter is strictly an "on parole" halter. If there are ANY problems, back to the rope halter. During training, ALWAYS a rope halter.
 
#4 ·
I use rope halters for everything from my greenies to my old, broke horses and from my yearling to my retirees. They are all I have used for several years and I honestly don't think I'll ever go back to a flat halter.

1) Rope halters are virtually impossible to break, even if a horse sits back when tied.

2) They offer more bite should you need it but are neutral on the face when you don't need that extra umph.

3) They fit a much wider range of horses. I can use the same halter on my yearling draft cross, my mature stock horses, and the extra large head of my 2 year old draft cross without having to use a nail to burn new holes in it.

4) I prefer the way that they look to flat halters, but that is all just personal preference.
 
#9 ·
1) Rope halters are virtually impossible to break, even if a horse sits back when tied.

2) They offer more bite should you need it but are neutral on the face when you don't need that extra umph.

3) They fit a much wider range of horses. I can use the same halter on my yearling draft cross, my mature stock horses, and the extra large head of my 2 year old draft cross without having to use a nail to burn new holes in it.

4) I prefer the way that they look to flat halters, but that is all just personal preference.
1- One reason why I won't use them - in a tough situation, I would rather the hardware on the halter broke.

2- A green handler can be too rough.

3- I find very few to fit any horse, much less multiple horses

4- I've seen several horses step on the loop that you attach the halter do and trip onto their knees.

It is personal preference but I prefer NO on rope halters for general use.
 
#5 ·
I feel you get a faster response with the rope halter and not just any rope halter will do I use Clinton Anderson's because of the knots they are placed perfectly on pressure points I wont use any other halters.
 
#12 ·
Well, I don't really like either, I prefer leather halters over everything.
If I had a horse who was pushy on the ground, I would use a rope halter. But I prefer the look of leather and I also like how the breakaway if they need too, which is why I don't like nylon halters (unless the have the leather crown)
Nylon/rope halters are cheaper, but I just feel leather is safer and better looking.

ETA: Has anyone tried those fake leather halters, do the break away like a leather one?
 
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