Horsemanship: Tying a Rope Halter Correctly

Rope Halter  Typing Tip

Most people using this type of halter are not tying the knot correctly. Often the halter slips and loosens after a short while. This can become dangerous if the bottom section gets "stuck" around the horse's jaw and he panics.

Another common issue from "standard" store-bought halters is that the pressure points the knots on the halter should sit on are laying incorrectly on the horse's face. Often the cheek section is either too short or long, causing the know to sit above the lower end of the horse's cheekbone, or it too the length is too long, the knot sits in the sensitive soft tissue pocket near the horse's nostril.

 
This makes the halter not only ineffective for the initial purpose but also creates continuous unintentional pressure elsewhere, leading to defensiveness in the horse.

One more time, I don't use rope halters when I'm trailering horses. Especially if hauling long distances, there is continuous pressure and often causes raw spots and discomfort.