Fitting the Rope Halter

In recent years, rope halters have gained popularity as natural horsemanship has come to the forefront. A favorite with trainers such as Clint Anderson, Buck Brannaman, and Pat Parelli, the rope halter is a great training tool. Rope halters can have knots tied along the nose band for quicker response. A rope halter works off the pressure points of the horse's face and head, thus making it such a popular training tool.

Horses have pressure points on either side of the bridge of the nose as well very sensitive pressure point behind the ears. When pressure from the halter is placed on these sensitive areas, the horse moves away from the pressure creating the release.

Rope halters are often double stranded and made of a stiff but soft rope. The stiffness allows for the halter to hold shape but are soft enough not to cause damage to the face. The better quality rope, the better the halter. Rope halters can come with or without knots that lay on either side of the nose. Rope halters with knots are primarily seen on horses in training and caution should be taken with these halters as they can do serious damage to the nerves if mishandled. 

Rope halters are great for training a horse to flex and lighten in the face. Often a young horse's first ride is in a rope halter before they are introduced to a bosal or a snaffle as the pressure from the halter is something that already familiar to a young horse.

Most people do not know how to properly fit a rope halter or tie one, thus they shy away from using them. A rope halter should be fitted to the horse's head just as you would fit a nylon or leather halter. 

I think pink looks amazing on Belle!

Tying the rope halter:

Once you slip the nose band on the nose and flip the long piece that goes across the poll to the left side you are are ready to tie. 

The Eyelet should be on the left side of the horse's face and the loops in which the lead rope attaches should be under the jaw. 

The eyelet 

Once the halter is positioned for tying, take the long piece and thread through the eyelet as shown:

Placing the poll strap through the eyelet

Once you put the poll strap through the eyelet, pull the strap to desired tightness. This should pull up the halter and the halter should fit the horse snug but still loose enough for the horse to open its mouth. Now loop the poll strap behind itself as shown:

Poll strap placed behind itself

Once you have done this, thread the poll strap through the loop you have just created.

Placing the poll strap through the loop

Pull the strap to tighten the knot. Congratulations! You have tied a rope halter!

A correctly tied rope halter

Often time it is beneficial to place the poll strap behind the throatlatch of the halter to keep the excess from swinging about and potentially slapping your horse in the face. 

Excess placed behind throatlatch. (I did not edit this photo to show you how bright this halter is!)

Rope halters should fit a horse just as a nylon or leather halter should. The nose band should not be drooping and hanging on the nostrils, it should lay midway up the face the cheek strap below the start of the cheek. The throatlatch should fit behind the jowls. The poll strap should be directly behind the ears. A loose halter will be easier for the horse to hurt himself or get loose. Always check to make sure your halter is properly tied and fitted before used to tie a horse to something like a hitching post. 

Caution:
Rope halters should never under any circumstances be left on a horse in turnout. This halter is designed to not give or break, thus your horse will be injured if he gets the halter caught in something. 

Do not tie a horse with a rope halter unless the horse has been properly trained to tie an give to pressure. These halters are made specifically not to break or give. The more a horse pulls on the halter the more pressure on the poll and the tighter the knot gets. Do not tie a horse without supervision or use to break a horse to tie using this halter without guidance from a trusted trainer.