Does your horse’s rope halter fit?

The rope halter and the guide rope are communication tools. When we send pressure and release signals at the right time through the main rope to the halter, we can direct the horse’s movements, often with a surprising level of subtlety.

However, for this signaling system to be effective, the halter must fit properly. Proper rope halter fit is all about matching the proportions. Consequently, when evaluating whether or not a rope halter will fit a horse, we are really looking to see how well the proportions of the halter match the proportions of the horse’s head.

A properly fitting halter “blends in” and frames the horse’s head. That is, the parts of the halter flow along, over, and around various parts of the horse’s head.

Fit too big – A halter that is too large tends not to fit the horse’s head. Instead, it has a loose, unkempt appearance, falling down the horse’s nose, sinking below the jawline in an unsafe position.

A rope halter that is too large, for example, distorts the signals, leaving the horse to work around the “static” as best it can. Also, a halter that is too large runs the risk of shifting laterally on the horse’s face and slipping into its eye. This presents a danger.

Too small – In addition to being uncomfortable for the horse, the continual pressure of a tight halter is like a telegraph key jamming. Without contrast between on and off, the pressure/release signaling system cannot work.

A halter that is too small will often be tight to put on. The knots will be in the wrong places and the halter pieces will be too short. This makes the halter uncomfortable for the horse. Also, the signaling ability of the halter is compromised: the “on/off” nature of the signal will not be possible.

Must match the proportions –This means that the proportions of the halter must match the proportions of the horse. Achieving this “match” is what proper tuning is all about!

Correct fit – A properly fitting rope halter is efficient. It has just enough room for comfort, but “frames” the horse’s head close enough to eliminate excess movement. As a result, the signals it sends can be received clearly, without “static”.

Because the proportions of the rope halter match the proportions of the horse’s head, a properly fitting rope halter looks nice on the horse’s head. The knots nest in grooves and depressions, and the halter pieces “frame” the horse’s head.

Develop an eye for judging suitability. A helpful place to start is to do a Google image search. http://images.google.com/ and do a search for rope halters.