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Types of Halters



  • Leather halters are preferred for turnout and trucking by many people for leather's ability to break and free a horse before serious injury occurs if the halter catches on an object. Parts of leather halters, once broken, can sometimes be replaced or repaired.

    Leather halters are available in a wide range of leathers, from the most economical to expensive high grade leather that will develop a rich patina over time. Some leather halters have padding on crownpieces, cheek pieces and nosebands. Leather halters are attractive, come in a variety of colors to complement your horse, are easy to clean and can last for a long time. They can also be fitted with a monogrammed halter plate for a custom, personalized look.

    Note: Because leather can stretch slightly with time and conditioning, periodically check the fit of a leather halter to be sure it hasn't become too loose, and if so, make the proper adjustment.

  • Breakaway halters are preferred for turnout by many people, again for the ability of the halter to break and free a horse. Breakaway halters are made of nylon or cotton-blend webbing and feature either a leather crownpiece or leather tabs that are designed to break if the halter becomes entangled with an object. Replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to find so the halter can be put back into service quickly. Fabric portions of breakaway halters can be cleaned with soapy water and gentle scrubbing with a soft brush.

  • Nylon halters are fashioned of nylon webbing. They can last a long time, but are not considered to be ideal for turnout because if a horse were to become entangled, the webbing does not break, which places an entangled horse in danger of injury. Nylon halters can be cleaned by soaking in soapy water and scrubbing with a soft brush.

  • Rope halters are crafted of rolled nylon rope. They are intended for ground work and horse handling, but are not considered suitable for use in shipping, cross-tying or turnout. Rope halters require a correct type of knot tying to secure the halter to the horse's head.

  • Shipping halters are designed for trailering. A shipping halter may be made of either leather or nylon with a breakaway tab and is encased with soft sheepskin fleece to protect the delicate skin of a horse's face during transport. The sheepskin also helps to wick away moisture to help keep the horse comfortable. Sheepskin halter kits and synthetic halter fleeces allow you to turn your everyday or show halter into a shipping halter, click here to checkout our selection. The pieces attach to your halter with hook and loop closures and can be removed easily when not needed or for cleaning.

  • Grooming halters are intended strictly to be worn with supervision during grooming. This type of halter intentionally lacks a throat latch and jaw piece to allow for easy cleaning of the jowl areas. Without these key pieces, however, this type of halter should not be used for turnout or shipping, as it could easily slip off or become caught on an object. For versatility, some leather halters, such as the Classic Combination Halter, have removable parts that enable you to convert your halter into a grooming halter. Grooming halters are available in nylon webbing or leather.


Helpful Tip for Refined Heads:

Most halters are fashioned of straps that are 1 inch wide. If you have a horse with a refined face, you may want to choose a halter with narrower, ¾-inch straps for a more appealing look.