Why a Rope Halter is Better Than Webs & Buckles

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Rope halters are better than webs and buckles because it creates a stronger hold and even pressure on the horse's head, making training more efficient. Use rope halters instead of buckled halters with helpful advice in this video on horseback riding.

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Posted By Jenna Brumm
on December 20, 2011, 12:44 pm
I agree that rope halters are best for training but I still prefer web halters for everyday use. I have arabians that are very fine boned & are already more sensitive to touch than a mustang or QH. I find that they can become head shy if they aren't in a comfortable web or leather halter.
I don't use web or leather halters with snaps, though as I have seen accidents with them. The only metal on my halters are the connecting rings.

Posted By Rick Gore
on April 22, 2010, 2:24 am
I have additional videos on youtube: Visit Link

Posted By Rebecca Riel
on April 14, 2009, 11:09 pm
One request -- can you show how to actually tie that knot? The halter's are already on the horses for the video.

Thanks!

By the way, it's a joy to see the affection -- and mischief -- that your horses express. The teasing, the trying to steal things from your pockets....

I enjoy watching the videos for the knowledge, and then I have to watch them again for the equine humor!




Comment By Rick Gore
on April 15, 2009, 12:27 am

If you go to my site, www.thinklikeahorse.org, I have a rope halter page. I have several pictures and a video on how to tie a rope halter correctly. Rick

Posted By Rick Gore
on April 6, 2009, 4:52 pm
The horse is this video is Tanner, an 18 year old Mustang that was caught in the hills of Nevada. He was given to me after having several homes and was labeled dangerous, too wild and was going to kill someone. You can tell he is very cautious and proud and is a great horse. The white marks on his next is the "freeze brand" that was put on him by BLM when he was caught by helicopter. Hope you enjoy the video. Rick

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Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Rick Gore out here at Travis Equestrian Center. Today, we're going to talk about why a rope halter is better than the web halters with all the buckles, snaps and other metal parts. If you notice here on Tanner, he's got a nice rope halter on. There's no buckles here, it's complete rope to rope. There's no buckles around here, we've got a nice rope halter knot. That's not going to give, it's not going to get tight, no matter how tight this horse pulls, I'll always be able to untie it by just bending that little neck back and sliding the rope through. So I don't need a buckle because this rope has no buckles or knots, it's going to be nice and strong. When this horse pulls, he feel these two ropes across the back of his ears, which is uncomfortable. He also feels pressure here when I pull it down, to where he lowers his head. And he'll also get a little rope pressure here, when I pull him forward. All of this gives a horse a much better queue than the web halters, which basically is nice and comfortable. You'll see some web halters with fur around here. You'll see fur around the ears, you'll see all kind of things that make a halter comfortable for the horse. This rope halter is not uncomfortable at all for this horse. It's a much better training. I can jump on this horse and ride this horse, with this halter. I can work this horse with this halter, I can lead him, I can tie him. I can do everything with this halter that I can do with a web halter. Except, I don't have to worry about buckles, snaps. I don't have to worry about him cutting him, I don't have to worry about him breaking and cutting his eye or flying and hitting someone else. The weakest part of a rope with a snap, is the snap. This rope is very strong and it's rope against rope. So you have a good strong tie point, you have a good strong halter around a horse. Since the weakest part of a rope is the buckle, and this rope halter has no buckle, where it connects here, where it connects here. These halters are much better for working a horse, controlling. They're also called what's called a Cowboy Halter. Because back in the day, before snaps and buckles, it wasn't easy to get all the hardware. So you made a rope halter and you had a rope and that's how you led your horse. This is a thinner rope than this rope, they're both just as effective. Some people like the thinner rope, some like the thicker. To me, it doesn't make a difference. I know, I'm messing up your eating. As you can tell, this rope halter isn't going to hurt him. This has a couple extra knots right here, across the nose. Some people say, that's better to make him listen, etc. A rope halter works well because it gives the pressure. If you notice, on this rope halter, this is, this rope is a little bit thinner. We still have the same knot, you have this excess rope here, which I usually tuck just underneath the collar here to keep it out of the way. If the, if the rope halter, if you tie the rope and this rope is going this way, you've tied it wrong. You don't want this flapping to hit and interfere with the horse's eye and sight, you'll get spooked. I know, I'm sorry, here. So tuck it right back here, it keeps it away from the eye, it keeps it nice and, it keeps it nice and out of the way. Again, this horse feels pressure behind his ears. He also feels it over his nose. And I can get this horse to do just about anything with a very light touch because he knows that if he pulls, he feels uncomfortable. So that's why a rope halter's going to give you a little bit better feel with the horse. And he's going to be a little bit more responsive, when you ask him to do things, back. Hey, back, good boy. That's why, a rope halter, I believe is a lot better than any of your web halters with buckles. Good boy.



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About The Producer
Expert: Rick Gore

Specialty: Horsemanship


It is never the horse's fault. Good natural horsemanship and a true understanding of horses will always get the best results with a horse.

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