A halter is a harness fitted over a horse’s head to allow the horse to be led, tied, or restrained while on the ground. It encircles the nose and jaw with a noseband, passes behind the ears with a crownpiece, and typically includes a throatlatch strap and a ring under the jaw to which a lead rope is attached. Unlike a bridle, a halter carries no bit and is not used for mounted communication; it is a ground-control tool.
Halters are made from leather, nylon webbing, or rope. Leather halters break under sufficient pressure, which is a safety advantage when a horse pulls back against a fixed tie point: the halter will fail before the horse sustains a neck injury. Nylon halters are stronger and more durable but do not break, making a safe tie point or a breakaway connector important when using them. Rope halters, typically tied rather than buckled, distribute pressure across wider surface areas of the nose and poll and are widely used in natural horsemanship for the training response they provide.
Proper halter fit is critical. A too-loose halter can catch on obstacles; a too-tight halter creates pressure sores, particularly over the forelock region and the nasal bone. A correctly fitted halter allows two fingers of space between the noseband and the horse’s nose. Foals begin wearing halters within days of birth, making early halter acceptance an essential step in a young horse’s handling. A farrier’s visit, veterinary examination, or basic leading all begin with attaching a lead rope to the halter ring.