The noseband is at the end of the halter and fits around the horse’s nose. Horses tend to get nervous when they’re introduced to something new. Fiddling with buckles and ropes after you walk up to it may make your horse jumpy or scare it off. [2] X Research source
Horses have monocular vision, which means they have blind spots in front of their nose, under their head, and in their rear. Sudden sounds or movements, especially in their blind spots, can frighten them. Avoid approaching your horse from behind unless you absolutely have to. Horses don’t like surprises![4] X Research source
Avoid making any sudden movements or touching its head immediately since you might startle the horse. It’s best to work up to things slowly since horses like to be fully aware of everything happening around them. [6] X Research source If your horse seems calm and happy, you’re all set to give the halter a try. If it seems nervous, keep stroking it and speaking softly. Don’t try to halter your horse until it’s calm. [7] X Research source Pay attention to its ears since horses tend to put their ears back when they’re angry or upset. If your horse’s ears are tilted forward, it’s calm and listening to you. [8] X Research source
Limit halter sessions to 10-15 minutes at a time so your horse doesn’t get overwhelmed. Try to be patient and let the horse go at its own pace. Otherwise, your horse might start associating the halter with feeling overwhelmed or scared. End practice sessions positively by offering treats, speaking encouraging words, and stroking the horse’s neck. [10] X Research source
If your horse flares its nostrils or swishes its tail around, it’s agitated or scared. Spend a few more minutes soothing it. If the tail swishing continues, don’t try to halter your horse today. [12] X Research source Be especially wary if you can see the whites of your horse’s eyes or if its showing you its teeth. This means your horse is pretty upset! It might kick you or try to run. [13] X Research source
This gives you some control if your horse gets impatient or tries to run away as you’re haltering it. Avoid tying the ends of the rope together since this can make the horse feel trapped. Keep the rope loose so it doesn’t squeeze the horse’s neck. [15] X Research source
If the horse gets antsy or frightened with the halter over its nose, take the halter off. You can try again tomorrow![17] X Research source If the noseband brushes against the large hairs on your horse’s nose, it can tickle a bit! This can make your horse shy away from the halter, so try to avoid nudging these hairs if you can. [18] X Research source
Gently bend your horse’s ears back to get the crown piece over them if you need to. Straighten or adjust the crown piece if it’s cutting into the horse’s ears.
Some halters have adjustments on each side of the crown piece, too. If the noseband is too tight, your horse won’t be able to open its mouth. [21] X Research source The halter should not put any pressure behind the horse’s ears. [22] X Expert Source Kate JutagirEquestrian Specialist & Trainer Expert Interview. 31 March 2020. If the halter still isn’t fitting properly after adjustments, it’s too small and you need to size up.
Never wrap or tie a lead line rope around your hand. If your horse strains against the halter or tries to run, this can injure your hand pretty badly. It’s not a good idea to turn your horse loose when it’s wearing a halter since the halter could catch on a tree branch or fence. [24] X Research source
