How to properly adjust your halter?
The halter is an element of style but also an element of safety. Whether it is for tying, during transport, or simply for leading the horse in hand, it is an often indispensable link between the rider and his horse. As the halter is finally in place on the horse’s head, during events that put the halter under tension (sudden gestures from the horse or rider), it is important that the halter is comfortable for the horse, and does not cause him pain. This is why it is necessary to choose the right size, in order to be able to adjust it correctly. A badly adjusted halter is also a halter likely to break more easily (the pressure points being badly distributed).
Choosing the right size halter
At Smart Wag, our halters have double adjustment on the headpiece, but also adjustment possibilities on the noseband and the throat latch. The only parts that will not vary in size are the noseband and headstall. It is therefore essential to choose the right size according to the length of the horse’s head. To find out the sizes of our halters, you can find them on the product pages.
The correct adjustment of the halter of his horse
Once the right size has been chosen, it is important to make sure that the halter is properly adjusted. Indeed, a halter that is too tight will compress the tissues of the horse’s head, which is particularly sensitive because it is innervated on the surface.
On the contrary, a halter that is too wide will be unstable and therefore annoying, and may cause the noseband to fall on the nasal bone if the headpiece is set too long. This same reason could also cause the headpiece to be placed on the neck, at the level of the first cervical bone, whereas its initial place is at the level of the horse’s atlas. This would lead to pressure pain, but also make the rider’s requests with the lead rope unclear.
How to check that a halter is properly adjusted?
To adjust the halter properly, you can check several points: The adjustment of the noseband, its positioning, as well as the positioning of the headpiece on the neck.
- The noseband: it should be possible to pass a hand through between the horse’s trough and the noseband. It must be placed at about two fingers (1.5cm) from the zygomatic process of the horse. The adjustment of the headpiece allows the variations of height of the noseband.
- Cheekpieces : They should not touch the zygomatic process. The loop that connects them to the headpiece must rest on the cheek and must not in any case be lodged on the parotid of the horse.
- Headpiece : Well adjusted, it does not slip at the level of the first cervical bones. It stays behind the ears, at the level of the atlas. Whether it is straight or « anatomically » shaped, it will be chosen according to the morphology of the horse. Between a straight or curved headpiece, there is no universal formula for the comfort of the horse. Everything depends on each morphology.
Now that you have all the keys, your horse will only know how to thank you!
