How To Tie A Rope Halter

Clinton Anderson from Downunder Horsemanship has developed an effective method for training horses. It’s training the owners that poses a real problem. Join him as he tackles some of the most challenging situations with problem horses and with problem owners. This week, Clinton will show us the correct way to tie your halter. 

In this episode, Clinton is responding to a question that originates from Ben in Idaho. Ben wants to know what the correct way of tying your halter is. While it seems fairly straightforward, this is not an uncommon question. There is absolutely a correct way and an incorrect way. When you don’t tie your halter correctly, it can lead to a number of problems. The incorrect way of tying your halter is putting the halter on and then proceeding to tie the knot above the little loop that forms. They take it over the top and then through. The problem with tying the halter like this is that it will tie exactly in that position but when you stop moving in speed, the knot has a tendency to slip. It won’t stay tied and the halter will slowly get lower and lower down on the horse’s nose. The knot continues to slip and can therefore cause problems for the rider and the horse alike. 

Tying the halter

The correct way to tie a halter is done by changing the position. You need to get the halter up nice and high on your horse’s face when you’re riding. When you’re doing groundwork, get it a little bit lower. Just keep in mind that you don’t want it so low that it’s interfering with the horse’s breathing. You want to place it where the soft part of your horse’s nose joins the bony part. Once you have the right placement, make sure that you always tie your knot so it’s around the loop, not above the loop. This is very important. It needs to be around the loop in order to work correctly. To do this, take it through, go around the back of the loop and then pull it through the opening. Clinton demonstrates the proper way to do this in the video. When you tie it like that, the knot won’t slip. 

Now, the good news is that if it ever does tighten up, such as in the case that your horse pulls back and tightens the knot, all you have to do to loosen it is to push the back part up. When you push the part back, it opens up and is very easy to take on and off again. If you incorrectly tie the halter however, this isn’t possible. So again, go around the back of the loop and then through it. When you follow these instructions, you’ll do it right every time. 

Make Sure Your Horse is Well Trained

Tying the halter isn’t the only thing you need to do for a successful day on the trails. What’s even more important is making sure that your horse is well trained. Properly trained horses create safer environments for both of you. To help you, Clinton Anderson has developed a method to train any horse, regardless of their problem. Unfortunately, up until now it was nearly impossible to access the method when you’re on the go or at the barn. Our Downunder Horsemanship app gives you access to your digital training kits and allows you to download videos and training content directly to your mobile device or view them on your computer. The Downunder Horsemanship app offers over 86 hours of free, in-depth training content. You can also access all of the training material through three different levels by joining our No Worries Club. 

If you want the ultimate experience, the premium membership is for you. You get all the benefits of the No Worries Club, a printed copy of our No Worries Club quarterly journal, and access to all of the method and the professional series kit training videos. Altogether, that’s thousands of dollars of horse training, and 20 years of horsemanship delivered right to your fingertips. So, what are you waiting for, mate? Get started today.

To learn more about the Clinton Anderson training method, become a member of the No Worries Club, or to get information on any of the products seen on our show, head over to our homepage and download the Downunder Horsemanship app today! If you’re interested in getting accelerated results, let a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician bring the method to you!