Before I owned a tack shop, I never put much thought into purchasing a halter. If I found a halter that was the color I wanted and it fit my horse, then I would buy it. Now I am older and more educated about picking a halter that is best for the horse.
There are so many different types of halters out there to choose from. How do you choose the one that is best for your horse? From an everyday halter to the one your horse travels in, here are some reasons to choose halters made of leather over synthetic materials.
Leather halters will break when a horse pulls back, flips, or has an accident when tied to a stationary object. We all probably know of horse that was hurt, or worse, from a situation like this. Nylon halters have no give, and can damage the poll area. These halters can even break the bones at the top of the neck if the horse sits back at the right angle.
Travel is an especially important time to have your horse in the correct halter. Many people do know understand the rules of the road when they see people hauling their horses. I choose to transport Theo in his leather halter. If the unthinkable happens, that leather halter will break and hopefully allow Theo to be able to not be stuck in situation where he could hurt himself more seriously than if he was still tethered to the trailer.
Horses that are older, or have skin issues, do better with leather halters. Since leather is a natural fiber, it decreases the risk of causing rubs on the horse. We all have had that horrible case of rope burn, and the best way to avoid that happening to your horse is to use leather. leather does not cause the same amount of friction that synthetic fibers do. There are even horses can even have sensitivity to the synthetic fibers.
Lastly, prepare for the worst and you are always ready for the best. In case of a fire and you have to release the horse, you want a leather halter that will burn and fall off the horse's head. The synthetic fibers of halters will melt when exposed to fire's high temperatures. The halters can melt onto the horse and cause horrible damage to the head, eyes, nose and throat.
Leather halters do not have to cost a fortune. We offer leather halters that range from $40 to $300. Theo loves his Halter Ego halter that he is pictured in, but he also has one from HKM. Depending on the activity I choose the halter that I feel is the safest, and the most comfortable, for him to be in.
In closing, different types of halters serve different purposes. They serve a purpose and have a place in every barn. I encourage horse owners to be educated and mindful when choosing the equipment they use on their horse based on their activity. We love them so much, and want to keep them as safe as possible.