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59-533: Halters may be as old as the early domestication of animals, and their history is not as well studied as that of the bridle or hackamore . The word "halter" derives from the Germanic words meaning "that by which anything is held." One halter design was patented in the United States by Henry Wagner of Toledo, Iowa February 13, 1894. A halter is used to control an animal when leading on the ground, and as

118-402: A muzzle . For tying, it is disputed if a halter should be made strong enough not to break under stress, or if it should give way when tension reaches a certain point in order to prevent injury to the animal. Usually the issue is of minimal concern if a tied animal is attended and the lead rope is tied with a slip knot that can be quickly released if the animal panics. However, in cases where

177-401: A "halter with knots". In German, it is called a knotenhalfter . Show halters may be flat or round, but are generally made of leather or a similar synthetic and are designed to enhance the attractiveness of an animal's head as well as to exert precise control. Horse halters are sometimes confused with a bridle or a hackamore . The primary difference between a halter and a bridle is that

236-445: A "sidepull" has a heavier noseband and two reins added on cheek rings placed each side to provide control. Halters may be classified into two broad categories, depending on whether the material used is flat or round. Materials used include leather , rawhide , rope , and many different fibers, including nylon , polyester , cotton , and jute . Fibers may be woven into flat webbing or twisted into round rope. Flat or round dictates

295-463: A bit, thus defeating any benefit that an apparently milder form of gear would otherwise provide. While many bitless designs are marketed as humane, and some are indeed quite mild, other designs can be remarkably harsh in the hands of a poor rider, particularly if they are improperly adjusted or have metal parts, a thin design, or rough surfaces. Bridles used for driving horses have some differences from most riding bridles. The most visible difference

354-454: A bit. A hackamore is not the same thing as a halter , as a halter is primarily used for leading and tying up an animal. Bitless bridles are similar to hackamores, but some designs use different leverage principles for control. Hackamores and bitless bridles use a headstall with reins attached to some type of noseband or nosepiece. Various designs allow control and good communication to the horse and may, in some cases, be more comfortable to

413-420: A bridle or hackamore may be used when handling an equine on the ground in order to exert more precision and control. One common halter design is made of either flat nylon webbing or flat leather , has a noseband that passes around the muzzle with one ring under the jaw, usually used to attach a lead rope, and two rings on either side of the head. The noseband is usually adjusted to lie about halfway between

472-434: A certain amount of action, and is not on a separate headstall (also called sliphead) as is a cavesson. Harness bridles may feature a fancy browband, rosettes, and other ornamentation. An overcheck or bearing reins are sometimes used to control a horse's head carriage and may be used in conjunction with an overcheck bit. The Liverpool curb bit is most commonly used for carriage driving. The reins can be attached in any of

531-549: A daily basis. In addition to the halter, a lead line , lead shank or lead rope is required to actually lead or tie the animal. It is most often attached to the halter at a point under the jaw, or less often, at the cheek, usually with a snap, but occasionally spliced directly onto the halter. A standard working lead rope is approximately 9 to 12 feet (2.7 to 3.7 m) long. Specially designed halters, sometimes highly decorated, are used for in-hand or "halter" classes at horse shows and in other livestock shows . When an animal

590-430: A fence) in a remote area where tying was impracticable. In actual practice, just as with the "stay" command used in obedience work for dogs , even well-trained horses may not stay "ground tied" for long, especially if left unsupervised. Thus, ground tying today is usually seen in specific classes at horse shows such as the trail horse class , or as a useful short-term command: many horses are taught to stand still for

649-432: A halter instead of a bridle. In most cases, it is not safe to ride in an ordinary stable halter because it fits loosely and provides no leverage to the rider should a horse panic or bolt. It is particularly unsafe if the lead rope is used as a single rein, attached to the leading ring under the jaw. In some cases, mecate -style reins may be added to a rope halter, creating a modified form of hackamore , and equipment called

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708-457: A halter is used by a handler on the ground to lead or tie up an animal, but a bridle or hackamore is generally used by a person who is riding or driving an animal that has been trained in this use. A halter is safer for tying, as the bit of a bridle or the heavier noseband of a hackamore may injure the horse if the horse sets back while tied. In addition, bridles and hackamores are usually made of lighter materials and will break. In some cases,

767-446: A horse's bit is the first factor most people think of when assessing the severity and action of the bit. Therefore, it is carefully considered when choosing a bit for a horse. Many mouthpieces are not allowed in certain competitions. Bit mouthpieces may be single jointed, double-jointed, "mullen" (a straight bar), or have an arched port in the center of varying height, with or without joints. Some have rollers, rings or small "keys" that

826-423: A horse, best practice is to either remove the bridle and put on a halter , or to put a halter on in addition to the bridle (under or over the bridle), and tie the horse using the halter only. In addition, tying with a slipknot that can be released by pulling on the end of the lead rope is a key safety tactic. In western riding , some horses are taught to "ground tie" with a bridle, that is, to stand still when

885-410: A limited period of time on a "whoa" or "stay" command, with or without dropping the reins. Bit (horse) The bit is an item of a horse's tack . It usually refers to the assembly of components that contacts and controls the horse's mouth, and includes the shanks, rings, cheekpads and mullen, all described here below, but it also sometimes simply refers to the mullen , the piece that fits inside

944-410: A metal ring under the jaw where the lead rope snaps, or, occasionally, a recessed hook attachment where the crownpiece can be connected. However, in many cases, a loop is formed in the left side of the crownpiece and the right side of the crownpiece simply is brought over the horse's head, through the loop and tied with a sheet bend . To lead or tie an animal a lead rope or leash is used. The lead

1003-412: A momentarily recalcitrant or frightened animal, but ultimately will break in a true panic situation, such as a fall. Some users have the animal wear a halter at all times, even when stalled or turned out. Others have the animal wear a halter only when being led, held, or tied. The advantages of leaving a halter on are that the animal is often easier to catch. The disadvantages are that an animal may catch

1062-403: A mouthpiece that is usually seen more often on curb bits, ridden with two reins; and the double bridle , which places a curb and a snaffle bit simultaneously in the horse's mouth so that each may act independently of the other, ridden with four reins. Another bit that combines direct pressure and leverage in a unique manner is the gag bit , a bit derived from the snaffle that, instead of having

1121-438: A neutral effect on salivation; sweet iron , aurigan and copper , which generally tend to encourage salivation, and aluminum, which is considered drying and is discouraged as a mouthpiece metal. Synthetic mouthpieces may be made with or without internal metal cable or bar reinforcement. Rubber bits are generally thicker than metal bits, but other types of synthetics such as plastics are also used. Plastic-coated bits are often

1180-461: A non-slip knot is tied, or if a soft rope is drawn tight and the knot cannot be released, or if the animal is left unsupervised, an animal panicking and attempting to escape can be seriously injured. Those who argue that the risk of injury is more of a concern than the risk of escape recommend halter designs that incorporate breakaway elements, such as a leather crownpiece, breakaway buckles, or easily detachable lead rope. Those who believe that escape

1239-484: A noseband that is designed to exert pressure on sensitive areas of the animal's face to provide direction and control. The bridle was devised by Indo-European herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppes to control horses between 3000 BC and 2000 BC. The bridle consists of the following elements: On a double bridle , where the horse carries two bits (a curb and small snaffle, often called a " bit and bradoon "),

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1298-489: A restraint when tying them up. It is used on many different types of livestock . Halters are most closely associated with Equidae such as horses , donkeys , and mules . However, they are also used on farm animals such as cattle and goats and other working animals such as camels , llamas , and yaks . Halters generally are not used on elephants or on predators , though there are halters made for dogs. Halters are often plain in design, used as working equipment on

1357-410: A second, smaller headstall, known as a 'bradoon hanger' or ‘slip head’ is used to attach the bradoon. A second set of reins is attached to the bradoon, and hence the rider carries four reins. The bridle, depending on style, may also contain some of the following elements: A hackamore , put simply, is headgear that controls a horse via pressure points on the face, usually with a nosepiece instead of

1416-399: A very high "spoon" or "spade" extension that contacts the roof of the mouth. The length of the shank determines the degree of leverage put on the horse's head and mouth. Again, a bit with shanks and leverage is always a "curb" type bit, even when it has a jointed mouthpiece more commonly seen on a snaffle (such bits are sometimes—incorrectly—called "cowboy snaffles"). All shanked bits require

1475-410: Is adjusted each time the bridle is put on the horse, loose enough to not interfere as the horse flexes at the poll. A standard throatlatch measurement is that the width of three or four fingers should be able to fit between the throatlatch and the horses’ cheek. It is unsafe to tie a horse using a bridle for two main, seemingly contradictory, reasons. First, if the tied animal pulls back on the bridle,

1534-507: Is attached to the halter most often at a point under the jaw, less often at the cheek, and less often, over the nose. On horses, a lighter version of a headcollar or headstall is also used to attach a fly veil of waxed cotton strands or light leather strips onto a browband. Some fly masks are also made in a similar pattern to a headcollar and are often fastened with velcro tabs. These masks may also have ear and nose protection added to them. On both horses and dogs, halters may be used to attach

1593-409: Is basically a hybrid bridle/hackamore made up of a noseband with shanks and a curb strap or chain that can put considerable leverage on the jaw and poll. Another design, called a bitless bridle is the "cross-under" or "figure eight" bridle. One common design connects the reins to a loop that passes from the noseband , under the jaw, and up around the poll , returning on the opposite side back under

1652-649: Is evidence of the use of bits, located in two sites of the Botai culture in ancient Kazakhstan , dated about 3500–3000 BC. Nose rings appear on the equids portrayed on the Standard of Ur , circa 2600–2400 BC. To date, the earliest known artistic evidence of use of some form of bitless bridle comes in illustrations of Synian horseman, dated approximately 1400 BC. The first bits were made of rope, bone, horn, or hard wood. Metal bits came into use between 1300 and 1200 BC, originally made of bronze. In modern times, nickel

1711-519: Is individually fitted to a horse. Without properly fitting the bridle to the horses’ head, the horse may be uncomfortable, and poor fitting may also result in lack of control while riding or unclear communication. The length of each piece of the bridle needs to be individually adjusted to fit the horse's head. Other parts of the bridle are adjustable in length, though there are limits to adjustment and thus many manufacturers offer two to six different basic sizes. The sizes may have different names, but in

1770-445: Is shown in an exhibition, the show halter is fitted more closely than a working halter and may have a lead shank that tightens on the head so that commands from the handler may be more discreetly transmitted by means of the leadline. A shank that tightens on the animal's head when pulled is not used for tying the animal. Halters are designed to catch, hold, lead and tie animals, and nothing else. However, some people ride horses using

1829-411: Is that they usually include partial eye coverings called blinders , blinkers or winkers that restrict the horse's peripheral vision. They are stitched into the cheekpieces of a driving bridle and sometimes bear a monogram or badge. Winkers may be square, dee-shaped, hatchet-shaped, or round, and are adjusted to fit clear of the center of the horse's eye. The noseband is fitted into the bridle so has

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1888-410: Is the greater danger, either due to concerns about escape or creating a recurring bad habit in an animal that learns to break loose that could become unable to be kept tied at all, recommend sturdy designs that will not break unless the handler deliberately releases a slipknot or cuts the lead rope. Between the two camps are those who recommend sturdy halters that will not break under normal pressure from

1947-477: Is too short causes the browband or crownpiece to rub the ears. The cheekpieces are adjusted not only so that the bit avoids the extremes of pulling the corners of the horse's mouth or banging the horse's incisors , but also so it hangs properly in the mouth for the specific riding discipline and bit design involved . The adjustment of the noseband depends on the type used, but needs to be snug enough to be effective, yet loose enough to avoid discomfort. The throatlatch

2006-417: The bridle such as the curb chain on the chin, noseband on the jaw and face, or pressure on the poll from the headstall. Particular mouthpieces do not define the type of bit. It is the sidepieces and the leverage these rings or shanks use to act on a horse's mouth that determines whether a bit is in the curb or snaffle family, and has a great impact on the severity of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece of

2065-503: The ears , over the poll and is buckled to a shorter strap coming up from the left. The throatlatch goes under the throat , and sometimes has a snap or clip that allows the halter to be removed in a manner similar to the bridle. Many halters have another short strap connecting the noseband and the throatlatch. The halter design made of rope also has the same basic sections, but usually is joined by knots instead of sewn into rings. Most designs have no metal parts, other than, in some cases,

2124-445: The headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit . It provides additional control and communication through rein pressure (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d., para. 1). Headgear without a bit that uses a noseband to control a horse is called a hackamore , or, in some areas, a bitless bridle . There are many different designs with many different name variations, but all use

2183-467: The US and Canada they are often called "cob" and "horse" for small and large animals, sometimes with "pony", "mini", "warmblood" and "draft" sizes in some designs. The bit and browband are of set lengths and must be selected in the correct size. A too-narrow bit is uncomfortable and cannot be widened. One that is slightly too wide can be narrowed to some extent by adding a pair of bit guards. A browband that

2242-437: The basic families of bits are defined by the way in which they use or do not use leverage . They include: Bits are further described by the style of mouthpiece that goes inside the horse's mouth as well as by the type of bit ring or bit shank that is outside the mouth, to which the reins are attached. Types of headgear for horses that exert control with a noseband rather than a bit are usually called hackamores , though

2301-417: The bit or controlling noseband (such as a bosal or mechanical hackamore ) may cause considerable pain or even injury to the mouth, tongue, or other facial structures of the animal even if the bridle breaks. Second, compared to halters , most bridles are made of thin leather which will easily break under pressure. The end result can be both injury to the horse and broken equipment. Should a rider need to tie

2360-462: The bosal hackamore, there are many other designs. A design that combines elements of the bosal hackamore is known as a sidepull, which acts mostly on the nose, and are popular with western riders and many trail riders. English riders sometimes use a jumping cavesson or "jumping hackamore" that is basically a leather sidepull noseband reinforced internally with a cable, with rein rings attached. The so-called mechanical hackamore or "hackamore bit"

2419-540: The construction method: flat materials normally are sewn to buckles and rings at attachment points; round materials are knotted or spliced. Knotted halters often are made from a single piece of rope. The rope halter, occasionally called a " cowboy halter", is associated with the western riding tradition, popularized with the wave of interest in natural horsemanship . It is called an "American halter" in France. or an "ethological halter" licol éthologique , literally

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2478-424: The end of the cheekbones and the corners of the mouth, crossing over the strong, bony part of the face. The noseband connects to a cheekpiece on either side that go up next to the cheekbone to meet with a ring on either side that usually is placed just above the level of the eye. These rings meet the throatlatch and the crownpiece. The crownpiece is a long strap on the right-hand side of the halter that goes up behind

2537-414: The front incisors and in front of the back molars . When a horse is said to "grab the bit in its teeth" they actually mean that the horse tenses its lips and mouth against the bit to avoid the rider's commands (although some horses may actually learn to get the bit between their molars). Depending on the style of bit, pressure can be brought to bear on the bars, tongue, and roof of the mouth, as well as

2596-494: The halter on an object and become trapped or injured in some fashion. While experts advise leaving halters off when animals are turned out, if halters are left on unattended animals, breakaway designs that still will hold for everyday leading are recommended. Bridle A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse . As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary , the "bridle" includes both

2655-462: The horse can move with its tongue. Mouthpieces may be smooth, wire-wrapped or otherwise roughened, or of twisted wire or metal. Various types of metal or synthetic substances are used for bit mouthpieces, which may determine how much a horse salivates or otherwise tolerates a bit; a horse having a moist mouth is considered more relaxed and responsive. Commonly used metals include stainless steel and nickel alloys, which generally do not rust and have

2714-417: The horse's mouth. The mullen extends across the horse's mouth and rests on the bars , the region between the incisors and molars where there are no teeth . The bit is located on the horse's head by the headstall , and which has itself several components to allow the most comfortable adjustment of bit location and control. The bit, bridle and reins function together to give control of the horse's head to

2773-670: The horse, particularly a young animal or one with a mouth injury. The jaquima or original bosal style hackamore is mostly seen on young horses being started under saddle in western riding disciplines. Bitless bridles and other types of hackamore are most often seen on horses used for endurance riding and trail riding . A design called the mechanical hackamore is sometimes seen at rodeos . Most horse show events do not allow bitless bridles of any kind. The exceptions are show jumping , where equipment rules are fairly generous, and in certain western horse show classes for "junior" horses, which permit use of bosal hackamore. Besides

2832-417: The jaw to the noseband and out to the other rein. This design directs pressure from one rein to the opposite side of the horse's head, or pressure on both reins to the whole head. Other designs only cross under the jaw and do not go over the poll. Some riders, not realizing that a horse's head overall is a very sensitive area, use a noseband-based style of headgear without the same caution they might use with

2891-443: The lips, chin groove and poll. Bits offer varying degrees of control and communication between rider and horse depending upon their design and on the skill of the rider. It is important that the style of bit is appropriate to the horse's needs and is fitted properly for it to function properly and be as comfortable as possible for the horse. All bits work with either direct pressure or leverage. Bits that act with direct pressure on

2950-529: The need for control of horses in warfare drove extensive innovation in bit design, producing a variety of prototypes and styles over the centuries, from Ancient Greece into modern-day use. A bit consists of two basic components, the bit mouthpiece that goes inside the horse's mouth, and the bit rings of a snaffle bit or shanks of a curb bit , to which the bridle and reins attach. All bits act with some combination of pressure and leverage, often in conjunction with pressure applied by other parts of

3009-457: The poll, chin groove and mouth of the horse are in the category of curb bits . Most curb bit mouthpieces are solid without joints, ranging from a straight bar with a slight arch, called a "mullen" mouthpiece, through a "ported" bit that is slightly arched in the middle to provide tongue relief, to the full spade bit of the Vaquero style of western riding which combines both a straight bar and

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3068-442: The reins are dropped on the ground. This can only be done with split reins, as a horse can easily put a foot through a pair of reins that are attached to one another. Even with split reins, a horse can still step on a rein, jerk its head up and both break the rein and injure its mouth. Historically, it was a useful skill if a rider had to momentarily dismount and perform a task that required both hands (such as removing brush or fixing

3127-434: The rider. The bit applies pressure to the horse's mouth, and reinforces the other control signals from the rider's legs and weight distribution. A well schooled horse needs little pressure on the bit from a skilled rider. Studies have indicated that soft, consistent bit contact between the rider and horse causes the animal less stress than intermittent or unpredictable contact. Although there are hundreds of design variations,

3186-411: The same size as metal bits, and some are flavored. Often, bits with shanks that also have single- or double-jointed mouthpieces are incorrectly referred to as snaffles. Because of the presence of a shank, they are actually in the curb bit family. The mouthpiece of the bit does not rest on the teeth of the horse , but rather rests on the gums or "bars" of the horse's mouth in an interdental space behind

3245-425: The term " bitless bridle " has become a popular colloquialism in recent years. The riders of early domesticated horses probably used some type of bitless headgear made of sinew, leather, or rope. Components of the earliest headgear may be difficult to determine, as the materials would not have held up over time. For this reason, no one can say with certainty which came first, the bitted or the bitless bridle. There

3304-470: The three slots along the shanks, resulting in a snaffle or curb action as required. Wilson snaffle bits are commonly used with trade turnouts. These bits have four rings so that the inner two rings may be attached to the cheek pieces and the outer pair to the reins. This arrangement is designed to prevent rein pressure interfering with the position of the winkers. Other styles of bits are used for harness racing , fine harness , and coach driving. A bridle

3363-421: The tongue and lips are in the general category of snaffle bits. Snaffle bits most commonly have a single jointed mouthpiece and act with a nutcracker effect on the bars, tongue and occasionally roof of the mouth. However, any bit that operates only on direct pressure is a "snaffle" bit, regardless of mouthpiece. Bits that have shanks coming off the bit mouthpiece to create leverage that applies pressure to

3422-522: The use of a curb chain or curb strap for proper action and safe use. Some bits combine both direct pressure and leverage, the most common examples being the Pelham bit , which has shanks and rings allowing both direct and leverage pressure on a single bit and is ridden with four reins; the Kimblewick or Kimberwicke , a hybrid bit that uses minimal leverage on a modified snaffle-type ring combined with

3481-410: Was a favored material until about 1940, when stainless steel largely replaced it. Copper , aurigan and sweet iron (cold rolled steel) are incorporated into some bits to encourage salivation in the mouth of the horse, which encourages a softer mouth and more relaxed jaw. Bits also can be made of other materials such as rubber or plastic, sometimes in combination with metals. Throughout history,

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