How to Make Rope Halters for Cattle

Cattle halters are a tool to train a cow to lead for showing competitions or simply to lead a cow out of a pasture in a secure manner. Cattle in large pastures can lose halters from rubbing on trees or fence posts. Repeatedly replacing lost halters can become expensive; making your own rope halters is a less-expensive option to purchasing pre-made.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • 3-ply rope, 1/2-inch diameter
  • Utility knife
  • Shoat-size hog rings
  • Adjustable pliers
  • Electrical tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a 13-foot length of 3-ply rope with a utility knife.

    • 2

      Slide a hog ring onto one end of the rope one inch from the tip. Squeeze the hog ring tightly to the rope with adjustable pliers. Place another hog ring one inch from the first hog ring. Attach a second hog ring to the other end of the rope in the same manner. This creates a rope with one ring on one end and two rings spaced one inch apart on the other end of the rope.

    • 3

      Wrap electrical tape on each end of the rope, covering the hog rings and the rope ends. This keeps the hog rings tight on the rope and the ends of the rope from fraying.

    • 4

      Measure 18 inches from the end of the rope with two hog rings and hold the rope with one hand immediately on each side of the 18-inch area. Twist the left side with your left hand forward and the right side with your right hand backwards at the same time to loosen the 3-ply rope. While twisting in opposite directions, push your hands toward each other. Pull up one strand of the rope and pull the long end of the rope with one hog ring below the strand as tight as possible to start the first eye of the halter. Raise one strand of rope above the beginning of the eye and pull the short end of the rope through very tightly. This completes the first eye of the halter.

    • 5

      Hold the short end of rope in the right hand and twist it in opposite directions to expose three strands. Twist the three strands 1/2 turn in either direction by loosening and pulling them outwards from the rope to form three loops. Pull the long end of the rope through the loop farthest from the end and then pull it through the other two loops at once.

    • 6

      Pull the long end through all three loops to form the head and nose piece. Pull the long end through the eye and pull it all the way through tightly.