How to Make a Rope Halter for a Yearling Colt

Colts are young male horses, and can be strong and boisterous. A yearling colt is at an age where he may be learning to push his boundaries, and could be hard to handle. As a handler, you may consider using a knotted rope halter on your colt rather than a standard rope halter. This will give you more control, and is useful in teaching your youngster how to respect your space.

For this halter, you will need rope that is thin enough to be flexible but thick enough to be strong. The rope should also be soft enough not cause discomfort from friction.

Things You'll Need

  • 20-foot length of rope
  • Table
  • Tape measure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie two simple reef knots 10 inches apart in the center of the rope. Lay the middle of the rope flat on a table. When the halter is finished, the left hand knot will become the knot on the right side of the nose, and vice-versa.

    • 2

      Tie another knot about 9 inches from the left hand knot. This will become the right ear knot. Move across to the right hand knot, and tie another knot 33 inches down the rope. This will become the throat-lash knot. Move 10 inches along the rope from the throat-lash knot, and tie a small loop.

    • 3

      Bend the rope back on itself, and tie the end with the loop into first one nose knot, then the other, so that you form a double loop across the noseband.

    • 4

      Tie into the throat-lash knot, and then pick up the halter from the table and arrange it into the shape of the horse's head, with the nose band at the front. Tie into the right ear knot. Bring the two 33-inch sections together, and tie them in a secure knot at the chin.

    • 5

      Try the halter on your horse. If necessary, slip the knots to alter the size of the halter. Trim both of the tie ends to the required length. If your rope is nylon, seal the ends by holding a lit match to them. For a cotton rope, tie a knot to prevent it from unraveling.