How to Make an Emergency Halter for Horses

Knowing how to tie an emergency halter is essential for every horse owner. Emergencies can arise when a horse breaks an existing halter or gets loose from a field and needs to be controlled quickly. The best material for a halter is soft cotton or nylon rope, and ideally you will need a length of several feet. Rope should be thin enough to be flexible, but thick enough to be safe, as very thin rope can cut into the horse or break. Horses should not be tied up and left unattended using this type of basic halter, as it is not sufficiently strong.

Things You'll Need

  • Length of rope
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a slip knot in one end of the rope. Fold the rope back on itself by about 4 inches and pass the end under the main rope. Bring the end over and tuck it through the middle of the knot so that you have a small adjustable loop at the end of the rope.

    • 2

      Feed the spare end of the rope through the loop and draw it through until you have a circle roughly 12 inches in diameter.

    • 3

      Pass the free end of the rope around the horse's neck and slip the loop over its nose. Gently pull it tighter so that it is snug but not tight. Pass the free end of the rope over the horse's head behind the ears and tie it securely to the far side of the nose band using a reef knot. The spare end of the rope can be used as a lead rope.

    • 4

      Tie a knot in the end of the lead rope to prevent it from being pulled through your hand.