Braided polyester rope can be purchased in different diameters by the foot from most hardware or farm stores, along with rope clamps and metal clips. A wide variety of colors and patterns let you customize your horse's gear to match his coat color and your sense of style.
Things You'll Need
- Matches
- 20 feet of 1/4-inch diamond braid rope
- 34 feet of 1/2-inch braided polyester rope
- 2 rope clamps
- 2 round swivel eye bolt snaps
- Groove joint pliers
Instructions
Halter
Light a match and use it to melt and seal both ends of a 20-foot length of 1/4-inch diamond braid rope. Allow rope ends to cool for a minute before handling.
Measure 30 inches from the end of the rope and tie a firm, but not tight, overhand knot. This is the right ear knot. Measure 9 inches from the right ear knot and tie the right nose knot. Measure 10 inches from the right nose knot and tie the left nose knot. Measure 33 inches from the left nose knot and tie the throat latch knot. Measure 10 inches from the throat latch knot, double the rope back on itself, and tie the tie loop knot (the loop should be about 2 inches long).
Measure 10 inches from the tie loop and thread the long, free end of the rope through the left nose knot so that the two lengths of rope are tied together. Measure 10 inches from the (now doubled) left nose knot and tie the long free end into the existing right nose knot. Measure 33 inches down the free end and tie it into the existing throat latch knot. Measure 10 inches down the free end and tie it into the existing right ear knot.
Cut the two free rope ends to an even length and seal the ends with another match. If desired, wrap electrical tape around the two ends to bind them together.
Grab the two 33-inch sections in the middle of their length and tie them into a loop similar to the tie loop knot in Step 2. This will be the chin knot, where the lead rope attaches.
Ropes
Cut a 12-foot length (lead rope) and a 22-foot length (lunge line) of 1/2-inch braided polyester rope. Light a match and seal the rope ends by carefully melting them.
Tie an overhand knot as close to the end of both ropes as you can, but only on one end of each. Tighten the knot as much as possible.
Thread the untied ends of each rope about 4 inches through a swivel eye bolt snap. Double each rope end back on itself.
Place each doubled back rope into a rope clamp. The burrs on the rope clamp will grasp the braided rope, holding it in place.
Grasp each rope clamp with a pair of groove joint pliers and squeeze the wings of the rope clamp closed. You may have to switch sides to get both wings clamped into place. Pull on the snap and the rope to make sure the rope clamp is firmly seated, holding the snap in place tightly.