A halter is a very important piece of equipment when it comes to horse riding, because it can help you to control your horse and help guide their movements. Choosing the best horse halter can seem daunting, because it is important you get the right one for your horse so there is less of a risk of injury, both to you and your equine.
There are many different types of horse halters out there, from different materials to different brands. Below we have compiled a buying guide all about horse halters, including the variations in textiles, the most common horse halter FAQs, and even our favorite horse halters out there on the market today.
So, if you’re ready to find the best horse halter for the best riding experience, keep reading on.
Best Horse Halter – Comparison Table
| Image | Product Name | Features | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1) Weaver Leather Diamond Braid Rope Halter and Lead | Hand knotted from a continuous piece of 3/8″ poly rope Double noseband and crown strap Hollow braid spun 1/2″ x 10′ poly lead | 4.4 out of 5 |
 | 2) Weaver Leather Basic Adjustable Halter | 1 inch wide, double-ply nylon construction Features a sewn-in throat snap hook for easy on and off Brass plated hardware | 4.7 out of 5 |
 | 3) Tough 1 Economy Halter | Strong Nylon halter Brass plated hardware Buckle at crown | 4 out of 5 |
 | 4) CENTAUR Solid Cushion Padded Breakaway Halter | Heavy Duty Zinc Hardware Adjustable Chin Breakaway Fuse | 4.1 out of 5 |
 | 5) Intrepid International Breakaway Leather Crown Padded Halter | Safety Leather Crown Swivel Snap at Throat Adjustable Chin | 4.3 out of 5 |
 | HORZE Howard Soft Fleece Padded Polyester Horse Halter | Ultimate Comfort Get The Perfect Fit Long Lasting Quick and Easy | 4.5 out of 5 |
 | 7) Tough 1 Neoprene Padded Halter with Antique Hardware Lead Set | Double ply halter Neoprene padded crown and nose Includes matching lead | 4.2 out of 5 |
 | 8) Gatsby Classic Nylon Breakaway Halter with Snap | Double ply, durable nylon Pre-conditioned leather crown Spring snap on the side for easy on and off | 4 out of 5 |
 | 9) Knotty Girlz Horse Rope Training Halter | Great product used by most trainers World Wide Knot on pressure points for training horses Stiff rope makes it easy for halter to hold its form | 4.8 out of 5 |
 | 10) Weaver Leather Adjustable Nylon Horse Halter | Premium material and fashion hardware costruction Box-stitching at stress points for added strength Rolled throat for comfort | 4.8 out of 5 |
Why Do I Need The Best Horse Halter?
As we mentioned above, a horse halter is a very important piece of equipment. It is important in both training and riding, because it allows you to control the horse through any activity. Because it fits them perfectly, it will allow you to know your horse better, and a personalized halter can also help you find your horse when they are lost. You can use them in training, dressage, turnout and other equestrian ventures, and you can even find show halters.
It can be difficult to know which horse halter is right for your horse, because they come in many different sizes, colors and types. It will also depend on whether your horse is a foal, pony, cob, draft or standard horse. Take a look below at the most common types of horse halters.
Types of Horse Halters
There are four main types of horse halters below, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Leather Halters
A leather halter is one of the most high-quality and durable halters out there, perfect if you want something long-lasting. These halters can be more expensive than other halters, but they are not prone to breakage when taken care of properly. They are also safe and comfortable for your horse to wear.
Breakaway Halters
Breakaway halters are nylon halters that contain a replaceable leather breakaway crown or leather tab that allows the halter to cleanly break off your horse if they were to get caught and panic. This halter is more durable than a leather one in terms of release under pressure, and is great for turnout.
Nylon Halters
Nylon halters are another strong and durable halter. They are usually cheaper than leather halters, but are not always as long-lasting. These halters are easy to clean, too.
The durability of a nylon halter can be its downfall, too. Unlike with leather halters, if your horse were to get stuck on something with their nylon halter, it can be very difficult to set them free as these halters are almost impossible to cut through. Therefore, they should always be used under supervision.
Rope Halters
Rope halters are a common halter, particularly when owners are concentrating on groundwork. These halters don’t have any hardware, so they can be more comfortable for your horse, but you should always check the positioning of the knots so you can be sure they aren’t hurting your equine.
These halters usually come in a one-size-fits-all sizing. Learning to put on a rope halter can be difficult, so you might need a professional to show you how to do it first time around.
Now we know all about the different types of horse halters and why they are important when it comes to training and riding your horse. Let’s take a look at some of the best horse halters out there for you to buy. All the horse halters below are available to you on Amazon.
The Best Horse Halter — Reviews
1) Weaver Leather Diamond Braid Rope Halter and Lead
This rope halter from Weaver Leather is made from a continuous piece of 3/8″ poly rope with a hand-knotted construction and a double noseband and crown strap. The hollow braid spun poly lead measures 1/2″ x 10’.
The halter is adjustable and will fit a range of different horses. The rope is comfortable for your horse to wear and the lead, which is removable, is about eight feet long. What’s more, this halter comes in nineteen different colors.
Key Features:
- Hand knotted from a continuous piece of 3/8″ poly rope
- Double noseband and crown strap
- Hollow braid spun 1/2″ x 10′ poly lead
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
2) Weaver Leather Basic Adjustable Halter
Another halter from Weaver Leather, this halter is a basic halter, perfect if you are looking for your first halter or need something on the cheaper end of the market. It is one inch wide and and has a double-ply nylon construction. It features a sewn-in throat snap hook for easy on and off and also has an adjustable chin strap.
The hardware is brass plated and there are heat-sealed oblong buckle holes for extra durability. The nylon is strong and sturdy, and the entire halter can be adjusted to fit your horse. It comes in six different, fun colors, so your horse can really stand out.
Key Features:
- 1 inch wide, double-ply nylon construction
- Features a sewn-in throat snap hook for easy on and off
- Brass plated hardware
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
3) Tough 1 Economy Halter
This Tough 1 halter is one of the cheapest on our list, but is still durable and sturdy, great if you are buying your first halter or need something shorter-term. It is made of 2 ply nylon with 1 inch webbing.
There is nickel plated hardware throughout and a snap at throat and buckle at the crown. Adjustable to fit a range of different sizes, this halter is great for a number of horses. Again, it comes in a few different colors.
Key Features:
- Strong Nylon halter
- Brass plated hardware
- Buckle at crown
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
4) CENTAUR Solid Cushion Padded Breakaway Halter
This halter from CENTAUR is a padded breakaway halter, great for owners worried about the safety of their horse when wearing a halter. The nubuck leather padded nose and crown ensures your horse is comfortable, and there is heavy duty hardware to ensure durability.
The halter is adjustable, including an adjustable chin, as well as there being an easy change loop throat snap. A breakaway fuse is, of course, included and this halter is available in seven different colors.
Key Features:
- Heavy Duty Zinc Hardware
- Adjustable Chin
- Breakaway Fuse
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
5) Intrepid International Breakaway Leather Crown Padded Halter
This breakaway halter from Intrepid International is a 1 inch wide nylon web safety halter with a break away leather crown. It comes with double crown buckles and an adjustable nose, great for horses of different sizes.
The nylon ensures that the halter is durable and sturdy, and extra padding on the nose strap means your horse will be comfortable. The hardware is heavy duty and silver in color to match the metallic silver thread of the halter. There is also a swivel snap at the throat. This padded nylon halter comes in three different colors.
Key Features:
- Safety Leather Crown
- Swivel Snap at Throat
- Adjustable Chin
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
HORZE Howard Soft Fleece Padded Polyester Horse Halter
This horse halter from Horze Store has an ultimate comfort feature that I really like; it has soft fleece padding that is very comfortable for your horse, as well as easy-to-adjust straps at the nose and crown to accommodate your horse’s unique shape. These halters are said to be made with brushed nickel hardware and 100 percent polyester, making them durable and a good value for money. I believe it is not only comfortable but also an attractive design for your horse.
Key Features:
- Ultimate Comfort
- Get The Perfect Fit
- Long Lasting
- Quick and Easy
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
7) Tough 1 Neoprene Padded Halter with Antique Hardware Lead Set
Another halter from Tough 1, this halter is a double ply nylon halter with a neoprene padded crown and nose for extra comfort for your horse. Sturdy and durable, this halter is adjustable at the crown and at the nose for the perfect fit.
It is complete with a snap at the throat and comes with a three foot matching lead. Like the others on our list, it comes in many different colors for you to choose from, too.
Key Features:
- Double ply halter
- Neoprene padded crown and nose
- Includes matching lead
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
8) Gatsby Classic Nylon Breakaway Halter with Snap
This breakaway halter from Gatsby is a double ply nylon halter that is durable and long-lasting and comes with tough, nickel-plated hardware. With a preconditioned leather crown, this halter helps to protect your horse if they get themselves into trouble by being designed to break.
The spring snap on the side is extremely easy to undo, even on cold days, while the adjustable chin and rolled throat throat latch add comfort and provide a great fit for your horse. There are three different sizes for you to choose from with this adjustable nylon halter, and thirteen different colors!
Key Features:
- Double ply, durable nylon
- Pre-conditioned leather crown
- Spring snap on the side for easy on and off
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
9) Knotty Girlz Horse Rope Training Halter
This rope halter from Knotty Girlz is a polyester halter rope that is durable and designed to hold up well in adverse weather conditions. The stiff rope makes it easy for the halter to hold its form and makes it more reactive to horses.
There is a knot on key pressure points for training horses and, with no hardware to break, you can be sure that this halter is durable and will last you a long time. Not only is this halter washable, but it comes three different sizes and a range of different colors to choose from, too.
Key Features:
- Great product used by most trainers World Wide
- Knot on pressure points for training horses
- Stiff rope makes it easy for halter to hold its form
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
10) Weaver Leather Adjustable Nylon Horse Halter
Why settle for one of those plain and boring horse halters that almost everyone uses when you can opt for a more fashionable option such as this one? The bright and vivid colors will catch the eye of anyone you pass and make your horse stand out in a crowd. Not only does the harness use funky colors, but it also has a fun chevron print. Made from the top available materials, the halter has box stitching around the stress points to prevent accidents and damage.
The neck area that fits around the animal’s neck has a rolled throat to keep your horse comfortable. It also has durable hardware made from high-quality metals with brass plating on the top that adds an extra dose of class to the halter.
Key Features:
- Premium material and fashion hardware costruction
- Box-stitching at stress points for added strength
- Rolled throat for comfort
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Horse Halter FAQ’s
How do I find the right size of horse halter?
You’ll want to make sure the halter fits your horse correctly, otherwise it isn’t going to work well. You won’t be able to get full control over your horse and it could end up hurting them.
Most halters come in a one-size-fits-all sizing, meaning they are adjustable to fit any horse. However, it can be useful to know the size of your horse anyway, so you can be sure it fits. If you are unsure the size you should be looking for, contact a professional that will be able to help you measure up the correct size.
Do rope halters hurt the horse?
Rope halters can hurt your horse, particularly if the knots run on a sensitive part of their head. If you’re thinking about using a rope halter, you should make sure you learn how to use one properly from a trained professional.
How do I take care of my horse halter?
Looking after your horse halter will somewhat depend on the type of material your halter is made out of. With leather halters, you want to prevent the leather from becoming cracked and dry, because this is when it can break. Simple regular cleaning and conditioning can ensure your leather horse halter lasts a lifetime.
Other halters, such as nylon halters, are machine washable and can be cleaned with regular detergent. However, you shouldn’t tumble dry them and instead let them dry naturally.
Summary
A horse halter is a necessity for every horse rider and ensuring you get the right one can seem daunting. However, there are so many great options out there, with halters ranging in material, size and color, so you can be sure to get the best one for your equine.
Take a look at all the different textiles the halters come in and decide which one you think is going to work best for your horse. Don’t forget to note the size and age of your horse too, so you can get the correct fit. We hope our best horse halter buying guide above can help you to decide which halter to go for, and perhaps you’ll even choose one from our top picks.