The advantage of using Rope Halters

Why should I use a rope halter?

Nylon and leather halters look nice but are not very effective for training your horse.
A rope halter is lightweight and should be made of soft but fairly thin gauge rope (10mm).
Rope halters do not have buckles that will rust or cut the horse should they pull back or put a lot of pressure on the halter.
Rope halters are light weight and soft so you can apply very light aids and cues through the rope. However they can also be firm enough to use on horses that are unruly, young or trying to pull on the halter. Nylon and leather halters are very comfortable for the horse, but horses will also learn that they can easily pull on them, and may quickly develop the habit of pulling you around.

If you are handling young horses or retraining problem horses, the rope halter allows you to train the horse, keeping you safe, without needing to use a bit in the horses sensitive mouth.

It is much better to be able to use pressure on the horses nose to control a difficult horse rather than to apply this pressure to the horses mouth, with rearing bits or other such devices for control.

The light weight rope halter also means that it will allow you to release the pressure more quickly when the horse does respond correctly.

The rope halter is also cheaper than nylon or leather halters and will also last much longer.

If you are handy with rope and knots you can tie your own rope halter, and save a lot of money.

If you do up a rope halter correctly, you can always get it off even if the horse pulls back.

Rope halters can be used under the bridle, if necesssary, without adding to much bulk.
This can allow you to do groundwork from the halter, or tie the horse up.

It is also possible to take the rope halter off without even taking the bridle off!
You simply undo the halter, then pass the top nose peice through the mouth around behind the bit and then out.

Rope halters can be used as a hackamore to ride the horse in.