Does anyone have the SmartPak Triple Stitch Halter?

[french_fry]

Anyone have one? How’s the quality? How does the sizing run?

I’m trying to purchase a leather halter for a lanky 16.2ish warmblood gelding with a pretty big head and am wondering how they run. The reviews say they run big so now I’m second guessing the warmblood size.

I am getting it personalized so while Smartpak is willing to exchange it if it doesn’t fit, that means they basically have to throw away the halter and make me a new one since the nameplate isn’t removable. I really don’t want to do that to them (though they said they’ll be happy to take it back from me, even personalized) but I’d rather order from them than go into Dover…

[BAC]

[QUOTE=french fry;7757729]
but I’d rather order from them than go into Dover…[/QUOTE]

That’s too bad because I know that Dover’s triple stitched halter is made by Walsh, its the same one, or at least it used to be.

[batman_the_horse]

The sizing runs HUGE. Leather is good for the price. It tends to bleed at first after oiling. It is made by Perri’s.

[JumpWithPanache]

Had one for my cob-sized mare that I loved! Nice leather, especially for the price point.

[ElementFarm]

I have several.
A cob-sized for a large-headed 13.2 welsh pony mare
Horse/Full size on top holes fits my 15.3 Oldenburg mare with a blocky head
Horse/Full size on middle holes fits my 16.2 KWPN mare with feminine head
WB size fits by 17.2 hanno gelding. He can barely fit into a Full, if everything is on last hole.

Smartpak’s customer service is second to none. In addition to swapping out for a differnent size, they can also measure the straps (nose/crown/cheeks/whatever) and call you back with the measurements if you have a fitting halter to compare the numbers to (I did this when ordering a custom dog collar. I Heart Smartpak!)

[french_fry]

Hmm, I’m not anti-Dover, I just love Smartpak’s customer service and have had some minor issues with Dover’s in the past. Since this item is personalized I want to get it exactly right or have the guarantee that they’ll make it right and I feel more confident with Smartpak in that respect.

That said, I’m not a huge fan of Perri’s leather. IIRC I much prefer Walsh. So that may be a point in Dover’s favor.

[fourfillies]

I’ll be the dissenter on the quality for the price. The one I bought recently was the same price point as the Walsh but very inferior quality. Stiff “plasticky” leather that bled horribly. I had a plate put on so I own it but hate it. Will probably last forever. I shared my quality concern with Smartpak, nada a return email/call. I agree they run big. My colt has a biggish head for a “horse” size but not quite OS. Smartpak horse size fits him with plenty of growing room to spare.

[AmmyByNature]

Don’t forget Quillens, if your’e willing to not go the SmartPak route.

[Jumper_girl221]

I dont have experience with this particular halter, but IME with “store brand” products, dover usually is superior to smartpak.

[french_fry]

Does anyone have experience with Dover’s Classic Leather Halter? It is right at my desired price point and the reviews on the site are phenomenal.

[caughtintheact]

I have the Smartpak one and I like it a lot more than Dover’s halters around that price range. The leather is much nicer than I was expecting. It does bleed a little bit at first, but after that it’s fine. I got the cob size for my 15.1hh Paint with a short but wide head. The leather does stretch; when I first got the halter I had the crownpiece on the second hole on each side and now (about a year later) have it on the 3rd and 4th holes.

[LadyBug]

[QUOTE=french fry;7758037]
Does anyone have experience with Dover’s Classic Leather Halter? It is right at my desired price point and the reviews on the site are phenomenal.[/QUOTE]

I’m pretty sure I have 2 of these. One of them is in my tackroom, never been used. The other one is my mare’s turn out halter for her grazing muzzle. I bought them when I worked at Dover, and that was about 6 or 7 years ago now. Still going strong, and they’re nice halters. I’m sure it would work fine for a nicer show halter.

I have the cheaper (not triple-stitched) Smartpak brand halter for my other mare, and I’m less than thrilled with the quality. It got a bit better after an oiling, and the reddish color darkened, but the color bleeds onto my grey horse. She is a very typical cob size, and I find the fit of the halter to just be… weird. Maybe the triple-stitched is better quality?

[foursocks]

If you want other options Quillins and kyhorse.com are where I get both turnout and show halters. kyhorse.com is especially inexpensive for the quality of the leather and workmanship. I get a new turnout halter for both of my horses only every couple of years, and these things get hung on the gate in the field in all sorts of weather.

I’ve never had a problem with sizing in the Quillins, but the kyhorse ones need to be in the “Thoroughbred” size if your horse has a regular or larger-sized head and nose. I get their leather turnout halters with nameplates and have to order the adjustable nosebands for my big-headed WB, but the non-adjustable ones fit fine on my narrow-nosed TB.

[ChristinaClarLuisa]

I have three. Agree that they run large. “Horse” size fits the dinosaur-headed WBs I seem to collect. The two bought last year were a bit stiff and orange-y, but they have lasted; the one I bought 3 months ago broke within a week (admittedly under the strain of a lot of halter tag in the paddock.) I’m hoping that doesn’t signal a decline in quality. The older ones at least seemed like a good buy.
ETA: A rivet in one of the name plates also broke. Doesn’t make the halter unusable, but I couldn’t figure out how to fix it neatly, and THAT was irritating.

[sarcam02]

I love them. Go with horse size

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;7758019]
Don’t forget Quillens, if your’e willing to not go the SmartPak route.[/QUOTE]

These are the nicest, IMHO. Once I tried a Quillens, I never looked back. I’m not tempted to try anything else.

[french_fry]

I’m not anti Quillins, just stymied by the options. Can anyone recommend a Quillins triple stitched halter to fit a big headed but not dinosaur headed WB? Nice enough to go to shows but primarily an everyday halter.

[sarcam02]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;7758019]
Don’t forget Quillens, if your’e willing to not go the SmartPak route.[/QUOTE]

Agreed!! though I love my basic cheap and cheerful smartpak for everyday, the quillen halters are a whole different stratosphere when it comes to quality and craftsmanship

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=french fry;7758971]
I’m not anti Quillins, just stymied by the options. Can anyone recommend a Quillins triple stitched halter to fit a big headed but not dinosaur headed WB? Nice enough to go to shows but primarily an everyday halter.[/QUOTE]

QUESTIONS: Call Us 1.800.729.0592 8 - 5 EST M-F
Or email order@Quillin.com

[vxf111]

I get the basic “track halter” from Quillins and it’s so above and beyond nice enough to be show quality-- I never bothered ordering or trying any of the nicer ones. It’s the cheapest one on the website.

I do think they run a touch big-- but if you give them measurements they will make one to measure for the same price as stock. it’s hard to go wrong!

Also I am a real snob about tack plates and theirs are THE BEST. Like THE TOTAL BEST. I love their engraving!