My new barn requires all horses to have a brown leather halter with a name plate. They’re are just so many and they vary so greatly in price. What’s a durable but nice halter that isn’t $120.
My favorites are the sales halters from Tack Shack of Ocala. Quillin has better nameplates but I like the fit of the Tack shack ones better.
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Big D’s sells dirt cheap leather halters and nameplates. I use them when I need a cheap one and don’t want to spend money on Quillin’s.
The quality is what you’d expect for a less than $20 halter, but they do hold up ok.
https://www.bigdweb.com/product/triple+stitched+leather+halter+with+snap.do
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I have this one:
http://www.perrisleather.com/pc_product_detail.asp?key=5C31A34659314799B71964B5F17BD904
It’s probably four years old and still in really good shape. I did oil it a lot after I got it to soften it up, but it’s REALLY nice leather now that it’s soft. The snap sticks sometimes, but that’s an easy fix (WD40.) My horse has an average head (long head but narrow, OTTB) and I got him horse size. I did punch a few holes in it. Cob would have been too small.
It’s been really durable for me and all of my horse’s antics over the years. I didn’t get a name plate put on it, but they offer them on the Perri’s website.
They have a really nice 1" option that’s a few dollars more, too.
Another vote for quillin!
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hands down Quillin. The halter for a lifetime.
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op you might want to ask the barn manager if they have preference to match the other halters? or is the leather requirement just as a safety factor?
When I was working in the saddlehorse barns while in college, every halter was leather after we had a brood mare break her neck once she hooked her nylon halter on a fence line tree
I’d get something like this for everyday. I have a couple that were prizes and they are fine for that.
I don’t have this exact one- I have one without the throat snap and adjustable chin; I think I got them in a sale for like $18 with a free name plate (that comes attached). But I love it for every day use, turnout, etc. Because when if/when gets too gross, you can just throw it out. The cheap leather has stayed surprisingly pliable and decent over the years considering the (lack of) care I give mine.
The bottom ring did bust on one of mine when a tied horse panicked. Also, my name plates have rusted. But for the price, I have ZERO complaints. I save my nicer halters for when I need a nicer halter and let these cheap things take the everyday abuse while still allowing me to be a leather halter snob. :lol:
Not it that I’m recommending these in lieu of Quillin’s or another top brand- you get what you pay for and they truly are the best. But I’ve been really happy with this cheapy brand for every day.
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Quillins is my go-to.
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Inside or outside? I wouldn’t pay a lot of money for a halter that was going to have to live out in the elements. I’d just buy replacements along the way. Maybe that’s backward thinking – maybe the outside halter should be the expensive one, hoping that the leather is better (and more up to the punishment). But I don’t have a lot of faith in expensive == better anymore…
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I got mine from Schneiders. I think it cost about $50, including the nameplate and shipping. I was very (pleasantly) surprised with the quality–it’s supple but substantial. It doesn’t look cheap by any means.
This is the one I have. The price went up a little. It’s nicer than the picture.
https://www.sstack.com/stable_halters_leather/premier-belmont-leather-halter/
I went with $25 leather halters at first for trailer. Once you have an incident, they tend to be toast. Even if you get the straps fixed, the stressed metal hardware will snap next time out.
I got a Walsh, and yup, the crownpiece will snap in a situation but that can be replaced.
I think if you want a true breakaway halter and its OK if it fails suddenly, a cheap leather is the way to go. But when it does rip, it will be not worth fixing and compromised everywhere.
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Leather halters are pretty and some say are safer than nylon but leather, exposed to the elements, will not hold up well if not maintained. That means cleaned and oiled regularly (like on at least a weekly basis for a halter which will be regularly subjected to water, dirt, sweat, coat oil, etc.).
If it were me I go with a best quality I could get at the low end of the cost spectrum. That way when I have to replace it after a year or two of constant use with no maintenance I’m not out much.
If I went with the high dollar, high quality item I’d also make sure I bought I good quality cleaner and a like leather dressing. And put aside a few min. EVERY WEEK to do the maintenance.
G.
Quillins is my go-to.
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that is why you have “working students”
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Have you ever actually had a leather halter?
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Quillin halters are my favorite.
I had a cheap Indian made leather halter for turnout (assuming it would break under stress) and that thing lasted years, and years, and years - maybe 20 years.
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