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Repairing a metal ring on a halter

Off Course
#1

If there any easy way to temporarily replace a metal ring on a halter yourself?

In a disastrous morning where my broodmare was supposed to get bred, she ended up breaking the bottom ring on the english chin of her leather halter. You know, the ring where you clip the lead rope. She stepped on the lead rope and the ring split right apart.

Not a big deal, as I can send it off to be repaired or maybe even get the company to send a replacement, but it’s her only halter with a nameplate. The breeding farm requires halter nameplate identification for all mares in order to be covered. And she needs to be bred soon-- not enough time to send the halter off or order a new one.

I already tried to pry the nameplate off with the intention of putting it on another halter, but no luck! That thing is really on there! I’m hoping maybe there’s a more secure way I fix the ring myself. Right now I’m using duct tape. If I don’t get this fixed soon, I may have to see if they’ll accept her name written on a halter in sharpie as proper identification. :lol:

#2

I would go to the hardware store.

See if they have a “catch ring” like this - then tape up, or otherwise secure the clasp part.

http://www.webriggingsupply.com/pages/catalog/marine/ring-catch.html

#3

we got a mare back from the stud farm with a piece of duct tape on the halter with the name written on in sharpie one time.
Not what I would do to a nice leather halter, but it seemed to work. Ask them.
(not sure if I would trust that split ring…)

#4

In a pinch, if the halter is no longer salvageable, can you cut off the leather that attaches to the metal on the cheek pieces, and then braid 3 strands of twine and use the twine as a replacement for the leather?

I’ve done that before – similar thing happened, except my horse broke the leather connecting to the english chin. I didn’t have a spare halter (it was at an XC school… SHOULD have known better!!) so I took the twine and braided it from one metal cheek piece to the other and fed the chinstrap leather piece through it.

I wouldn’t trust any metal clips.

#5

Duct tape and sharpie is fine. It won’t be the first time they have seen it either. I’m sure you hoped to send your mare off wearing a more presentable halter for her “date,” but your mare wearing a safe and sturdy halter for her trip to the shed is a much bigger priority. I would NOT send a horse to be bred wearing a damaged or hastily repaired halter. Duct tape and sharpie is 100% fine, just get the mare bred.

#6

If you go to a farm store, you should be able to find a ring like this near the livestock identification:

http://www.enasco.com/product/C01450(D)N

It is one long piece spiraled and bent into a circle, so you should be able to slide it around on the halter pieces to fix it.

I don’t know what the real name is of the piece, but we always called them neck chain rings. Handy little fellers to have around, for lots of different things.

#7

What about a replacement chain link like this:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/national-hardwarereg%3B-3150bc-1-8-quick-link-zinc

Available at any hardware store in several sizes

#8

Thanks everyone!

Anyone know about welding? While there’s not a leather repair place for miles, my little country town has about a gazillion welding shops. Do you think they could weld a ring together? Or is that a silly idea?

Those look really interesting, and I might go see if the local farm store has them and if they look like they would be safe and sturdy enough.

Oh gosh! I’m not trying to send her there in something that would create a hazard! No worries of that! I’m just hoping to avoid duct tape/sharpie if possible. I figured someone here might have brilliant idea I haven’t thought of! :wink:

#9

[QUOTE=Texarkana;8149673]
Thanks everyone!

Anyone know about welding? While there’s not a leather repair place for miles, my little country town has about a gazillion welding shops. Do you think they could weld a ring together? Or is that a silly idea?

Those look really interesting, and I might go see if the local farm store has them and if they look like they would be safe and sturdy enough.

Oh gosh! I’m not trying to send her there in something that would create a hazard! No worries of that! I’m just hoping to avoid duct tape/sharpie if possible. I figured someone here might have brilliant idea I haven’t thought of! ;)[/QUOTE]

Sometimes you have to redneck it (and the concept of redneck was alien to the people we had send the mare to, over 30 years ago!)

Just ask the welding shop. Worst they can do is say no (or burn your leather…)

#10

[QUOTE=Alagirl;8149680]
Sometimes you have to redneck it (and the concept of redneck was alien to the people we had send the mare to, over 30 years ago!)

Just ask the welding shop. Worst they can do is say no (or burn your leather…)[/QUOTE]

We’re already rednecking it times one thousand! One more strike might get us stopped at the Lexington city limits and sent packing back to Tennessee! :lol:

I kid… I kid… But let me tell you about the time my old truck’s muffler came loose and shot sparks across the driveway of the multimillion dollar farm until I was able to get stopped and successfully rip it off. They sent someone out to me in a golf cart as I was freeing the muffler, not to help, but to confirm that I was indeed going to be able to leave the property. :o

#11

Question…is this ring sewn onto 3 pieces of halter leather or is it a ring on a separate leather loop?

#12

In a pinch, you could use a quick link, that the middle part screws down to leave an opening to fit over a chain link, that would work over the halter strap and then screws back to the other end to make a closed strong link:

http://www.webriggingsupply.com/pages/catalog/marine/ss-marine-hardware-CHAIN.html

All hardware stores should have those in different sizes and shapes in the chain section, easy to get one and put it on a halter.

Edited to add I see Christa P already posted about a chain link.

#13

Similar to what’s been posted, I’m sure that a climbing carabiner, like the ones that they use on rock climbing harnesses, could be strong enough. Just get one in silver so it blends enough, and one that screws up to lock to that it’s nice and secure.

http://www.rei.com/product/682631/omega-pacific-iso-locking-standard-d-screwgate-carabiner

Also - duct tape/sharpie doesn’t have to be super messy looking. You could use silver electrical tape, which would look better and not leave residue.

#14

I used bailing twine once. Just made a loop with it (3 strands thick so it wouldn’t just break. Only replaced it cause the barn thought it looked too ghetto.

#15

i SECOND THE CARABINER- THEY SELL REALLY STRONG ONES AT TSC.(sorry didn’t mean to yell- cap locks were on.)

#16

If you are headed to Lexington, there are numerous tack shops that sell halters, why don’t you call ahead and stop on your way to your breeding appointment?

#17

[QUOTE=K~2;8150043]
If you are headed to Lexington, there are numerous tack shops that sell halters, why don’t you call ahead and stop on your way to your breeding appointment?[/QUOTE]

Good suggestion. Duh! Can you recommend a tack shop? I have a gazillion halters… it’s the nameplate I “need.” I could even bring up a halter, leather punch, and hammer and attach it myself if need be. Do you know one that has on-sight engraving and can do a halter name plate on less than 24 hours notice?

I know the engraving itself only takes a couple minutes-- shoot, they have vending machines that do it at Petco! It’s just that the tack shops “around here” (which are a good 90 minutes away from where I live anyway) all order engraved things from an off-sight vendor. They have to be shipped to the shop and it takes several days to receive them!

#18

As a last resort you could get a dog tag made at petco and just attach it to one of the rings of the halter?

#19

[QUOTE=Texarkana;8150052]
Good suggestion. Duh! Can you recommend a tack shop? I have a gazillion halters… it’s the nameplate I “need.” I could even bring up a halter, leather punch, and hammer and attach it myself if need be. Do you know one that has on-sight engraving and can do a halter name plate on less than 24 hours notice?

I know the engraving itself only takes a couple minutes-- shoot, they have vending machines that do it at Petco! It’s just that the tack shops “around here” (which are a good 90 minutes away from where I live anyway) all order engraved things from an off-sight vendor. They have to be shipped to the shop and it takes several days to receive them![/QUOTE]

Quillin’s is in Paris, Fennells is at the Red Mile, and there is also KBC. Those are the ones I know of, but I haven’t been to Lexington for a while.

#20

[QUOTE=ElisLove;8150074]
As a last resort you could get a dog tag made at petco and just attach it to one of the rings of the halter?[/QUOTE]

Luggage tag, or key ring

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