What price point for a leather shipping halter?

[Scribbler]

My first thought was to buy the cheapest leather halter for the trailer with the idea it would break easily in a crisis and I wouldn’t be upset as it was only $29 (can).

It did indeed break easily in the trailer but after I got it fixed I discovered it also broke easily while horse was tied up. Not a crisis situation at all, she must have just tossed her head and the hardware snapped.

So I’m looking at upgrading. I know Walsh is a great brand but I find it hard to pay $110 for something that is expected to break. On the other hand, I do quality in all my other gear so maybe need to do it here too.

So looking for COTH collective wisdom on the price and quality point for a leather shipping halter for regular trailer use.

Related question, in the trailer and tied to the trailer I use fast release trial ties. Once at thecwash rack at home I had the tie release when the horse pulled back in a nylon halter. But with the leather haltets the leather or hardware breaks rather than tie releasing. To be expected?

[keysfins]

Are you looking for the full fleece covered shipping halter style? Or just a leather halter that you use for trailering in place of a nylon halter that you might typically use?

[Simkie]

If you’re looking for an easy to break shipping halter, you might not want to use that as an every day, tie the horse up, halter.

Perhaps one of those nylon halters with the leather fuse would fit your shipping needs. You’d have the breakability of the leather, but it wouldn’t destroy the halter–and they’re not terribly costly. Use whatever sturdy halter you’d like for daily wear.

If your horse is regularly popping ties and halters, though, sounds like you might have a tying problem

[Scribbler]

I use a rope halter for ground work and a nylon halter with trailer tie at the wash rack. Other than that I don’t need to tie her on a daily basis. I groom and tack her loose in her stall which is standard at our barn.

Maresy ties well and usually chills out. The time she popped a tie in the wash rack I was trying to spray her face and when she broke her halter unloading from the trailer was stupid handler error. This last time tied to the trailet the cheap hardware just snapped. I think that last was down to halter quality.

For some reason I just have an aversion to the nylon breakaway halters.

I want a halter that does double duty for in the trailer and tied to the trailer or hitching rail at the trail head, which is probably the only times I’ll need it. Don’t require fuzzy covers for our short trips just a well fitting leather halter.

[Simkie]

@Scribbler

I want a halter that does double duty for in the trailer and tied to the trailer or hitching rail at the trail head, which is probably the only times I’ll need it. Don’t require fuzzy covers for our short trips just a well fitting leather halter.

The requirements for the halter here are different, though. In the trailer? Want something that breaks fairly easily. Tied to the trailer? Man, I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want that halter to pop.

My leather halters are Quillin. This one in particular with a triple stitched nose, throat snap and nameplate. Comes to about 80 bucks and is a beautiful halter. But it’s also not going to break easily. (Although if it does, you can send back to Quillin for repair.)

[WNT]

My preference for an everyday working and tying halter is a nylon one with a doubled leather crownpiece; with crossties secured with baling twine or tied to a loop of twine on the trailer. I’d rather have the twine break and the horse still wearing something to grab.

Honestly, I ship in the same setup with the trailer tie also secured with a single loop of twine.

For a leather halter, I really like my Beiler’s triple stitched one. Most places I’ve seen them run around $55-$60. They offer a snap throatlatch or stitched.

[ladyj79]

Quillins track halteres, without question. I get the added chin strap, but it’s very customize-able for your needs, and the quality and durability is incomparable.

https://quillin.com/jshop/product.php?xProd=1024&xSec=28

I also absolutely agree with @WNT about attaching crossties to a loop of baling twine, rather than directly to the trailer.

[Scribbler]

With bailing twine, does the modern plastic twine snap like the old fashioned hemp twine? I know everyone uses plastic twine these days but I’ve never seen it snap. The one time my horse popped her tie wearing a nylon hslter at the wash rack the baling twine did not break.

I’m thinking the order of breaking goes: cheap leather halter first, then quick release tie if halter doesn’t break, then baling twine maybe a distant third.

On the other hand baling twine makes a horrible mess of a knot if you tie a soft cotton lead rope to a baling twine loop. Even a slip release knot can pull tight into a horrible knot that needs a knife to untangle.

I feel like my travel halter has to be.multi use. I can’t see going for a trail ride with two leather halters in addition to the rope halter.

My guess is that the better quality leather halters break just fine in an emergency and I’ve seen enough old broken ones. The throat latch components will snap and the halter slide off even if the crown and cheek piece is OK. Or the crown piece will snap at the buckle.

[WNT]

I’ve had the plastic twine break when needed; if you’re still concerned, pull the length of twine you use in half, then you’ll have an extra piece ready to go when the other breaks.

[luvmyhackney]

Go with Quillin’s halter or a Fennells, and just FYI you can buy the old school twine at most hardware stools fairly cheap if you are worried about the plastic twine.

[Texarkana]

The plastic orange twine (sometimes blue in color) breaks fine, if that’s what you’re talking about.

I’m a big fan of my blocker tie ring for the trailer. I use it both inside and outside the trailer. If you happen to have an equine child prodigy who learns to pull the rope through (like my one mare), you can do up the slack slightly differently to increase the tension.

But for the record, better quality halters usually have better hardware. I don’t think I’ve ever had the hardware break on one my Quillin or Walsh halters, yet I have had a lot of cheap ones over the years where pot metal gives.

[Ladylexie]

I always use the same good quality leather halte rfgor everything. I can’t imagine spraying my horse in the face with the hose while it is tied up. I always use a sponge.

[Simkie]

If you want to tie to something that gives more easily than baling twine, use the equi-ping things: http://www.doversaddlery.com/equi-ping/p/X1-27739/

[Scribbler]

@Ladylexie

I always use the same good quality leather halte rfgor everything. I can’t imagine spraying my horse in the face with the hose while it is tied up. I always use a sponge.

Like I said human error not a horse that doesn’t tie well

[Scribbler]

@Simkie

If you want to tie to something that gives more easily than baling twine, use the equi-ping things: http://www.doversaddlery.com/equi-ping/p/X1-27739/

That is very interesting but it looks like it maybe gives a little too easily?

[DeeThbd]

Although it doesn’t fit the bill for being something that will break easily, Finchams in Nobleton (ON) makes BEAUTIFUL halters and strap goods.

[Scribbler]

Fincham’s looks very nice!

[Simkie]

@Scribbler

That is very interesting but it looks like it maybe gives a little too easily?

I’m not really sure what you’re looking for?

Concerned that twine won’t break, but concerned that the pings break too easily?

Maybe a velcro trailer tie would fit “just right”?

[cutter99]

@Scribbler

That is very interesting but it looks like it maybe gives a little too easily?

I found the Equi Ping to be a HUGE waste of money. They come undone way too easily!

[Scribbler]

I’m worried the plastic twine wouldn’t break at all. So I would have another breakaway component, specifically quick release trailer ties plus leather halter. Then it turns out I don’t need the twine.

I don’t really want anything that is too easy to snap. I want something that will snap in a genuine panic or accident but not from a little leaning or head tossing.

I kind of know the answer. Spend $100 or so on a Quillins or Walsh or Fincham’s leather halter with good quality hard ware and don’t burst into tears when it does snap eventually.