Draft horse halters? Knock, knock, HoustonFarrier...

[sarhound]

I've been surfing around the 'Net looking for a decent draft horse halter--the one that came home with Prince is a little too small for him. I don't really have any local tack shops, and I'm in a distinct minority around these parts in having a draft boy.

I'm looking for a heavy-duty nylon halter with a snap throat latch in a color other than black, red, or blue. So far, I haven't had any luck turning one up. The only halter that I found locally is lightweight and has nonreinforced holes for the buckle. All it would take is one good jerk of his head to shred it to bits.

HoustonFarrier, if you're out there, what are you using on your Clydes?

[cheval]

you can get them off eBay for really good prices or go to DraftTack:

http://www.drafttack.com/

[IrisGreen]

If he pulls a lot get a rope halter with nose knots and that will get him listening and not pulling. I don't know if he is easy to lead or not but If you are looking for a heavy duty halter a rope halter will hold more then any other halter will and give you more control with out having to use a chain like most people do with nylon halters. I have had full size drafts lift me off the ground while walking next to them holding a nylon halter! Not fun! I don't like nylon flat halters because they don't have any bite to them and the horse can just pull you around with out it hurting them. Then you have to run a chain through the halter to get some "correction" and "bite" to it so they listen and stop dragging you around.

The only problem with this is the horse gets used to you putting the chain on and knows when you have it on and when you don't so eventually you will always have to put the chain on or they just drag you around knowing it's not there and you can't hurt there nose with just that flat nylon.

A rope halter with wrapped and knotted nose band plus pole knots will keep them from dragging you around and you won't have to worry about if you have a chain or not. There is no hardware to brake, rust, clip or buckle but that means they won't be able to get lose if they get caught on something. So, don't leave it on them if not being attended too.

I started Muffin in one and he is very light on halter pressure and doesn't drag me around or pull with it. They will give to the knots pressing on the sensitive areas on there nose and get lighter and lighter to pressure.

I figured I would let you know if you had any problems with him dragging you around and that is why you are looking for a heavy duty halter.

If you are just looking for a nylon halter then I would go with Ebay or draft tack like cheval suggested. But, you might want to give a rope halter a try if you want more bite and very strong hold. They have that bite you need to get there attention with out having to add a chain across the nose and can out hold any nylon halter when it comes to a horse pulling back.

Edit:
I just posted this picture in the breast collar thread so I figured I would post it here so you can see the halter I am talking about (just in case you havent seen on of these wraped ones before). The nose band is wraped in white rope and you can see the knots in brown on the presure points.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/DesignersPet/MuffinBreastCollar007.jpg

[Pi and Tofu]

My rope halter sits in the tack room gathering dust; and it was a pretty expensive dust collector too.
I just find it so much easier to clean their faces with a halter that unhooks. It is hard to find leather halters that come that big, so I end up using the $5 nylon one that I bought at a tack store.
Iris, I understand why you like the rope for handling, but isn't it a pain when you brush their face?

[IrisGreen]

I guess I never really thought of that... I brush Muffin but I don't have a halter on him, he is just lose in his pen. I guess because I don't ride him yet I don't halter and tack him up, brush and do all that with him tied. When I do brush him with his halter on it is kinda hard to get under the nose band. Now that I think about it. I move it up and brush then down and brush to try to get under it. I guess that's why I just brush him with out it on. lol :) I'm lucky that Muffin tolerates me so well and just stands there. He likes being fussed over so he is happy when I go out there and mess with him. The only time I have to put a halter on him is if I plan on harnessing or ground driving him. Other then that I just walk out there and call him to me and he just stands there to be brushed or fly sprayed or looked over.

Pi and Tofu,
With Tofana did you teach him to lower his head to bridle or halter? That would be really hard to get a rope halter on a tall horse that holds it's head up. I don't think I could reach that high to tie the knot! lol When I did use nylon halter I used the ones with the snap so I didn't have to unbuckle anything. Much easyer. But, I like how soft Muffin is in a rope halter and how responsive he is to little cues. He's really soft to back up.

With Muffin, I didn't know how big he was going to get so I taught him young to drop his head when you say "down". So, it's easy to get halters and things on him but it's funny when you go to take them off and his nose is almost on the ground he is trying to be soo good and put his head dowwnnnn low!! lol It's almost like you say "down" and he just drops his head to the ground! lol

[Pi and Tofu]

I never taught down, but both horses usually will put their heads down for halter/bridling, except when there is something exciting going on.

Since we are in the land of fungus and nasty things, Florida, I spend 4-5 times a week in grooming sessions, 20-30 minutes at a time. I use a soft grooma to really work all the dirt off of the face, then brush, then rub rag; for this it is better if they are tied. When loose, they will tend to turn their faces so that you can brush the itchy sides only.

I really don't do much groundwork. I teach from the saddle, which they relate to the ground quite well, which is why I probably don't appreciate the rope halters. Plus, Tofana has a thick throatlatch and a lot of jowl; he fills a halter up and it just makes it harder to brush...as you can see...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps8eKCG0VeY/SQEqxmyTjbI/AAAAAAAACc8/dXqG4JAtA2g/s400/to1.jpg

...so I need the extra space.

[IrisGreen]

Yeah, I know what your talking about. Muffin has that same problem just not as big of a head as Tofana (I'm guessing). Pictures of Muffin are so deceiving because he just looks like a fat paint horse. Yet, I have to buy draft sized stuff to fit him and his head is pretty big. But, his head isn't shaped like a draft with the roman nose or the extra big lips. He has a normal horse head shape just much bigger in size. That's why photos of him make him look like a regular fat paint horse until you really look at how thick his legs and feet are or his head compared to my head.

If I could get a pic of Muffin next to a regular QH then you could tell there is a big difference in thickness, head, body, legs and general size. I know Muffin is Not full draft size but he sure impresses people when they come out to see him! lol They think hes HUGE!! hahaha I think hes a pony compared to the full blown 18 hand drafts.

Tofana isn't really tall but he is so extra thick that you can't miss he has draft in him! Isn't he a half draft too? It's kinda neat how some draft crosses will take more after the draft and others will end up more like the light horse.

Muffin is definitely a half draft. Draft sized head but short (he's only a little over 15 hands), yet thicker body and bone with medium sized feet.

Mystic, Vicklynn's horse is half draft but has a normal size large horse head but a thicker body and bone structure. She got lucky!! She can fit normal horse sized stuff in large!! She's a really nice half draft with the calm personality of the draft but a nice size to ride and work with, plus easy to buy tack for!! lol

I love Muffins big ol head but it sure takes more money and time to find stuff that fits him. All of his tack, cinches, back cinches, halters, bits and bridles he grew out of horse size a long time ago. I'm sure you know what I am talking about, Tofana grew out of horse size before he was 1 years old I'm sure. lol :)

[Pi and Tofu]

Well, he was a little thing at 2yo. He was about 15'1" with thick legs, big feet, and a big head. He is 17h now, and it took awhile to get there, finally stopped filling out last year. He is full perch on top and irish sport on bottom, but the irish has irish draught and perch in her too; I wanted something lighter but he is very drafty. He's mine though, and he's staying!
I bought only 2 bridles, and learned with the first one to make sure everything was oversized (the brow band was small). I have an edgewood now, which is great quality and should last forever. Buy a little roomy and buy good quality and you will only have to buy once. The girth proves that this doesn't always work-started with a 50, now have a 52, a 54, and a 58 that I ride in that is in the tack room-anyone need a 52" nice girth?

[IrisGreen]

Well, he was a little thing at 2yo. He was about 15'1" with thick legs, big feet, and a big head. He is 17h now, and it took awhile to get there, finally stopped filling out last year.

ohh, Noo! :) Don't tell me that! :pI think Muffin will stay under 17 hands... I hope:huh:. I wanted a thick tall horse but not draft size tall. Muffins sire and dam were around 16 hands I think so I am hoping he doesnt get too tall.

For some reason I was thinking Tofana was around 16 hands but I guess he is taller. He is such a stunning boy!! You already know I just love that big guy and he is such an awesome looking horse.

I don't need an english girth but I have a feeling I am going to have to try riding english because I am going to have a hard time finding a western saddle to fit Muffin. The one I have hasnt been tryed on him in months and I have a feeling it's not going to fit. That's a whole nother thread.....:rolleyes:
lol

[Pi and Tofu]

...and we probably need to move to our own thread, since we have taken over completely.

I will be happy to give you Ruff's number if you like, they will do custom western and my friend who rides her draft western likes what they did. The western people around here all know Ruff's, even though they have worked very hard to make sure nobody can find the place. They stand by their work and seem to be very affordable.

Since all western is uncomfortable to me, I won't say a word on the matter!