Always use a leather halter, and be sure to have it made so that it will
not draw tight around his nose if he pulls on it. It should be of the
right size to fit his head easily and nicely; so that the nose band will
not be too tight or too low. Never put a rope halter on an unbroken colt
under any circumstances whatever. They have caused more horses to hurt or
kill themselves, than would pay for twice the cost of all the leather
halters that have ever been needed for the purpose of haltering colts. It
is almost impossible to break a colt that is very wild with a rope halter,
without having him pull, rear and throw himself, and thus endanger his
life; and I will tell you why. It is just as natural for a horse to try to
get his head out of anything that hurts it, or feels unpleasant, as it
would be for you to try to get your hand out of a fire. The cords of the
rope are hard and cutting; this makes him raise his head and draw on it,
and as soon as he pulls, the slip noose (the way rope halters are always
made) tightens, and pinches his nose, and then he will struggle for life,
until, perchance, he throws himself; and who would have his horse throw
himself, and run the risk of breaking his neck, rather than pay the price
of a leather halter. But this is not the worst. A horse that has once
pulled on his halter, can never be as well broke as one that has never
pulled at all.