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
broken as one that has never pulled at all.