Easy Steps to Halter Breaking Your Foal

With weaning time soon approaching, many horse owners will begin halter breaking their foals. This can be very traumatic for a foal, or it can provide them with a foundation that will serve them for the rest of their lives. By teaching him to lead properly, the foal learns good manners which will make him easy to handle throughout his life and easier to train when he is old enough to ride.

The essential equipment for halter breaking a foal is a well fitting halter and a ten foot soft cotton lead rope with a bull snap. There are several types of halters available, and each serves a different purpose. A nylon halter is easy to put on and remove, and puts equal pressure on the contact area. A rope halter puts more pressure on the poll and nose, which can be useful for foals that resist pressure. A calf halter is good for starting a foal as it prevents a foal from getting his leg caught in it if he chooses to fight. Leather halters are not recommended because they can snap, which will teach your foal that he can get away from you if he fights. Lead ropes made from synthetic materials, such as nylon, can shred your gloves and severely injure your hands if the foal begins to fight. For that reason, cotton is recommended. Ten feet is the recommended length because it gives you the option to be far enough away from your foal to prevent injuries if you need to get out of his way, but is short enough that you can prevent yourself from getting tangled up. A bull snap is durable, and will help you keep control of your foal. Always use stronger equipment than you will need to protect both yourself and your foal.