Chapter XVIII: Halters

Halters constitute a very important part of the harness maker’s stock. The varieties are numerous; though apparently unnecessary, they are required to suit the preferences of different sections of the country, and render it obligatory on harness makers to be prepared at all times to meet the demands of their customers. The many illustrations in this chapter will enable the manufacturer to present to his customers correct representations to select from, while the lengths for cutting and the directions for making up will be found of great value in the work shop.

Fig. 1. represents the United States Government regulation halter, the principal merit of which is its strength and simplicity; it is easy to adjust, and can not be slipped off by the horse rubbing his head against posts or other objects. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Crown piece 26
Chape 8
Cheeks 14
Throat piece 22
Chin piece, if double 30
single 18
Nose piece 18
Bolt piece 18
made up 6
Hitching strap, or stem 84
Billet 10

The regulation width is 1¼ inches; for general use, however, 1 inch is wide enough.

Fig. 2 is the Spanish halter; it bears a general resemblance to Fig. 1, from which it was modeled, but it is put together in a different manner; has a front and a cockeye attached to the bolt piece; all the straps but the front are cut long, and are doubled and stitched. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Crown piece 42
Buckle chape 8
Throat piece 28
Buckle chape 21
Cheek pieces 17
Nose piece 34
Chin piece 36
Bolt piece 10
Front 19

All the straps but the front are 1¼ inches wide; the latter is 1 inch wide; =D= rings are used for the upper, and square loops for the lower, ends of the cheeks.

Fig. 3 is a heavy French stall halter of ornamental design and finish; it is used as a bridle halter as well. The cutting lengths are:

Inches.
Crown piece 24
End split 5
Cheek pieces 11
Nose piece 16
Chin piece 17
Chape 6
Throat latch 22
Front 18
Lining to nose piece 24

The crown piece is 2¼ inches wide, the cheeks 1¼ inches, and all other straps 1 inch; the lining, which is of patent leather, is 2¼ inches wide in the center.

Fig. 4 is a heavy cleaning, or groom, halter. The nose piece is made with a flat iron top, having three rings attached, these being used to secure the horse’s head in any desired position. The nose piece plate is lined with heavy leather, and padded. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Crown piece 22
Split 6
Cheeks 15
Throat latch 22
Front 27
Nose piece 13
Pad roll 11
Chin billet 11
Chape 6

The crown piece is cut 1½ inches, the throat latch ⅝ of an inch, all other straps 1 inch wide.

Fig. 5 represents a training halter of a neat and tasty design. All the principal straps are cut of bridle or buff leather, or of heavy twilled white web; the chapes of black harness leather for light colored leather halters, and bridle or buff leather for web halters. The chapes are all of an ornamental pattern; those for securing the ends of the strapping to the rings are cut double, those holding the throat strap rings have a small billet by which the rings are secured. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Long check piece 23
Short ” ” 17
Throat piece 18
Nose piece 12
Chin piece 10
Buckle chape 8
Bolt piece, made up 6½

The cheeks and bolt pieces are 1 inch wide, nose and chin pieces ⅞ of an inch wide.

Fig. 6 is another style of training halter, which, like the preceding one, is made of buff, russet, or black leather, or of linen web. When the latter is used, the chapes should be of russet leather; metallic rosettes having a stout center pin and four loops on the under side are used to connect the various parts, thus dispensing with buckles except on the throat latch chape; if these rosettes are not accessible, square loops may be used for the lower ends of the cheeks, and a buckle be attached to the short cheek piece, using fancy or plain leather for rosettes. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Long cheek, including crown piece 27
Short cheek 15
Front 19
Chin piece 18
Nose piece 18
Throat latch 17
Billet 9

If web and leather layers are used, deduct from these lengths 3 inches for each lap. The cheeks are cut 1¼ inches, the nose, front, and chin 1 inch, and the throat latch ⅞ of an inch wide.

Fig. 7 represents a bitting halter, one of the most desirable styles in use. It closely resembles the straight cheek style of years past, the only difference being in the manner of attaching the throat piece, and in the use of two short cheeks. This may be made of buff, russet, or black leather. The buckles used on the cheeks are extra heavy, the side bar being made to answer as a substitute for loops to which the throat piece is attached. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Crown piece 32
Cheeks 10
Chin, double 24
Buckle chape 8
Nose 18
Throat piece 22
Loop piece 15

All the straps with the exception of the throat piece are cut 1¼ inches wide; this is cut 1 inch.

Fig. 8 closely resembles Fig. 7, the difference being in the manner of attaching the throat strap, and the use of but one buckle on the cheeks. The cuttings are the same, with the exception of the cheek pieces, which are cut:

Inches.
Long cheek 25
Short cheek 16

The loops used for securing the throat piece are of metal or leather, and are provided with a short screw, by which they are held in position.

Fig. 9 represents a strong stable halter, of different construction than any previously noticed. The cheeks, crowns, and throat latch are cut so as to obviate the use of the usual buckles or rings in the cheek pieces. The billet to the stem and the bolt, or loop piece, are also in one piece. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Long cheek, including throat latch 52
Short cheek, including billet to throat latch 29
Front, double 22
Nose, double 23
Chin, double 23
Billet to stem 18

Fig. 10 represents another peculiar style, commonly known as the Yankee halter. It is designed for a slip halter, and is easily made. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Head piece 50
Nose piece 28
Braces 12
Hitching strap 84

All the straps are cut of uniform width, either 1 or 1¼ inches. Attach the braces 9 inches from the ring on the head piece.

Fig. 11 represents a double cheek halter, designed to be used for training purposes. The lengths for cuttings are:

Inches.
Crown 20
Buckle chape 8
Cheeks 22
Billets 9
Extra crown piece 22
Nose piece 18
Chin piece, double 24
Front 22
Throat latch 22

The crown piece is cut 1 inch wide; all other straps, ¾ of an inch wide.

Fig. 12 represents another style of four ring halter, the buckles being in the cheek pieces; the rings may be covered with a rosette, if desired. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Crown 17
Cheeks 14
Cheek billets 7
Nose piece 18
Chin, double 30
Throat piece 26
Bolt piece 5½

The cheeks, crown, and bolt piece are cut 1¼ inches wide; the other straps, 1 inch.

Fig. 13 is also designed for a training halter. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Long cheek and crown 32
Short cheek 15
Throat latch and crown in one 42
Nose piece, double 24
Chin piece, double 23
Loop piece 8

All the straps are 1 inch wide, excepting the front: this is ¾ of an inch.

Fig. 14 represents a double cheek halter without buckles, except on the top of the crown. The nose and cheeks are secured in position by a layer which secures the rings; the throat latch is stitched to the back cheek piece just below the face piece. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Cheeks 21
Throat latch 20
Billet 6
Nose piece, double 23
Chin piece, double 25
Loop piece 8

The cheeks are cut ½ inch wide; other straps, 1 inch.

Fig. 15 represents a four ring halter with front, and buckles on the cheeks. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Cheeks 12
Billets 5½
Crown piece 18
Buckle chape 8

All other straps, as well as the widths, the same as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 represents a very convenient slip halter. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Crown piece 21
Throat and cheek pieces in one 38
Nose and chin piece in one 24

All the straps are cut 1 inch wide.

Fig. 17 represents a convenient style of team halter to be worn with the bridle. The lengths for cutting are:

Inches.
Crown and throat latch in one 30
Nose and chin strap in one 26
Cheeks 10
Bolt piece 7

Cuttings for a common bridle or three ring halter:

Length, Width,
inches. inches.
Cheek, including crown piece 34 1
Short 12 1
Front 24 1
Nose band 18 1
Chin, doubled 30 ⅞
Bolt piece 18 1
Throat latch 39 ¾
Stem 84 1
Billet 9 1
Bit strap 9 1

A web halter:

Length, Width,
inches. inches.
Crown 24 1¼
Cheeks 8 1¼
Chapes 5 1⅛
Front 12 1¼
Chapes 8 1⅛
Nose 13 1¼
Throat latch, leather 39 ¾
Chin piece, leather 30 ¾
Bolt piece 18 1

Yankee one ring halter:

Crown piece, nose and chin in one 84 1
Braces 12 1

To make this halter, cut for the buckle tongue, and bend down the buckle lap; then measure off 12 inches, and bend down for ring; then 28 inches, and bend for nose band; then place the brace in the center between the front of the nose band and center of the chin piece at the ring; cross the strap through the ring, and bring the crown end up on the off side: this will place the buckle on the near side. Set the crown piece at an angle so as to take the upper end of the braces. This makes a convenient halter, which easily adjusts itself to the head of any horse.