How to Ride a Horse in a Halter

Riding in a halter

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Riding a horse is great fun and exercise. Sometimes it is nice not to have to bother with tacking up a horse for that leisure ride. Here is an article that shows you how to turn any stable halter into a bridle.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Halter
Long lead rope

Riding your horse in a halter

Step1

Taking a leisurely ride is one of the joys of having horses. Sometimes you don't want to bother having to take them in and saddle them up. Maybe you need to get on and move your horse right away, and don't have time to go back and get your tack. As long as you have your halter and lead rope, you have what it takes to ride your horse.

Step2

Halter your horse as normal. Give her a pat and a smooch. Then unclip the lead rope from the middle ring beneath the horse's jaw and transfer the clip to the ring in the halter on the left side of your horse's face.

Step3

Take the loose end of the lead rope and put it over your horse's neck. Go under your horse's neck and take the loose end and tie it to the ring in the halter on the right side of the horse's face. If your lead rope is a long one, you will now have "reins". If it is short, they will still be reins, but you will have to take great care to keep them high on your horse's neck to avoid pulling her face the entire time you are on her.

Step4

Mount up and go for a ride. Your lead rope should now act just like your normal reins. You may not get as much response, since there is not a bit in your horse's mouth, but if your horse is well trained, she should behave just as well with this contraption as she would with a real bridle.

Step5

Take care not to go faster than you think you can and still control your horse. Since there is not much more control to the halter and lead rope than your muscles and the horse's responsiveness to your signals, you do not want to end up in an out of control run. Remember you will have to exaggerate your hand signals if the horse is used to being ridden with a bit only.