Editing Halter (section)

== Uses ==
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 | image1 =  Hunt in Annadel.jpg
 |caption1 = A horse tied to a post with a halter
|image2 = DogHalter wb.jpg
|caption2 = [[Dog]] wearing a halter-style collar.
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| caption3 = Horse shown in hand, wearing a Yorkshire halter.
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A halter is used to control an animal when leading on the ground, and as a restraint when tying them up.<ref name="U of MO">[http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/ansci/g02844.htm Loch, Wayne. "Haltering and Tying Horses." Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri Extension.  G2844, revised August 2002.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331182156/http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/ansci/g02844.htm |date=2009-03-31 }}  Web site accessed March 19, 2008</ref>  It is used on many different types of [[livestock]]. Halters are most closely associated with [[Equidae]] such as [[horse]]s, [[donkey]]s, and [[mule]]s.  However, they are also used on farm animals such as [[cattle]] and [[goats]] and other [[working animal]]s such as [[camel]]s, [[llama]]s, and [[yak]]s. Halters generally are not used on [[elephant]]s or on [[predator]]s, though there are halters made for dogs.

Halters are often plain in design, used as working equipment on a daily basis.  In addition to the halter, a [[lead (tack)|lead line]], lead shank or lead rope is required to actually lead or tie the animal. It is most often attached to the halter at a point under the jaw, or less often, at the cheek, usually with a snap, but occasionally spliced directly onto the halter. A standard working lead rope is approximately {{convert|9|to|12|ft|m}} long.

Specially designed halters, sometimes highly decorated, are used for  [[Halter (horse show)|in-hand or "halter" classes]] at [[horse show]]s and in other [[livestock show]]s.   When an animal is shown in an exhibition, the show halter is fitted more closely than a working halter and may have a [[lead shank]] that tightens on the head so that commands from the handler may be more discreetly transmitted by means of the leadline.  A shank that tightens on the animal's head when pulled is not used for tying the animal.
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 | image1 =  Kentucky Mountain Horse head.jpg
 |caption1 = A halter with mecate reins added for control while riding.
|image2=Sidepull.jpg
|caption2=A sidepull uses a heavy noseband and lateral leverage for control
| footer = Halter designs modified for extra control when riding
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Halters are designed to catch, hold, lead and tie animals, and nothing else.<ref name="U of MO"/>  However, some people ride horses using a halter instead of a bridle.  In most cases, it is not safe to ride in an ordinary stable halter because it fits loosely and provides no leverage to the rider should a horse panic or bolt. It is particularly unsafe if the lead rope is used as a single rein, attached to the leading ring under the jaw.  In some cases, [[Mecate (rein)|mecate]]-style reins may be added to a rope halter, creating a modified form of [[hackamore]], and equipment called a "sidepull" has a heavier noseband and two reins added on cheek rings placed each side to provide control.