A halter is a piece of equipment that fits around a horse's head, used for leading or tying the animal. Unlike a bridle, which goes in the horse's mouth and is used for riding, a halter simply loops around the nose and behind the ears. When you attach a rope called a lead to the halter, you can guide the horse from one place to another, like walking a very large dog on a leash.

Farmers, ranchers, and riding instructors use halters daily. You might put a halter on a horse to lead it from its stall to a pasture, to groom it, or to load it into a trailer. Because the halter doesn't have a bit in the mouth, horses can wear them comfortably for long periods, and they can even eat and drink while wearing one.