Halter Read All About Them
Halters are an essential component of livestock showing and training. There are so many different types of halters that can be used both in and out of the show ring for various reasons.
The first type of halter you will need is a simple rope halter. This is what we use 9 times out of 10. They are an easy to use halter that can be used to tie a lamb up easily and safely. They are also durable and cheap (We have 10+ year old rope halters). They are a good beginner halter for all showmen and might be the only one some people ever have.
Another type of halter you will see is an adjustable leather or nylon halter with a chain. These halters typically are easy to use once you have adjusted for the animal and are often used on show day. These are a nicer halter that can be easily clipped to a fence or to itself when you are preparing for show.
A final type of halter we will discuss today is a phantom halter. Phantom halters are typically only used in the show ring for unruly or hard to control animals and you won’t see them used much at home. Phantom halters are usually clear and short. This makes them harder to see and gives them their name. If you have a lamb that is hard to control of walk off hand, this is a good option for showing them, if need be.
One question we often get asked about halters is whether or not you should use them in the show ring. The answer is it depends. You will want to check the rules to make sure you can, because sometimes there are rules against halters (jackpots typically don’t have these rules). In all classes, other than showmanship, a good judge will not deduct “points” from your lamb if it needs a halter to show. The key to weight classes in livestock is to make the animal look its best. If walking without a halter does more harm than good, walk them with a halter. It’s better for the lamb and the kid to have a good experience in the ring and be as relaxed as possible. If a halter is what’s necessary, then show with a halter. The one point I will make is that if you are going to show with a halter, avoid a rope halter and opt for a chain or phantom halter.
On the other end of the spectrum, showing with a halter will usually hurt your chances at winning showmanship. However, at the end of the day, there is more than one reason to enter a showmanship class. Showmanship classes at jackpots are a cheaper alternative to get your animal in the ring and help relax both a lamb and new shower. The more you get in a ring, the more comfortable both you and your lamb will become. Sometimes, people can forget the main purpose of a jackpot show is to gain experience and learn about areas to improve. If you get in the ring, most judges will point out areas you can work on in showmanship that you may not get in a regular class. In our books, any chance to get in the ring is a good one and you should show in showmanship classes even if you think you won’t win.
