A strong, well-made, and safe stable halter is a must for any barn and any horse. Freedman’s Stable Halter Collection is hand-crafted from Wickett and Craig English Bridle Leather. The high-quality brass or stainless-steel hardware and fittings puts a beautiful finishing touch on halters that are safe for horses to wear. Plus, every ¾” and 1” Freedman’s Stable Halter comes with a complimentary custom engraved nameplate.

How did we get into the stable halter business, you might ask? Nicole Freedman answers your questions, as the brains behind our stable halter endeavor for the show horse breeds:

1. When did Freedman’s launch the first stable halter?

NF: We’ve been making halters since the 1950’s for thoroughbreds and standardbreds in the racing community in Canada. Freedman’s re-launched to the show horse market in 2007 after many requests for were made for well-fitting halters from our customers. In addition, I didn’t want to go to other manufacturers or sources to purchase stable halters for my personal horses, as the quality was less than stellar. So, I put pressure on David to start making halters again as I saw a gaping hole in the market for us. Halters are an item that every horse needs and it only made sense to have that quality product ready and available to our clients who were already purchasing leather horse furnishings from Freedman’s.

I had to learn how to make nameplates as well so we could customize each halter. This was done on an old (and I mean old..) New Hermes pentagraph (engraver). I got really good at making halter plates and became a stickler about making them perfect! 

2. What was the driving force behind beginning to create and sell stable halters for the saddle horse breeds?

NF: I originally thought that adding the Stable Halters to our line of show horse products just made sense. It’s an essential item that every single horse wears daily. David didn’t want to be “in the halter business,” as there is a lot of competition locally, but many of the other makers halters don’t fit our show horse breeds very well. They are made to fit a more generic type of horse and that fit is usually too big and sloppy on American Saddlebred’s or Arabian’s unique head shape. A pet peeve of mine is seeing a beautiful horse with an ill-fitting halter; this is the simplest item that we use daily, it should always fit properly. So, we made our own and they fit beautifully!

3. What was originally offered as far as sizing, leather width, hardware, and fit?

NF: We offer both the 1” Triple Stitched and ¾” width in both Horse and Cob size, in brown leather with brass and black with stainless steel. We haven’t wavered from this sizing as the fit is correct for our show horse breeds without being too big with a sloppy fit, or too tight and uncomfortable. We also do not oil dip our halters like other makers do. There is nothing worse than getting a greasy halter covered in oil. Yes, it feels softer right away, but over time that oil breaks down the leather as it penetrates the cells, not allowing the leather to breathe. Instead, we use high-quality leather from Wickett & Craig that breaks in naturally and looks beautiful over time with proper care and maintenance.  

4. Approximately how many stable halters have been sold to date?

NF: Stable Halters are one of our most popular items – online, in the Boutique, and on stand at the horse shows. We have sold thousands of them over the years. In addition, we are frequently asked to sponsor trophy halters with our stable halters at horse shows and events. We continue to sponsor championship halters at the Lexington Junior League, New England Morgan Horse Show, at several Arabian horse shows and events, and new in 2022, for the World’s Grand Champions at the Morgan Grand National.

5. Name a few benefits of leather halters over nylon.

NF: Leather is a natural material as opposed to nylon, and is less likely to rub as long as it is well fitting. Leather will also break under extreme pressure whereas nylon never breaks, making leather halters overall, safer for the horse to wear.

6. What size/fit do you recommend for each breed?

NF: For an American Saddlebred, typically a 1” horse size. For a Morgan horse, either our 1” or ¾” Cob, unless they are over 15.2 hands and then they should size up to horse. For an Arabian, our 1” or ¾” Cob will do. Half-Arabians may need to size up to a horse size. For the Hackney Horse and Dutch Harness Horse, our 1” horse size will generally work. In the few cases of a very large Coaching type DHH, they may be in an oversize. For Hackney ponies, we offer a pony size.