Many horse owners find that a rope halter with a fiador knot is more desirable than other traditional knots. This step-by-step tutorial to tying a fiador knot in order to make a rope halter should aid both the advanced and novice Ferrier.
How to Make a Rope Halter With Fiador Knot, Step-by-Step Instructions
Tying a fiador knot is a feat unto itself, but once learned can prove extremely useful in making a rope halter for your horse.
What is a Fiador Knot?
A rope halter with a fiador knot provides a decorative diamond knot with four strands where six of the eight loops created return through the knot. This allows it to be tied with a single strand of rope.
It is considered a very difficult knot to learn and takes a great deal of practice. This knot is also used for making hobbles as it has loops extending from one middle knot.
Also known as the Theodore knot, it is an asymmetrical, decorative knot used mainly for equine rope halters. It is used most often under the chin of the horse as a decorative knot and provides a loop for attaching a lead rope. This knot is used mainly for its decorative properties.
Before attempting to make a rope halter with a fiador knot you need to learn several other things, as well. First, you’ll need to know how to measure a horse for a halter. A rope halter uses one piece of rope and a series of double-overhand knots and is most often used as a horse training halter.
You should have this skill mastered before trying to make a rope halter with a fiador knot. Thereby, learning how to tie a rope halter is quite important. Although tying a rope halter without the fiador is easier, the fiador adds a bit of flair and a nice loop for attaching a lead.
How to Make a Rope Halter
Here are instructions on tying this knot:
Tie Noose Knots
Take your length of rope for the halter and tie the nose knots as usual. It helps if you lay your rope on a large table. At all times, make sure that the rope at the bottom of the big loop stays flat and side-by-side. Make a large loop of about eight inches down with the nose knots at the top.
Take the right side strand and create a small loop. Pass the end over itself and then over the left side strand which is laying flat. Make another larger loop and keep it on the left. Bring the end up over the three portions and loop it up, over, and through the first loop.
Work on Left Side Strand
Now take the left side strand and pass it over and under and through the second large loop created by the right side strand (the one laying on the left side). Now bring it under both loops on the right and up through the top of the first, smaller loop.
Continue to bring the left strand over and make a large loop similar to the size of the one you make on the right side – these two are going to be your chin loops. Take the end and go over, through, and under the third loop.
Continue under the large loop created with the right side strand (the large loop on the left side), and go over that strand but under the first small loop created by the left strand. Continue under the large loop and bring the end up and over the ‘neck’ of the loop.
Tying the Rope Halter
Hold both large loops and pull both loose ends. You should now have two loops about 10 inches below the nose knots that will serve as your lead tie loops.
Continue to tie the rest of the rope halter to complete it.
If your knots don’t slide, or come loose, you’ve missed something. So just continue practicing. You can check this illustration for help. Knowing how to make a horse halter and tie halter using a fiador knot will be a valuable asset to your horse tack arsenal. It also provides a double loop for your lead and looks nice too.
References
- Tying a Fiador Knot, Telenet, http://users.telenet.be/vandenberghe.jef/knots/knots.html?1
- How to Make a Rope Halter with Fiador Knot, Connie Nygard, Gaited Horses, http://www.gaitedhorses.net/Articles/RopeHalter/RopeHalter.html
- Connie Nygard’s diagram for the Rope Halter with Fiador Knot, Goddijn, http://www.goddijn.com/halter/
- How to Make a Rope Halter Photo by Montanabw on Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bosal_on_horse.jpg
