I`d love to hear what people use when trailering their horses. 

I normally use natural horsemanship-type thin rope halters for everyday, yet while trailering I`d feel more comfortable if the horses were wearing regular leather halters.

For some reason I have this nightmare type image in my head of if there were an accident that the thin rope halter might do more damage than the conventional wide strapped leather halter which would be more likely to break under extreme pressure, v.s. dig in and do more damage.

I haven`t done alot of trailering in the past and would love to learn from other`s experiences.

I trailer using regular halters. I use rope on trail.

We use nylon strap halters, tie with rope lead line using a quick release knot in case of an emergency.

I agree with your assessment of the rope halter. I use a leather halter when trailering. The nylon halters will not break. I put one of those nylon halters on my mare with the "break away" crown piece. She came in from the pasture with the "break away" leather crown piece criss crossed across her face so tight I had to cut it off! How she ever managed that, I do not know! I use a pressure release tie in the trailer with a 8ft. cotton lead, and leather halter.

I would never tie in a rope halter. Unfortunately, I've seen the effects of someone who did -- and they were bringing me my new rescue horse. They forgot to untie her when they opened the trailer, she tried to back out and hit the end of the line, then fought it:( She had cuts and rope burn on her head, her face, etc., and they could barely get her free. It was awful.

I will not tie in a halter that doesn't break. Leather is all I use.

I don't tie my horse in the trailer.

I open the door and send my horses in and usually just throw the lead over their backs or just slip the lead thru the ring, But I never tie in the trailer.  All I want is for the lead rope to be up off the floor so it's doesn't get pee'd on. My horses wait for me to lead them off the trailer.

So all I use are the rope halters, They stay on under the headstall while I ride, the rope is lighter and less interference with the headstall.  If I stop anywhere along the ride, I use the halter to tie to a tree.

I've thought about not tying but I have wondered about them dropping their heads under the divider. They can't get totally under but they could find themselves hitting their head when bringing it back up. They probably wouldn't get stuck and if they have a brain cell they won't do it again. I'm just a liitle bit of a worry wart. I do wonder on longer hauls how much more comfotable they would be not tied and finding their comfy "spot." We use break away 3 foot trailer ties so they can drop their noses to a degree in front of the mangers if they want. They all load, haul, and unload beautifully.

If I have one horse, I take out the divider (2-horse slant) and let them ride free. If I have two horses, I put in the divider and tie them. They have tried to turn around untied, which would be a disaster!

I won't tie to anything with a rope halter or nylon halter. I've seen the damage it can cause. I've also seen my horse completely freaked out tied to the trailer, and there was nothing to stop it. I couldn't get in there to get the tie undone in time. I'm thrilled the halter broke. Didn't make him start pulling back. He still ties like a dream -- and I like knowing he won't be trapped (nylon/rope) or have his skin shredded by a rope halter if something happens. (A rope halter can do lots of damage in seconds.) You just never know what's going to happen (loose horse, dog, wasp sting, etc.). I'd rather be safe than sorry.

given that the nylon rope halters work as those knots push into the sensitive nerves down the horses nose, I'm hesitant to tie with them. if the horse NEEDED to move its head, it would get a negative reinforcement from the halter. if something went badly wrong, I want to know that my horse can pull free and do what he needs to do.

I do tie my guy, but mostly to keep him from getting into mischeif inside the trailer. He's got plenty of line to drop his head, and room to brace his legs but not so much line where he can get his leg over it.

He wears his regular nylon strap halter in the trailer, with the quick release/break away trailer ties. I remove his lead rope so theres no way he can step on it or get it tangled up.

so far so good! :)

Agree to the the previous post that I chose to worry about other things...but will add one bit of advice that works for us.

Instead of spending $$ (ya, call me cheap) on the tie blockers, if you have the standard bolt on cast aluminum tie hooks (most of the trailers use them now), I take the lead, put a loop in it, push it thru the tie hook and than put another loop in the halter lead and put that around the tie hook, thru the first loop. It looks just like a slip knot.

 That way if they just pull with their nose, they think they are tied up solid, but if they pull back, the knot pulls thru the tie hook and comes clean. Not much of a boy scout so hard to explain. Really works good with a 3/4" to 1" diameter lead rope.

We generally don't tie in the trailer and have added rubber mats hanging off the dividers to keep the horses and their hay on their respective sides, I do like the sound of this knot and will try it out!  Thank you!  BTW it was explained very well!

Edited for spelling