Second Strap on Halter Bridle

Now to answer your technical question: why the second strap on the halter bridle, set back four inches behind the ears. Several reasons: It gives more strength to the ring to which you attached a snap that is at the end of a lead line that is, most commonly, attached to the horse's neck in, say, a "Mounty's knot". If you had just one strap going over the poll, along with a throat latch that has very little strength, the unit is not as secure. ALTHOUGH, a determined horse will certainly break my halter bridle in a pull-back, as he will break ANY leather halter bridle -- or even a sturdy regular leather halter. Which is why very expensive horses are pastured ONLY with leather halters. Nylon halters that do not break can cause great injury in a pull-back. Such an incident crippled a fine horse I used to steeplechase. Got spooked by a truck backfire. Never raced again. Now can barely walk. But perhaps the most important reason for the second strap is that ....you have your horse tied to a tree via the lead line, with bit and reins removed, and you're having lunch, and he decides to scratch his sweaty head on the tree . Halter bridles that go over only the poll will rub off easily . And that is you walking home. In the bush, that stroll could be 50 long miles! Not something you would be doing while also whistling. When he rubs his head with our Australian halter bridle, the second strap catches behind his ears, and the whole head piece stays in place.