A little sedation often can prevent a foal or person from becoming stressed or injured. It also can make the foal's first experiences with people much easier, and he will be more willing to accept a human's touch in the future. Halters can be placed on any age foal, even the newborn. Halters should fit so that one finger can be placed easily between the halter and the foal's head at any place. Halters that are too loose are just as much a danger as those that are too tight.
Loose halters can become hung on paddock posts, stray nails, or even stall door hardware.
Even more frightening, small hooves can become tangled in loose halters as they scratch itchy faces not accustomed to wearing halters. Halters must be adjusted weekly on rapidly growing foals, otherwise, the halter can become too tight and lead to pressure sores. However, the nylon halter is very strong, and the foal can injure himself quite badly in the ensuing struggle. Many large breeding farms begin placing halters on foals soon after birth. The sooner the foal becomes accustomed to wearing a halter, the earlier training to lead and to stand can begin.