No. Halters only hurt horses if they are incorrectly fitted. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the most painful way an equestrian can improperly fit a halter is to make it too large. Horses have more delicate nose bones the closer you get to their nostrils, and an oversized halter's noseband may damage these bones if it hangs too low. When a halter is fitted correctly, it causes no discomfort.