What is the proper way to put on a halter?

Putting on a halter correctly is one of those foundational horse handling skills that is so basic it is frequently assumed rather than taught, and the gaps in technique that result from that assumption show up in horses that are head-shy, difficult to catch, resistant to haltering, and prone to pulling back — behaviors often attributed to the horse's personality when they are actually the product of haltering experiences that have been rough, confusing, or physically aversive enough to create a conditioned aversion to the equipment and the process. The approach to the horse before the halter is even involved sets the tone for everything that follows. Approach from the front and slightly to the left side, allowing the horse to see you clearly rather than approaching from behind where your sudden appearance registers as a potential threat. Speak quietly as you approach and allow the horse a moment to register your presence before physical contact begins. Place your right hand on the horse's neck or withers as a first contact point that communicates your presence through a familiar comfortable touch before the halter handling begins. Position yourself at the horse's left shoulder, facing forward in the same direction the horse is facing, with the lead rope draped over the horse's neck or held in your left hand to prevent the horse from moving away once the haltering begins. The lead rope over the neck gives you a gentle way to keep the horse's head in position without holding him physically. Hold the halter in your right hand with the noseband open and the crownpiece ready to go over the horse's head in a single smooth motion. Bring the noseband up under the horse's muzzle and slide it over the nose from below — not pushing the halter at the horse's face from the front, which is visually alarming for many horses and causes head raising and pulling back, but bringing it up smoothly from below the nose in a motion that the horse can see and anticipate. Once the noseband is in position, bring the crownpiece up behind the horse's ears, fastening the buckle or snap on the left side. The crownpiece should pass behind the ears without bumping or pushing the ears forward, which many horses find uncomfortable and which contributes to ear-shyness and halter aversion when done roughly over many repetitions. Check the fit immediately after fastening. A correctly fitted halter sits with the noseband approximately two fingers below the horse's cheekbone — high enough that it cannot slip down and interfere with the nostrils, not so high that it creates constant pressure on the sensitive bone of the face. You should be able to fit two fingers between the halter and the horse's face at any point — snug enough that the halter cannot shift, loose enough that it does not create constant pressure that the horse must learn to tolerate.