In horse racing, what is a flipping halter?

Answer 1

It is simply a device used to prevent a horse from flipping inside the gate. Generally, an assistant starter will use a rope to connect a part of the horse's bridle to its starting gate during the loading process, so that horse tends to be loaded in first. If the horse attempts to hop, chances are that horse can delay the opening of its starting gate. This is very important in quarter horse racing. In the case of Los Alamitos, my local quarter horse track, any horse that uses a flipping halter is noted in the program, and regardless of whether that horse delays the opening of its gate or not, is declared a starter.

Answer 2

The person above is correct it is a special made device used to keep horses from flipping in the gate. It has place at the bottom of it where the gate crew puts a rope or chain through it and it keeps the horse from being able to flip or rare in the gates when the gates open the chain or rope slides out as the horse leaves the gates.