Steele Halters
The Steele Family
Hial grew up as a fifth-generation Montanan who was always around horses and hard work. From early on, he had a great admiration for craftsmanship of all sorts. Blacksmithing, rawhide braiding, leatherwork. It all fascinated him as a kid. Particularly regarding creating the tools and gear used by horsemen.
Later in life, he was lucky enough to find craftsmen willing to teach him those skills, and he was always ready to learn. This was especially true with horsemanship. Always a part of his life, horses have been a passion for Hial and a way to help keep the lights on. With a family to support, shoeing and day work supplemented his income when business was slow.
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Hial is married to Aura, whom he had met in junior high and tied the knot with after years of friendship.
They have two daughters, Anna and Charlotte. Together, they have raised their daughters to appreciate the hard work and skill that goes into making any craft. For Hial, the business has been about providing stability and a connection to the lifestyle he wanted to raise them in.
The Early Years
Hial learned how to tie rope halters just out of high school while working on a ranch in Arizona. At the time, he
just wanted a few good quality halters for his own use. A friend of his on the ranch showed him the ropes. In
college, money was tight, and rent was due. Hial found himself at local team ropings selling halters off his arm.
The same quality and precision that inspired Hial to learn to tie the halters appealed to the ropers as well. His
second year of college, Hial would fill the back seat of his car with halters and sell them to tack and feed stores
on the way to college rodeos, where he competed in bull riding. The appreciation for a well-crafted halter
gave Hial the opportunity to turn a hobby into a business. After graduating, Hial made the decision to give
entrepreneurship a go, fully launching Steele Halters.
Growing The Brand
Steele Halters wasn’t something that exploded overnight. Focusing on consistent workmanship, the brand was built on a foundation of reliability. The more people who tried the halters, the more people who liked them.
No corners were cut. The halters performed, and word of mouth spread. Continually meeting the needs of Equestrians created a loyal customer base.
Today
Steele Halters started with an aspiring horseman’s desire for a reliable halter. Communication of the handler to the horse is facilitated by the quality of the rope and the fit of the halter. Whether you are putting a ride on a colt or catching old reliable for a day of working cows, you start with a halter. A halter doesn’t make the
horseman.
However, the choices you make and the gear you use matter. Years after tying his first halters, these are still Hial's guiding principles. Quality rope and precisely tied knots create gear that functions and lasts. Every halter is crafted with one goal in mind: putting a useful tool in someone’s hands.
