Carrick Bend Headstall

[Alberta Bound]

This is a work in progress but it's taking so long that I figured I might as well show it to someone. At a branding this summer the topic of handmade tack came up. So i put my two cents in and got an order for "whatever you want to make". Isn't that the best kind of order? Here's what I came up with:

I've been toying the idea of an Alamar knot browband for some time, but it just never came to me how I could work it into a project. I finally settled on a Carrick Bend, similar to the Alamar knot but lacks that bottom loop. It's not as traditional but it's a little bit different.

Since it's not finished yet there's still some cleaning up left to do: trimming/thinning the tassels, tying a couple buttons, finishing the buttons, etc. The browband and throatlatch are done in 8 plait, everything else is 12 plait. Braiding and button strings are each around 1/16", give or take. I had some fun with knots and interweaves on this one, trying out different groundwork shapes and such. The slide button and tassel button on the throatlatch aren't quite what I wanted, they may end up being redone.

I also figured out a way to do a herringbone interweave on a 5p 9b turks head by creating what I guess you would call a false 3p 9b turkshead as the interweave. Technically a 3p 9b is impossible because the number of bights and parts should never be divisible by the same number. This interweave probably already exists, but I haven't seen it before. Unfortunately the button didn't work well anywhere on the headstall. It was still interesting to play around with.

I should have this finished by the end of December. I changed plans while building it and didn't bring enough lace out here to finish the job! Can't cut any here, so I'll just have to wait until next week to do that. Ah well... The pictures don't show the color contrast well, but it's a darker brown/saddletan with dark red interweaves. It was made it for a working rancher and I figured he'd appreciate a more subtle contrast. Any thoughts or constructive criticisms are appreciated. Thanks folks!

Edited December 8, 2010 by Alberta Bound

[8KCAB]

Wow! Nice job. Using a slider on the throatlatch is a cool idea. Is there enough clearance between the the Carrick Bend knot and the forelock? I guess it would kinda depend on the horse...

[Alberta Bound]

Thank you 8CKAB. I was thinking it would sit on top of the forelock, like some of those old style headstalls that have the stabilizer strands running from the crown to some place on the brow. It seems like a shame to hide that behind a forelock... Although I doubt it would be very comfortable for the horse if that big thing to sat behind the forelock, it's quite tall.

[8KCAB]

Aha! I see. I've always used split-ear headstalls, even though some say they're more apt to come off if they get caught on something. That knot will look real nice with the forelock tucked behind.

[Casey Jordan]

Very, Very Impressive!

[Aggiebraider]

Very nice braiding!

Are all of the pineapple knots on the cheeks loose? I was trying to figure out how you would adjust the length of the cheek pieces and that was the only way I could figure it worked.

Also, how do you attach your tassles? I was trying to do this on a set of mecate reins and it didnt work out the way I tried, so I am still trying to figure out the best way to achieve this.

Looks great,

CW

[rgerbitz]

Man that is awsome.

[Alberta Bound]

Thank you all very, very much. I really appreciate this forum and its members, it's great to have input from other leatherworkers.

Aggie, the pineapple knots on the cheeks aren't that loose, but they do slide if you give them a really good tug. They were tied with normal tightness over groundwork that consists of a 4 bight gaucho over a spanish ring knot. The first time you move them after they're braided is a bit of a struggle! Tom Hall shows this configuration in his books but I haven't braided any like this before. I suspect this piece will just hang on the wall so I may have to make one for myself to see how it works out. It takes some force to make them slide and they're definitely strong enough to ride with even if you have to wrench on the reins.

Leading a horse by the reins with such a headstall may not be the safest idea. I'd hate to see a horse with a ported curb bit hanging halfway out of his mouth because he spooked and the knots didn't hold as well as a buckle. Ouch, that's one way to get a hard mouth fast. Hopefully if the customer does use it he'll go the traditional vaquero way and lead his horse by the get down rope instead of the reins. Or just use a halter. LOL.

For the tassels I just tied the two rounds off into one terminal knot and folded the mane hair over that. Artificial sinew was used to wrap the hair and keep it place. I've had some trouble with the groundwork on tassels before because it can get awkwardly large if one isn't careful!

Thanks again,

Jen