rawhider

Mike, what I do is I cut 3/8 string from my circles. They usually stretch a little, so that lets me get either a solid 1/4 string, or two solid 1/8 strings. I don't really need abthing over 1/4, and most ofmy braiding is 1/8 or smaller. I cut my 3/8 string, then if I'm gonna go smaller, I get my tupperware ready with a *damp* paper towel in the bottom. I cut my main string down to 1/8 in, then coil it small and stick in the container (this will keep it properly moistened while you work on your other string). Then cut your other piece down to 1/8 in. Then I set my splitter, get it down to the desired thickness, then set my beveler and go to town. None of the settings change except the slitter, which has to be adjusted as I split. After you get that string done, coil it up and throw it in the container and adress the first string. then you can throw them on the shelf or whatever. When you are ready to use them, throw them in some water for about an hour or two. I then take them out and let them sit till there is no standing water on them, then throw them in the container for another hour or so. They usually case perfectly like this, and are ready to use. I notice a big difference in the appearence of my gear since useing the hansen. Keep an eye on e-bay, that's where I got mine. They are deffinately worth the money, tho. It takes a little getting used to using it, but once you figure it out, you'll get a system down. ~Luke

Here they are finished. 8 plait reins, 12 plait romal. I'm pretty proud of myself for being able to do all the knots with one string! saves alot of time a string.

Good looking stuff! I'd be proud to hang that bosal off my horse!

I use a Hansen string cutter. Shaving razors work the best when cutting that fine. It does great... unless i'm drinking too much

I don't know much about hithcing, but that is awesome work!! And what the other guys have sidis right, you need to get ahold of Bill Confer. I just ordered 31" circles from him, and I've been able to get a whole set of reins out of one circle, so you should have enough to do a couple bosals! Bills hides are really good quality, and he will get it to you fast if you need (he even thru in some extras for me!) Good luck, and post lots of pics of your work! Rawhide braiding is addicting, so say goodbye to your other hobbies!

Leslie Desmond, huh? Was she drunk most of the time? As for the Vaquero tools being "too" easy to miss-use, I will have to disagree. While the hackamore may rub a horse, there are things you can do to change that- a poorly made one will not have the strings beveled properly, make sure you shape it before you use it, or get a latigo bosal. The thing that makes it so incredible is if it's not working, YOU are using it wrong. The horse will quickly learn to lean on it if you don't use it right, so you end up dragging them around, and loose that feel. But this has turned into a pissing match,not a discussion. I'm not going to agree with you that the bitless bridle is better, you don't want to admit that the bosal is better for the rider and the horse. P.S. we ride our horses in a halter for about the first 5 rides, then it's into the hackamore for about a year to a year and a half. Hardly a green horse. I think that your braiding is very nice, but you need to broaden your horse horizons a little bit.

Just out of curiuosity, what is your riding discipline? That might have something to do with the missunderstandings here. All I'm trying to say is that the hackamore is the best tool for creating suppleness and responsiveness in the horse. Alan elaborated on that quite a bit by explaining how it works (thanks Alan!). The reason I like to use it is two-fold. (The following statements are claimed assuming that the bosal is used proplery) 1) Tradition. Vaqueros have been using the bosal since the mission days in California. The monks recruited the local Indians to care for the cattle, but the law in those days prevented the Indians from getting steel for fear of them fashioning weapons and revolting. This also prevented them from fashioning bits for their horses, so they perfected a contraption that the Spanish had been using since the Moors invaded Spain in 711 A.D. It's remarkable that this peice of equipement really hasn't changed since then. 2) I use it because of the responsive softess it creates in a horse. The bosal enforces flextion not only at the poll (which you see alot of with snaffle bit horses) but also encourages flextion at the withers. This allows the horses back to come up, allowing the hind end to engage, thus achieving a proper frame and collection. This is all done with NO tension in the rein(s). You feel the horse thru the bosal, and control the speed, direction with your body. This foundation sets the horse up for the spade bit. The spade is a SINGAL bit, NOT a leverage bit, and anyone who argues otherwise is no horseman, but that is a discussion for another time. Ultimately the hackamore suits best the Vaquero style of riding and training. I think that the bosal will help the horse and the rider, no matter what your discipline, but that is up to you. I believe that anyone who rides a horse, no matter what the discipline, should try and ride in the hackamore, just to feel a different animal. It will enhance your awaredness of the horse aswell as make you a more sensitive rider.

What do you mean one rein or two? As far as a the bosal rubbing, I've never had one raw a horse before. Never. And If you have that problem, get yourself a latigo bosal. They are way softer, but still have the body of a rawhide one if built correctly. I've seen many more snaffle bit horses with sores and wounds on the corners of their mouths than thena bosal, aswell as bitless bridles. Alan is right, you aren't thinking of the bosal or the spade in the right mindset. They are signal tools, not leverage (which is how a bitless bridle works). Anything that is a signal tool can do damage if in the wrong hands, so if you don't know how to use it, don't. But I think I'm beating my head against a wall here trying to explain this. It's really not worth it.

Evan Williams... I'll have to give it a try!

Ha that's funny! I'm sorry, entiendo, but Alan is right. There is no way that a bosal can be harsh unless you are using it incorrectly. As for people who don't know how to fit a bosal properly or where to find good ones, it's our job to educate them. I'm glad that your bitless bridle works well for you. I'm sure it's much better for your horse that you use that and not a bosal.

A properly made and adjusted bosal has a quicker release then anything else used over the nose. It's all in how they are built. Traditionaly the bosal was used first, then the Two-rein, then straight up in the spade. The more I use the hackamore, the more i'm convinced I'll never go back to the snaffle for my own horses. What Megabit said is correct, your hands and body have to be working properly to get the correct response out of the horse. People often try the traditional hackamore, find out that the horse doesn't respect it, them move to a "Bit-less" bridle or a mechanical hackamore in order to get the right response. If used correctly, the traditional hackamore will make the softest most sensitive horse that you've ever seen. Which is why it's used first in progression to straight up in the bridle. That softness and sensitivity is key to the spade. MB: I'm glad to hear that Steve makes bits too. I'm gonna have to have him make one for me after he gets yours done. I've been watching Richards DVD, lots of great info there, I'd recomend getting it to anyone who is interested not only in the history of traditional gear, but it's proper fit and function.

Heres some slides that I've been working on lately between reins.

Since your in the "land downunder" roo hide is probably pretty esy to come by. I'd cut my strings about 3/32" and do a 4 plait. For the sliding knot, I'd do a leather colar then braid over it.

Looks good to me. Those bit hobbles are nice, particularly the darker one.

"Vat iz dis Zpad Beet?" HA! That's awesome, who did you order from? I gotta sell more erins before I can afford a new bit! Who's clinic are you at? I miss being able to ride every day. I want my own place so bad, but I know even then with the shoeing and the braiding I'd probably not get to ride as much as I'd like.

THis particular style of rein is attached to the bit with chains. This gives the reins some weight which in turn makes the release of the reins quicker, so that the horse gets signal faster. They are to be used with spanish style spade bits.

I did 8 plait on the reins, the romal will be 12. I like using the leather cord, I'd like to find a place where I can buy sewing machine cord. I've been making my own round cord, so it would save time buying it. On my braided cores, I just do a 4 strand braid.

I usually braid a rawhide core. That makes the reins a little lighter.

Just finished the knots this afternoon. Gotta get the romal braided and knoted up, then she's ready to ship. These are the first rawhide romals that I've built with a leather heart, and I really like the feel so far. They have a really nice weight to them.

There he goes again with the math!!! Depends on how big your core is. I use a 1/2" core on most of my bosals and braid an 1/8" 12 plait braid around it. I end up with about a 5/8" bosal, so that would make a good stout quirt.

yeah, tandy would have something, or even if you have a cobbler near you, I bet they have all sorts of scraps you could use for foundations, they'd probably just give it to you.

I'll just tell you know without even looking. 3/32" strings 20 plait. You shouldn't have any problems...

If you don't have any cowhide for a foundation, go down to tractor supply and get some weaver saddle strings for $15. They are the right width and a good thickness. Then you don't have to use up your valuable roo hide.

Looks good to me, Joe.

No, that answered my question: stick with winging it, it won't make your head hurt as bad! seriously, I tried the formulas a couple times, and they don't seem to come out the way I like them to look. So I'll just keep on guessing, it seems to do me just fine. Now, about whiskey...