megabit

Wow so I was right when I said:

Here is a honda I have mostly finished up for a friend. He wanted it to have a large round loop and big pineapple for some weight. The pineapple gapes a little at the top but I wasn't sure I wouldn't make things worse trying to work another interweave into the top part. I just need to put on the burner now. I was half toying with doing a top braid for the burner instead of a piece of hide laced on. Anyone ever do or see that done? Does anyone or has anyone used a core for the loop of a honda? I was thinking something stiff might help keep it from collapsing over time. Maybe wire or twisted rawhide?

Here is where I got mine http://www.leathercordusa.com/

Not that I can think of. I always interweave it back in a herringbone like a pineapple. I suppose you could do a gaucho pattern though if you wanted something different or instead of going down the neck you could terminate with a Spanish ring knot.

Not absolutely certain but I think that just may be how that pattern works out. I was playing with a short one the other day 5p 4b and noticed the same thing, but the knot looked like it was done other than two of the same color at the end. Mike

I have a website saved somewhere that I got some belting from. I thought it was in my bookmarks, but it must be the bookmarks at home not work. I'll try to remember to get it for you tonight. Mike

The hair is doubled over the loop that goes 4 to 8 and has a Spanish ring knot holding it in place and making the ground work for the pineapple.

Well I tried out those training hobbles last night in the round pen. My girl just stood there and nearly went to sleep. She was kinda like ohh you want to just sit and look at me... fine with me. The hobbles are a bit on the long side so she moved around just a bit but didn't have any problems. After I was done with that they had some jumps setup in the arena so I did a little work over crossed rails sense I don't jump all that great. That went fairly good to. So I called it a night and hobble her to un-tack. She just stood there until I started putting stuff away in the tack room. Then she kinda decided hey I think I'll explore. She nearly fell a time or two but didn't get to upset over it. I just put her back where I had her so she could understand I didn't want her to leave. I would say things were successful. I think I'll use them instead of a tie for awhile to reinforce the lesson.

Quick little project to donate as a prize for a horse show. What do you think?

She ground ties pretty good, so I doubt she will be loping off with them on. But she is a she so you never really know. Hell I don't mind if she looses a little hair as long as she learns and doesn't do any actual damage. I don't think I'll be hobbling her and leaving her to her own accords for awhile yet.

Thanks for the tip. I made these mostly for my mare who I don't think will be to hard to break to hobbles. I figure with all that soft cotton they should certainly take of less skin then a set of all rawhide or leather ones. I suppose I could use paracord but that nylon rubs pretty dang good too.

Cotton training hobbles I made the other day.

SoCal EXCA shows. I compete in the Novice division. Come on out for one.

Looking back on this I think I should have a) built up more ground work for the pineapples on the reins b)used thinner string for them or c)used 4 bight knots. The 6 bights turned out great on the larger romal but got crowded on the reins. Maybe I'll cut them off and redo them? Probably not but... Next up? Not sure, I think I'll do a few small things to donate as prizes at horse shows. I need to do another set a reins too for my trainer but I need a break before I start them. Mike

Finally these are done. Boy I sure learned a lot along the way and I think my buttons kept getting better the more I tied. I am very happy with the last 4 I put on the romal.

Progress is way slow but I am getting close now. This has been a monster of a project. I fairly happy with my buttons but I wish I could get them to match a little closer.

Looks good like always. Mike

I can't even imagine how much harder it must be to make a bosal that small. Nice work.

Another progress picture. 12 buttons done, 3 long buttons and 12 more small left to go. Ohh and connectors, popper buttons and the sliding buttons.

Thanks Alan it has sure been a long haul to get where I actually like what I am putting out. Hell as long as this set is taking me you might have to wait a LONG time for me to get to a set. Robin wants a pair that are shorter for EXCA and roping, most of her's are real long for the reining / reined cow horse pen. She wants some more practical.

Hmmm maybe I'll try playing with expanding the ginfer to over 4 vs 3. Anyone ever do that? How did it work out?

Ok time for a couple more progress pictures. romal ground work for buttons: first 2 buttons on the reins done ginfer knots pineapple added to one side after ginfer: I think I am going to go ginfer pineapple pineapple ginfer long pineapple ginfer pineapple pineapple ginfer or that was the plan when I started anyhow. Now I like the ginfer but it doesn't cover the ground work as well as a 6 bight pineapple I may just use all pineapples to finish. Thoughts, comments, ideas? Mike

Wow talk about heavy duty. Did you fabricate that whole thing or re-purpose something?

Will do Joe, it will be the blind leading the blind. I am thinking about using Ginfer knots for the buttons. Something a little different than a pineapple and I like how they look. I think I might be short on calf string cut up though. I have maybe 50' x .5" left that I can still cut up if I run out. Oh and I forgot to include the romal picture so here it is:

Progress is slow but here they are so far. Did the ends twice now, I am getting good at cutting buttons off stuff.