Rawhide and leather braiders in Arizona

[Stetson912]

I know this is a long shot. But I was wondering if there are any leather and rawhide braiders on here in Arizona, ideally the casa grande area. Im interested in both but rawhide has its own appeal. Anyway, im essentially looking for a mentor for a class or 2 to get my feet wet as a beginner

Thanks!

[bruce johnson]

Graeme Quisenberry is in that area I believe 

[Stetson912]

1 hour ago, bruce johnson said:

Graeme Quisenberry is in that area I believe 

Thanks Bruce, if anyone would know it would be you lol. I literally just found his page and he isnt very far from me. Ill have to reach out, never hurts to ask. I got lured into bruce grants encyclopedia and now I want to see what it is all about and learn some about braided horse tack. A bit ironic considering i know next to nothing about horses haha

[alfredleatherworks]

On 7/24/2026 at 4:34 PM, Stetson912 said:

Thanks Bruce, if anyone would know it would be you lol. I literally just found his page and he isnt very far from me. Ill have to reach out, never hurts to ask. I got lured into bruce grants encyclopedia and now I want to see what it is all about and learn some about braided horse tack. A bit ironic considering i know next to nothing about horses haha

I can’t add any info to your question about braiders in AZ, but as someone who is beginning the journey of learning to braid leather I can say it is both fun and frustrating, lol. Absolutely worth the effort to learn though, imho. I have been studying the same book by Bruce Grant, and a few others, as well as taking the online braiding classes offered through Elktracks Studio (by Jim Linnell). The instructor’s name is Sheryl Katzky. I found them very helpful classes.

[Stetson912]

17 hours ago, alfredleatherworks said:

I can’t add any info to your question about braiders in AZ, but as someone who is beginning the journey of learning to braid leather I can say it is both fun and frustrating, lol. Absolutely worth the effort to learn though, imho. I have been studying the same book by Bruce Grant, and a few others, as well as taking the online braiding classes offered through Elktracks Studio (by Jim Linnell). The instructor’s name is Sheryl Katzky. I found them very helpful classes.

I've done some with paracord. But leather and rawhide are different beasts. I like the way they look over paracord. It isnt so much braiding technique (although im sure theres much tinlearn,) so much as prepping the strings, cutting the rawhide and leather, beveling, things like that. I want to make the braided hackamore in grants book because I think it looks like a fun project.

 

I agree, any class on elktracks is great. I have a collection of them, I may have to check into the braiding ones. 

[alfredleatherworks]

3 minutes ago, Stetson912 said:

I've done some with paracord. But leather and rawhide are different beasts. I like the way they look over paracord. It isnt so much braiding technique (although im sure theres much tinlearn,) so much as prepping the strings, cutting the rawhide and leather, beveling, things like that. I want to make the braided hackamore in grants book because I think it looks like a fun project.

 

I agree, any class on elktracks is great. I have a collection of them, I may have to check into the braiding ones. 

I've actually never braiding with paracord. I know a lot of folks get their start there, and I know one guy who made a whole business out of it. At home in my shop I don’t braid anything yet other than to practice, and it’s usually self-cut leather lace I work with. My attempts at rawhide have been….well, disastrous, lol. I keep getting the rawhide too wet, and then I get impatient and it turns out poorly. But I seem to be doing ok with the lace braiding so far, but I’ve stuck to small keychain type projects. I’d love to get to where I can make a bosal and mecate since I like riding with bitless systems like that.

[Stetson912]

41 minutes ago, alfredleatherworks said:

I've actually never braiding with paracord. I know a lot of folks get their start there, and I know one guy who made a whole business out of it. At home in my shop I don’t braid anything yet other than to practice, and it’s usually self-cut leather lace I work with. My attempts at rawhide have been….well, disastrous, lol. I keep getting the rawhide too wet, and then I get impatient and it turns out poorly. But I seem to be doing ok with the lace braiding so far, but I’ve stuck to small keychain type projects. I’d love to get to where I can make a bosal and mecate since I like riding with bitless systems like that.

The traditional horse hair mecate fabrication is really cool. I've seen a few videos of people that spin the hair into yarns then make the rope from it. Thats traditional, but I think ive seen nylon and im sure there are paracord ones out there. I know gail Hought has a book on braiding nylon reins, probably isnt a far stretch that there are nylon mecates too. Im pretty ignorant with horse tack but I find it fascinating. She has 11 books and I want them all! Might be worth a look, she has beginner braiding and turkshead books, 3 bosal books, one on long pineapple knots, royal reins, and others I cant remember lol

[alfredleatherworks]

Just now, Stetson912 said:

The traditional horse hair mecate fabrication is really cool. I've seen a few videos of people that spin the hair into yarns then make the rope from it. Thats traditional, but I think ive seen nylon and im sure there are paracord ones out there. I know gail Hought has a book on braiding nylon reins, probably isnt a far stretch that there are nylon mecates too. Im pretty ignorant with horse tack but I find it fascinating. She has 11 books and I want them all! Might be worth a look, she has beginner braiding and turkshead books, 3 bosal books, one on long pineapple knots, royal reins, and others I cant remember lol

That's some great info on those books! Thanks! Most of the bosals I have seen in use here are rawhide, and that’s what I was planning on trying to do eventually. I’m definitely going to look up those books though! I love a good book!

[Stetson912]

33 minutes ago, alfredleatherworks said:

That's some great info on those books! Thanks! Most of the bosals I have seen in use here are rawhide, and that’s what I was planning on trying to do eventually. I’m definitely going to look up those books though! I love a good book!

Thats been my observation. I've heard them made of leather but rawhide is far more durable. And any ive seen have been rawhide, at least the body (with a leather nosebutton). Im most interested in the bosal 1, braiding basics, small projects, and possibly the romal reins, they aren't cheap but ive heard they are nice books. Ill end up with 1 or two and see how I like them haha

[alfredleatherworks]

6 hours ago, Stetson912 said:

Thats been my observation. I've heard them made of leather but rawhide is far more durable. And any ive seen have been rawhide, at least the body (with a leather nosebutton). Im most interested in the bosal 1, braiding basics, small projects, and possibly the romal reins, they aren't cheap but ive heard they are nice books. Ill end up with 1 or two and see how I like them haha

I just checked out Gail Hought’s website and while the books aren’t the cheapest I’m excited to buy some. It definitely seems like a library of books worth having!