Nightlatch

[bex DK]

I have seen pictures of nightlatches a couple times in Western Horseman, but nothing that shows me how they are made. I've never seen one in person.

I searched the site and found an older thread in the saddle accessories category that talked about the dangers of them--because grabbing one can pull you more out of balance and make you more prone to fall off in that kind of situation. Also the idea of relying on holding onto something instead of training the balance to stay sat.

But the horse getting startled on occasion isn't why I need one. I need one for the times my hip pops out of place on the trail and I am close to passing out due to pain and can't sit right. My joints are quite a mess and one of those startles--I stay sat fine but the hip pops out in the process--or even just nothing at all can easily push my left hip out of place (partway anyway). It's a nasty situation, but I'm not going to give up horseriding because of it. Most of the time the rides are such a benefit for my joints that they're pretty much all that keeps me walking (and semisane).

Another problem is shifting my weight on hills. Sometimes my legs don't work enough to hold me in a slight stand leaning forward. I need to hold something with my hand to support me in position.

I don't like to grab the horn. For one thing, my current saddle is a reiner and I don't trust the horn on it. I also find the horn quite awkward to hold (my hands have problems too). So since I first saw a nightlatch I've been thinking about one, but I'm not sure how best to put it together.

I realize a simple loop like a dog collar could somewhat do the job, but I like the idea of a stiffer "handle" I don't have to fish for in a weak moment.

My thought is that I somehow need to do a two strap rig. One strap fits tight to the swell and the other one attached to it is longer so it goes up and offers the handle. But is there any kind of tradition in what one looks like or are they so banned by cowboys that no one cares?

Any tips for stiffening the handle part of make it easier to find or more comfortable for my hands (my thumb is more unreliable than my hip and the slightest pressure bends it backwards. I'll be relying on my fingers to hold on)? Would edging both sides with double or triple loop lacing do the trick? Or should I use a couple layers of leather saddlestitched together? or what?

What's the best way to hold it on? I imagine a buckle would wear a lot on the swell but can the three-hole with a strap through it method be used on something that fits sort of tight (any name for that method or do I need to photo it to explain what I mean? My horse and leather vocab is almost exclusively Danish these days)?

Any suggestions for making it strong enough that it won't come off in my hand but weak enough to give if I get a spur or something caught in it flying off?

Any suggestions on how to put it toghether (or how NOT to do it) would be greatly appreciated. I'd like for it to look half-decent and don't mind putting some time into it--good practice for my leather work. So if a better method is more difficult, I am not likely to get scared off too quickly, although it may take me a while to get it worked out.

Thanks!

Rebecca

[Go2Tex]

A bull rope comes to mind. Never made one, but if you google it, I's sure you'll find some info on it.

[cowgirlrae]

There is no shame in a nightlatch, personally I tie mine on with rope on my right side swell (yes, I like purple), I ride a slick fork wade.

Being able to get a low grip and brace your elbow against your hip makes for more security and stability. Keep the left hand free to turn the horse. There is no way to grab a wide dally horn even if you wanted to.

Tie it like this, the rope is handy for a spare hobble or emergency use.

I have seen fancy leather ones with a sewed and riveted handle, but a double and stitched strap with a heavy stout buckle is fine, think super heavy dog collar, you want to be able to just slide your hand under the strap, too loose means not enough security and sloppy, too tight is hard to grab.

ETA, do not expect this to break away should a hang up occur!......a breakaway design completely negates any use of a strap to hold you on.

All advice given is purely the opinion of this poster, your mileage may vary.

Edited November 16, 2009 by cowgirlrae

[TwinOaks]

To turn a strap into a night latch is pretty simple.  Find the center of the strap, cut a slit in it, then push the running end of the strap through and pull it until the sides roll- you'll have the "top" of the strap still facing up.  You'll have to experiment with the length of the slit, as it depends on the width and thickness of the strap.    Spacing between the slits is up to you, but I always try to keep at least half the slit's length in solid leather between them.  It's much easier to pull the strap through itself when wet, and pliers are probably needed.

Edited November 16, 2009 by TwinOaks

[bex DK]

Thanks cowgirlrae. The pic helps. I think I am more comfortable with leather than rope.

Thanks TwinOaks. I'm familiar with the split strap method. That would probably make a very comfortable handle...

[Go2Tex]

ETA, do not expect this to break away should a hang up occur!......a breakaway design completely negates any use of a strap to hold you on.

All advice given is purely the opinion of this poster, your mileage may vary.

Being hung up could be a worse consequence than being thrown or merely falling asleep and falling off, which was the apparent origin of the device, hence the name. I think a handy handle is nice to have but just as a rope strap should not be so stout as to not break if hung up, it seems to me a good idea to design in a weak link in a night latch as well. If you think about the forces of a rider being dragged and stomped due to being hung up in a night latch, as compared to that required of the night latch's intented use, perhaps some compromise could be achieved in it's design.

Even jet engines are designed to break away from the wing rather than destroy the wing if a catastrophic failure occurs.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Go2Tex

[bex DK]

Yeah, I tend to agree with Go2Tex. I should be able to get the necessary support from a strap that is still weak enough to break if I were hanging in it. I'm not exactly a lightweight, so that's something of a weight hanging off it in that instance.

The three-hole lace lock method is what I am thinking about. Would the lace holding the two ends of the strap together break with that much force but still be strong enough?

On a bad day, I am VERY clumsy getting off and sometimes getting on. If my leg were being unusually uncooperative, I might end up lifting it over the horse's back in front of me by hand, leaving me very prone to falling off and catching a spur if she jumped.

[bruce johnson]

I sure don't want to start that whole nightlatch debate we went through a few years ago, but here's my thoughts. If you are going to use one, I think the rope doubled and tied tight to the gullet is safer (like cowgirlrae's second picture with the tie string). You are holding onto the tails. Anytime you run your hand into a strap you buck off the oppposite side and your hand can either twist in the handle if too loose or turn over if too tight. Either way you have a bind on your hand and could be hung there. I wouldn't trust a lace to hold me in, but then break when I wanted it to.

[Go2Tex]

I sure don't want to start that whole nightlatch debate we went through a few years ago, but here's my thoughts. If you are going to use one, I think the rope doubled and tied tight to the gullet is safer (like cowgirlrae's second picture with the tie string). You are holding onto the tails. Anytime you run your hand into a strap you buck off the oppposite side and your hand can either twist in the handle if too loose or turn over if too tight. Either way you have a bind on your hand and could be hung there. I wouldn't trust a lace to hold me in, but then break when I wanted it to.

Excellent points, Bruce. The problem with any leather device would be the inherent nature of the material to weaken over time and alter the original designed in break-away characteristics. Better and easier to just grab a hold of the tails of the rope. I like a round braid of four strands tied as shown above. It has a good grip and looks a lot better than a rope.

[bex DK]

I do not want to start a big debate. That's why I explained that my needs are unusual--not related to a horse bucking or anything else. My mare is VERY careful when things go wrong--I know she can tell. Other times she may be eager to move fast, but as soon as I'm miserable, every step is careful.

I guess I will have to experiment and see what I can figure out. I was hoping to save some of those experiment steps by asking here.

I am well aware that something could happen while I am incapacitated (she could get startled, etc., etc.,). If I end up lying on the trail, so be it. I am just trying to make it a little easier for my horse and my husband to get me home. My mare is always very unhappy if I fall off and I can't get back up without something to stand on and even then it can be a challenge.