Making Bosal

[FlatWaterCowboy]

I have wondered when combining the ends of a bosal instead of tying a ring knot and looping the end through it which is the only way I've ever seen done; why couldn't you just tie a turks head around the base and tie the heel knot around it. Surely it would be just as strong. But is there any reason why one shouldn't do this?

[megabit]

But is there any reason why one shouldn't do this?

The point of wrapping the body strings around the binding knot is so that it can't be pulled off the end later.

[Shelly]

I have wondered when combining the ends of a bosal instead of tying a ring knot and looping the end through it which is the only way I've ever seen done; why couldn't you just tie a turks head around the base and tie the heel knot around it. Surely it would be just as strong. But is there any reason why one shouldn't do this?

I've tried it both ways - after trying the ring knot deal, I settled on a turkshead instead. I split my bosal body strings equally, no more than 4 strings per section. Then I crown them,in these sections, so they come out the bottom of the knot. I will then trim the ends of the core off where I want it, half hitch a different string down the length of the core ends to the cut ends, then will tie about eight of the strings together at the bottom, trim off the rest. All that is left is to mouse this up with whatever you like to use, to get the shape of the foundation that you want in the final heel knot.

I've found, over the years, and with using the bosals I've made, as well as seeing others I've sold that are still being used, 20+ years later, that this way keeps the body from twisting inside the heel knot. I've seen some that were secured by a piece of leather or rawhide between the branches of the body, at the top of the heel knot, but, because I've never taken one like that apart, can only assume that the spacer is there to give the mecate a place to be without being pinched so bad. I don't think I've ever seen spacers in any of Ortega's bosals, and he's the one I hear everyone refer to when talking about any true authority on bosals - form to function, etc. Hope this helps...

[FlatWaterCowboy]

The point of wrapping the body strings around the binding knot is so that it can't be pulled off the end later.

I know that is the point of it, as would be the same point if one tied a turk's head. My question is, why is this way better?

[FlatWaterCowboy]

I've tried it both ways - after trying the ring knot deal, I settled on a turkshead instead. I split my bosal body strings equally, no more than 4 strings per section. Then I crown them,in these sections, so they come out the bottom of the knot. I will then trim the ends of the core off where I want it, half hitch a different string down the length of the core ends to the cut ends, then will tie about eight of the strings together at the bottom, trim off the rest. All that is left is to mouse this up with whatever you like to use, to get the shape of the foundation that you want in the final heel knot.

I've found, over the years, and with using the bosals I've made, as well as seeing others I've sold that are still being used, 20+ years later, that this way keeps the body from twisting inside the heel knot. I've seen some that were secured by a piece of leather or rawhide between the branches of the body, at the top of the heel knot, but, because I've never taken one like that apart, can only assume that the spacer is there to give the mecate a place to be without being pinched so bad. I don't think I've ever seen spacers in any of Ortega's bosals, and he's the one I hear everyone refer to when talking about any true authority on bosals - form to function, etc. Hope this helps...

When you say, "this way keeps the body from twisting inside the heel knot" you mean wrapping it around a ring button? Thank you for you help.

[megabit]

I know that is the point of it, as would be the same point if one tied a turk's head. My question is, why is this way better?

Ok, I missunderstood your fist post. I was thinking you were just going to tie the turkshead without wrapping it. I don't see where which knot you use would matter other than the shape you get to the ground work.

[Shelly]

Ok, I missunderstood your fist post. I was thinking you were just going to tie the turkshead without wrapping it. I don't see where which knot you use would matter other than the shape you get to the ground work.

I tie the core together below where the heel knot is to be, and above it - I separate the strings on the core bodies into groups of 4, then start my crown knot with them. Once the crown knot is done, (depending on if I used 12 or 16 when I plaited it, there will be either 6 groups of 4, or 8 groups of 4 to be crowned). I will then go back thru and make sure it is tight thruout. Then, by making sure the core ends were together evenly, side by side, as opposed to one end laying over the other, etc, I will half hitch a string at a time below the crown knot to contain all of the core strings against the core bodies - which will give more stability to them within the finished groundwork. Just be sure the core bodies are trimmed off to whatever length you want from the top of the crown knot to the bottom - this is all to be inside the groundwork of the heel knot. The reason I trim off the core strings after I half hitch to the bottom of the core bodies is to allow only no more than 8 - 10 strands coming out the bottom of the heel knot. By tying these strands together, centered below the knot, and trimming off the rest, you will be able to braid the final heel knot around the foudation, with these strings helping to keep it centered at the bottom, as well as giving your final knot something to tighten around. I braid my heel knots from the bottom, up over the swell of the knot (towards the nose button), then back down, working right to left around the knot (I am left handed...don't know if this is 'different' than right handed braiders do). I always build a foundation knot of 8 bights, then, after finishing the first pass with the same string as the basic foundation, (this is the 'over 1/under1, then building/splitting pairs to O2/U2), I will add my color, etc from there - I've sometimes had 6 or more passes to create the design I want in the end.

I would recommend Gail Hought's books, if you don't have them. Very good reference/referral material, and easier for someone to learn from than the Bruce Grant books...hope I've been more helpful...! The only things I differ from her books in my approach is that I like braided cores, rather than twisted, but I do make both types, depending on what I want in the end for the bosal to feel like, and have also done braided with a twisted core over it - and, I do the crown knot with all body strings, rather than the way she does it in her books, as I believe this makes the bosal stronger, and less likely to loosen within the heel knot and have the cores twist on each other after years of use.

I did a repair on a well made bosal once, (horse had been tied up to a fence with it on, and rubbed a hole in the strings of the nose button because he was sweaty and itchy - the owners of the bosal tried to 'fix' with superglue - don't ever do that! Made the repair more extensive, as the glue ruins the strings) - the heel knot was twisted, and the cores were obviously not in line with each other - and it was such that I could move the heel knot by hand, and see/feel the cores not secure. I told the owners about this, but they opted to hang it on the wall after the repair work, rather than risk it popping off or any further damage to it. I know the braider of the bosal mentioned, and felt like my method was more secure than this was, as it was done as you have discussed, with the body strings moused around a ring knot and back down the core bodies...crowning with all body strings binds the two core ends together tightly, rather than having a 'tight' ring knot that the strings are looped around and down - even if you go around mulitple times, the more you go around, with all strings, the more you are loosening the ring knot, or stretching, as you have to use a fid to help each strand in this part...in the end, it made more sense to me to do it the way I do now. Other braiders may not agree, and have alternative ways - I would be happy to hear from any others out there that read about this, as I'm sure there are more than just a couple ways to approach this...

[Bevan]

Gday Shelly

i am finding it a bit hard to picture , do you think ya could post a few pics of the way you do it please

Thanking you in advance

Bevan

[Shelly]

Gday Shelly

i am finding it a bit hard to picture , do you think ya could post a few pics of the way you do it please

Thanking you in advance

Bevan

Hi,

I would if I were braiding up a bosal - I am in the middle of three saddles, and have 4 pair of shotgun chaps w/floral tops to do, before I can even think about starting on one...I'll do a series of pix when I get time to braid one up...

Sorry,

Shelly

[Bevan]

Hi Shelly,

now need to be sorry i understand you have a heavy workload and time does not pemit at the moment, i look foward to seeing them when you post them in the future

Cheers from down under

Bevan